~Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Rurouni Kenshin
characters. This story was not written for sale or profit. Don't forget
to review.
A/N-Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. As you know fanfiction has banned anything that is NC-17 so I will be posting that part of the story at another site. I will post the link with the rest of the chapter. Chapter 8 will be at a higher rating (R) so you will have to look for it because it will not be automatically shown on the site plus I will have to tone it down to fit in the rating. But I will write it the way it should be written on another site that I will post it to. Or if you leave me an address in a review or email me with your address, I will email you when I post.
A Reason for Love
Chapter 7: Together for Love
~Aoshi waited by the door, while Megumi gave Soujiro last minute instructions, emphasizing the importance of eating and taking care of his body.
Although he agreed with everything she said, he kept quiet as she was being forceful enough for both of them.
"Remember what I said," Megumi reiterated once again, looking at both men as they walked out the door. She watched as they walked out of the clinic, silently wishing them all the luck they would need. Having known Aoshi's past experience in affairs of the heart, she hoped that he could find the missing piece that it would take to make him whole once again.
Glancing back at Megumi, Soujiro felt very grateful for the care she had shown him. Turning he walked toward Aoshi who was patiently waiting for him.
They walked in silence, Aoshi guiding them towards a restaurant he knew that had good food and rooms for customers that required complete privacy. Although he was anxious to find out what was troubling the younger man, he would wait until they were alone before having their talk.
Soujiro was mulling over how much, if any, he would reveal about Chiko and his problems. He was to meet with Chiko later in the evening thus allowing him to have his talk with Aoshi and then figure out how to find the Takara.
The last time he had seen the Takara was when a foreigner had approached Shishio-sama about purchasing some crude oil. But with the chaos and destruction of the mountain stronghold it could now be anywhere, and in his haste to protect Chiko, he had agreed to find it.
Soujiro was about to tell Aoshi that they could talk in the room where he was staying when they entered a restaurant and were immediately shown to a small but very private room to have their talk.
~Aoshi sat with his eyes half closed while the young girl poured the tea for them. He then gave her the order for their lunch after which she gave a small bow before leaving the room.
"Thank you Shinomori-san," Soujiro quietly said, nervously playing with his fingers.
Aoshi turned to face him making Soujiro hide behind his smile when he saw the intense look on Aoshi's face.
"How did you know...?" Soujiro asked his words almost a whisper.
"I have contacts," Aoshi cut him off. Keeping his gaze directed at the younger man, Aoshi softly spoke, "Don't hide behind that smile for me."
Soujiro's eyes widened as he stared into the ice blue eyes of the man sitting across from him. He swallowed hard, nodded, and let the smile relax from his face. When he looked back up at Aoshi, his body felt warm and a sincere smile graced his face, a pinkish tinge coloring his cheeks.
Soujiro opened his mouth to talk but stopped when Aoshi's raised hand stayed him.
The door to the booth slid open allowing the young girl to enter with the food Aoshi had ordered. Setting the food on the table she quickly exited the room.
Sitting at the table in silence gave Soujiro time to reflect on how he had, without even thinking, acted in such a manner to protect Chiko. It made him feel good, knowing that he was protecting her but at the same time he had no clue as to how to get himself out of this mess. And now with Aoshi involved, he felt the intense pressure squeezing him into action and his deep desire to protect his friends, helped spur him to decide that no harm would befall on them as long as he was alive.
"Eat," Aoshi commanded, breaking Soujiro out of his self-indulged thoughts.
Aoshi sat sipping at his tea, watching as Soujiro ate what he could of the food that was delivered to their table.
"What trouble are you in?" Aoshi asked, after the table had been cleared, leaving the tea at Aoshi's request.
"What makes you think I am having trouble?" Soujiro answered a forced scowl on his face.
Aoshi looked at his determined face and tried another approach. "Why were you in the alley behind that particular restaurant?"
"That's where... well..." he smiled, "I was resting..."
"You don't lie very well," Aoshi spoke softly, his eye's boring into the younger mans.
"I don't have to tell you," Soujiro said defensively.
"No, you don't. I have ways of finding out but I would prefer to hear it from you," Aoshi commented.
Soujiro sighed, knowing that Aoshi spoke the truth. "Ok, but you must promise that you won't interfere."
"I cannot promise that," Aoshi said, without flinching from his position.
"I don't think that I would be able to go on if anything happened to you because of me," Soujiro's voice died down with the last word.
It was Aoshi's turn to be shocked with Soujiro's innocent admission of despair if anything happened to him.
"Nothing bad is going to happen."
"Can you promise that..."
"No, life is too uncertain," Aoshi stated. He closed his eyes and then opened them, fixing his gaze back on the other occupant of the room, he repeated the original question, "What trouble are you in?"
Soujiro hesitated before replying. He started with the note he received from Chiko, omitting the fact that Kamatari had delivered it. He continued telling him about meeting with her and then delivering the box to Youhio.
"What connection do you have with Youhio?" Aoshi asked a slight edge in his voice.
"Do you know him?" Soujiro questioned, hoping to divert the conversation.
"Yes, he was an acquaintance of one of my former employers. Continue..."
"The box held a Takara that belonged to Shishio-sama and now belongs to Youhio. I was to deliver it to him in exchange for enough money to get Chiko out of Japan but when he opened the box there was nothing but rocks," Soujiro finished, omitting the deep set desire of Youhio to get the Takara and what significance it held for the man.
"Where is it?" Aoshi asked, sensing that there was more that Soujiro wasn't telling him.
"I don't know," Soujiro whispered "I was to meet with Chiko tonight to give her the money so that she can leave Japan. I would have then fulfilled my obligation to her and her father. Now..."
"Now we will just have to find it..." Aoshi said, looking intently at Soujiro, "Together."
~Sliding the door open, Soujiro expected the room to be empty but he never expected the room to be completely destroyed. Someone had gone through the room and destroyed anything that could possibly hide the object they were looking for.
"Is there something that you forgot to mention back at the restaurant?" Aoshi casually asked, looking at the mess in the room.
"Well yes, it seems that Youhio-san will do what it takes to get the Takara," Soujiro said, smiling until he glanced at Aoshi, his smile slowly relaxing from his face. This will take some getting use to, he thought.
Soujiro was lighting a lamp when he heard the door start to open, looking up he noticed that Aoshi had already stepped off to the side into the shadows, waiting to see who would come through the door.
What appeared to be a little old lady with a shawl wrapped tightly around her head, covering it so as not to be seen, slowly came through the door when it was open enough for her to enter.
At Soujiro's signal, he held his position by the door, ready to quickly dispose of any enemy if he deemed it necessary.
"Did you..." She started, taking the shawl from her head.
"I delivered the box. There was nothing in it but rocks," he said in a low uneven voice.
"I don't understand," she said, looking down at the room, "What happened here?"
"They have been here looking for the Takara, Chiko," Soujiro said, eyes flashing, "What did you do with it and why did you send me there with rocks in that box."
"Why Sou-chan, how can you say such things to me, of all people," She cooed at him. "You know I would never do that to you."
"It was your father's seal on that box. And I know you took his seal when you left the mountain," Soujiro said, taking in a breath he stood facing her.
"I was wondering if you knew that," She said, slowly walking towards him, "I never knew what you were thinking when you always had that silly smile on your face. I must say that I prefer you this way, gives me some idea of how to deal with you."
Aoshi waited in the shadow of the room, he wanted desperately to jump between them but he knew that it would be best to wait and trust Soujiro, vowing that he would do what was necessary to protect him.
"So where is the Takara?" Soujiro said, hiding behind the smile he had used before. It was both comforting and a good defense.
"I honestly don't know nor do I care," Chiko said, haughtily, "Come away with me and we can leave Japan together, like we originally planned. We could go to Europe or America or any number of places. What do you say?"
"No, I don't love you and I am only helping you because of your father,"
"My father! That lunatic! He died a crazy man, and you are still loyal to him? Why?" she asked, her voice rising with each word.
"For a reason you wouldn't understand and I haven't the patience or time to explain," he said, the smile leaving his face to be replaced with a frown, "Youhio has given me three weeks to find the Takara. Now I suggest that you either help me find it or find a way to hide from him for the rest of your life."
"He wouldn't dare to threaten me," she said, her voice cracking. The frightened look on her face betrayed the words she spoke.
"Do you know the history behind the Takara?" Soujiro asked
"No, I just know it's a sake set. Very plain if I remember..."
"Yes but it had been used in your family for many generations and was considered a very important good luck piece. When your father took it, he broke tradition because it was to be given to the oldest son. Your father wasn't the oldest, Youhio was. But your father had power and took what he wanted because he believed that he was stronger than Youhio. And that is why your father wanted you to marry and bear him a grandson to pass that set down his line." Soujiro finished, glancing over in the corner, pulling strength from knowing that Aoshi was there.
"Well I am glad that he is dead, he caused my mother to die and then he went crazy, leaving me all alone," Chiko cried, tears streaming down her face.
"I am sorry, but he treated me good, he trained me and helped..."
"Helped you to what? Be strong, so you could become his little killing machine, just like him. No you would have been better left for dead," she yelled, anger filling her words.
"That's enough," Aoshi said, still standing in the shadow.
"I was wondering when you would make yourself known," she stated, turning to face Aoshi she asked, "Who are you?"
"Someone you shouldn't take too lightly," Aoshi said, walking over toward her. "And it would be in your best interest to help find the Takara."
"I have no idea where it is," she said, shaking her head.
"Where did you get the box?" Aoshi asked an edge to his voice.
"From my Aunt Tsuka, I don't know where she lives now," she said, facing Soujiro once again. "She hates the entire family so I don't know if she would still have it. Although I couldn't be responsible for the condition it is in if she still has it. She now has possession of father's seal."
"Any thing else you can remember?"
"No. Just be careful of Aunt Tsuka, I think some of father's craziness rubbed off on her," she said, shrugging her shoulders. Turning back to Soujiro, she said, "I'll keep in touch and let you know if I find out anything. Good luck." And with that she was gone, the door giving a small snap when it closed.
Soujiro sighed and then collapsed into Aoshi arms.
"Can you walk? We need to find a better place to stay for the night."
"Yes, as long as it isn't very far."
~The next morning while Soujiro was served breakfast in bed. Aoshi sat on the back porch talking with Mokuami while drinking their morning tea.
"Are you ready to rejoin the world, Aoshi?" Mokuami asked, playing with his tea cup. Picking up some of his candy from the tray, he counted the pieces before eating them.
"I think so," Aoshi answered honestly.
Mokuami chuckled, finished his tea and then sat gazing out at the pond in his back yard.
"There was a time when I would have charged into the sunset just to have something interesting to do," Mokuami started rambling, "But now that I am an old man with only a handful of relatives left and only other people's problems to solve, I have no desire to do anything other than sit and drink this cursed tea."
Aoshi sat, thinking that he should be out gathering information on where to find the Takara.
"Then you come back into my life and make me realize that life is what you make of it," Mokuami laughed, trying to get his point across, "For I was doing the same thing that you did, only I was using this house instead of a temple," he said, sweeping his hand to include the entire house.
"Mokuami-sama..." Aoshi started, uneasy at the direction the conversation was going.
"Don't worry my boy, I have plenty of life left in me," he said, motioning to one of his servants to pour more tea. "Now what information do you need to solve your problem?"
~It took Mokuami's people three days to get the information that Aoshi needed to find Tsuka. In the interim, Soujiro rested under the watchful eye of Aoshi and Mokuami's servants. By the third day he had regained enough strength to take his meals in the dining area although he still tired easily.
Waiting until after the servant poured his mid-afternoon tea, Mokuami popped a couple of candies into his mouth. Picking up his tea cup, he raised it to his lips, drinking the entire contents in one drink.
Aoshi watched as Mokuami set his cup down scrunching his face much like Soujiro had when Megumi gave the young man a cup of medicine that night.
"No matter how many cups of this cursed tea I drink, I will never get use to the taste but the candy helps," Mokuami complained, popping more candy into his mouth, "They serve me a special tea that Dr. Takani gives them. Imagine me taking orders from a woman doctor. In the time of a true ninja that would have been..." Mokuami stopped, looking at Aoshi who was sitting, waiting patiently for the older man to finish his ramblings.
Mokuami chuckled, "It's the quiet ones who are the most dangerous," he said under his breath.
With no response from Aoshi, Mokuami said, "My people report that Tsuka is living at Shingetsu Village. Seems there is a hot spring there that Makoto owned and she was able to retain it for giving the government information on where he kept his finances."
"How dangerous is she?" Aoshi asked, trying to remember where he had heard the name of that Village.
"Very. After the death of her sister, which she blamed on Makoto, she joined a convent. Everyone thought that she would just disappear.
But within a year, she showed up at Youhio's door, demanding money and a place to stay. She claimed that she needed the money to raise Makoto's daughter. Youhio got word to Makoto and sent Tsuka to him. True to her word, she raised his daughter."
"Chiko?"
"Yes," Mokuami said, raising an eyebrow before continuing, "The girl is just as conniving as her Aunt. Tsuka trained the girl well."
"Has any one found the location of the Takara?" Aoshi asked, reaching for his tea cup.
Rumor has it that she has it but won't give it up because she claims that if the Shishio men don't have it then they are cursed. She claims that she stole it the night Makoto tried to sail to Tokyo."
Aoshi thought back to that night, a part of his past he didn't want to think about. In all the confusion surrounding the night that the Jupongatana was to start the fires in Kyoto, the city should have burned to the ground, and it would have been easy enough for someone to enter the place and steal the Takara. And there had only been a few women at Shishio's camp that could have done such a thing.
"Aoshi?" Mokuami asked,
Aoshi blinked, then looking over at the older man he answered, "Yes."
"My people seem to think that she has possession of the Takara and she will do anything to keep it from Youhio. When you see her, be very careful."
~That night just as the sun was sinking over the walls, Aoshi sat on the back porch enjoying the soothing silence.
As footsteps approached his eyes opened, waiting for the young man to sit beside him.
Mokuami was about to go out on the back porch and enjoy the late afternoon breeze before retiring for the night. Reaching out to open the shoji, he stopped when he heard Aoshi's voice. He was about to continue when he heard another voice so he decided to listen to the conversation, straining to hear what was being said in hushed tones.
They sat for a moment before Aoshi said, "I am leaving tomorrow. I want you to stay here with Mokuami until I return."
"No."
"You need to..." Aoshi started to say.
"... to do this myself," Soujiro finished the sentence.
"I can't let you..."
"What about doing it together?"
"That was before I knew about the danger.."
"You have no choice," Soujiro said threw clenched teeth, "Either you take me with you or I go alone. This is my problem and I will not be pushed aside while you take all the risk."
"There is no risk for me. No one will be looking for me."
"They already know about you."
"I can handle it."
Soujiro's eyes widened then his brows furrowed as he set to the task of assuring his presence on the trip.
"I am not staying here and I can take care of myself."
"Like you have been doing for the last year?"
"I'm still alive," Soujiro squeaked.
"Only because I found you," Aoshi retaliated, his voice just barely a whisper.
"I was just resting," Soujiro stated, lowering his voice to match Aoshi's.
"In a dark alley?"
"What better place?"
"No, you're not going."
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"Yes."
Heavy footsteps brought silence with them, as Mokuami approached the two men sitting on the back porch. Clearing his throat, he whispered, "May I make a suggestion?"
Both men looked at each other, and then looked at the older man, waiting for him to speak.
"Aoshi, allow Sou-chan to go as long as he promises to obey you, eating properly and taking his medicine," Mokuami chuckled at the look on Aoshi's face. "Glad someone besides me has to drink that nasty tea," he said under his breath.
Aoshi opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when Mokuami indicated that he was not done yet.
Sitting down on the edge of the porch, he continued, "Sou-chan, you must promise to follow Aoshi's instructions with out exception. After watching you two for the past three days, I know that you two can work well together, if you can get over your past experiences."
Thinking that the two young men looked more like little boys, fighting over who was to go first, Mokuami continued to sit and swing his feet, waiting for one of them to say something.
"Aoshi?" Mokuami asked, getting tired of the silence.
"I agree, but..." Aoshi started to say.
"Sou-chan?" Mokuami asked, standing up looking down at the young man.
"I agree," he said, "but..."
"No. You must promise. We need young men like you two in this world. You are the future and I will take nothing less than your promise," Mokuami stated his voice firm with his conviction.
"I promise," he firmly said, looking directly at Aoshi.
"Now I can go to bed and not worry about you two," Mokuami said, padding down the porch and into the house.
"You should get some sleep. We will have a long day tomorrow," Aoshi stated.
"But I am not tired,"
Aoshi cocked his head, looking at the young man questioning his statement.
"Ok, I will get to sleep," Soujiro said, trying to hide a yawn.
After Soujiro left, Aoshi sat, thinking about the changes in his life since he had arrived in Tokyo.
Entering the room he shared with Soujiro, Aoshi noticed that the young man was already asleep. He quietly lay down on the futon next to him. Reaching over, he brushed the hair from his angelic face before lying down, drifting down into a world of beautiful dreams.
TBC.
Don't forget to review.
A/N-Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. As you know fanfiction has banned anything that is NC-17 so I will be posting that part of the story at another site. I will post the link with the rest of the chapter. Chapter 8 will be at a higher rating (R) so you will have to look for it because it will not be automatically shown on the site plus I will have to tone it down to fit in the rating. But I will write it the way it should be written on another site that I will post it to. Or if you leave me an address in a review or email me with your address, I will email you when I post.
A Reason for Love
Chapter 7: Together for Love
~Aoshi waited by the door, while Megumi gave Soujiro last minute instructions, emphasizing the importance of eating and taking care of his body.
Although he agreed with everything she said, he kept quiet as she was being forceful enough for both of them.
"Remember what I said," Megumi reiterated once again, looking at both men as they walked out the door. She watched as they walked out of the clinic, silently wishing them all the luck they would need. Having known Aoshi's past experience in affairs of the heart, she hoped that he could find the missing piece that it would take to make him whole once again.
Glancing back at Megumi, Soujiro felt very grateful for the care she had shown him. Turning he walked toward Aoshi who was patiently waiting for him.
They walked in silence, Aoshi guiding them towards a restaurant he knew that had good food and rooms for customers that required complete privacy. Although he was anxious to find out what was troubling the younger man, he would wait until they were alone before having their talk.
Soujiro was mulling over how much, if any, he would reveal about Chiko and his problems. He was to meet with Chiko later in the evening thus allowing him to have his talk with Aoshi and then figure out how to find the Takara.
The last time he had seen the Takara was when a foreigner had approached Shishio-sama about purchasing some crude oil. But with the chaos and destruction of the mountain stronghold it could now be anywhere, and in his haste to protect Chiko, he had agreed to find it.
Soujiro was about to tell Aoshi that they could talk in the room where he was staying when they entered a restaurant and were immediately shown to a small but very private room to have their talk.
~Aoshi sat with his eyes half closed while the young girl poured the tea for them. He then gave her the order for their lunch after which she gave a small bow before leaving the room.
"Thank you Shinomori-san," Soujiro quietly said, nervously playing with his fingers.
Aoshi turned to face him making Soujiro hide behind his smile when he saw the intense look on Aoshi's face.
"How did you know...?" Soujiro asked his words almost a whisper.
"I have contacts," Aoshi cut him off. Keeping his gaze directed at the younger man, Aoshi softly spoke, "Don't hide behind that smile for me."
Soujiro's eyes widened as he stared into the ice blue eyes of the man sitting across from him. He swallowed hard, nodded, and let the smile relax from his face. When he looked back up at Aoshi, his body felt warm and a sincere smile graced his face, a pinkish tinge coloring his cheeks.
Soujiro opened his mouth to talk but stopped when Aoshi's raised hand stayed him.
The door to the booth slid open allowing the young girl to enter with the food Aoshi had ordered. Setting the food on the table she quickly exited the room.
Sitting at the table in silence gave Soujiro time to reflect on how he had, without even thinking, acted in such a manner to protect Chiko. It made him feel good, knowing that he was protecting her but at the same time he had no clue as to how to get himself out of this mess. And now with Aoshi involved, he felt the intense pressure squeezing him into action and his deep desire to protect his friends, helped spur him to decide that no harm would befall on them as long as he was alive.
"Eat," Aoshi commanded, breaking Soujiro out of his self-indulged thoughts.
Aoshi sat sipping at his tea, watching as Soujiro ate what he could of the food that was delivered to their table.
"What trouble are you in?" Aoshi asked, after the table had been cleared, leaving the tea at Aoshi's request.
"What makes you think I am having trouble?" Soujiro answered a forced scowl on his face.
Aoshi looked at his determined face and tried another approach. "Why were you in the alley behind that particular restaurant?"
"That's where... well..." he smiled, "I was resting..."
"You don't lie very well," Aoshi spoke softly, his eye's boring into the younger mans.
"I don't have to tell you," Soujiro said defensively.
"No, you don't. I have ways of finding out but I would prefer to hear it from you," Aoshi commented.
Soujiro sighed, knowing that Aoshi spoke the truth. "Ok, but you must promise that you won't interfere."
"I cannot promise that," Aoshi said, without flinching from his position.
"I don't think that I would be able to go on if anything happened to you because of me," Soujiro's voice died down with the last word.
It was Aoshi's turn to be shocked with Soujiro's innocent admission of despair if anything happened to him.
"Nothing bad is going to happen."
"Can you promise that..."
"No, life is too uncertain," Aoshi stated. He closed his eyes and then opened them, fixing his gaze back on the other occupant of the room, he repeated the original question, "What trouble are you in?"
Soujiro hesitated before replying. He started with the note he received from Chiko, omitting the fact that Kamatari had delivered it. He continued telling him about meeting with her and then delivering the box to Youhio.
"What connection do you have with Youhio?" Aoshi asked a slight edge in his voice.
"Do you know him?" Soujiro questioned, hoping to divert the conversation.
"Yes, he was an acquaintance of one of my former employers. Continue..."
"The box held a Takara that belonged to Shishio-sama and now belongs to Youhio. I was to deliver it to him in exchange for enough money to get Chiko out of Japan but when he opened the box there was nothing but rocks," Soujiro finished, omitting the deep set desire of Youhio to get the Takara and what significance it held for the man.
"Where is it?" Aoshi asked, sensing that there was more that Soujiro wasn't telling him.
"I don't know," Soujiro whispered "I was to meet with Chiko tonight to give her the money so that she can leave Japan. I would have then fulfilled my obligation to her and her father. Now..."
"Now we will just have to find it..." Aoshi said, looking intently at Soujiro, "Together."
~Sliding the door open, Soujiro expected the room to be empty but he never expected the room to be completely destroyed. Someone had gone through the room and destroyed anything that could possibly hide the object they were looking for.
"Is there something that you forgot to mention back at the restaurant?" Aoshi casually asked, looking at the mess in the room.
"Well yes, it seems that Youhio-san will do what it takes to get the Takara," Soujiro said, smiling until he glanced at Aoshi, his smile slowly relaxing from his face. This will take some getting use to, he thought.
Soujiro was lighting a lamp when he heard the door start to open, looking up he noticed that Aoshi had already stepped off to the side into the shadows, waiting to see who would come through the door.
What appeared to be a little old lady with a shawl wrapped tightly around her head, covering it so as not to be seen, slowly came through the door when it was open enough for her to enter.
At Soujiro's signal, he held his position by the door, ready to quickly dispose of any enemy if he deemed it necessary.
"Did you..." She started, taking the shawl from her head.
"I delivered the box. There was nothing in it but rocks," he said in a low uneven voice.
"I don't understand," she said, looking down at the room, "What happened here?"
"They have been here looking for the Takara, Chiko," Soujiro said, eyes flashing, "What did you do with it and why did you send me there with rocks in that box."
"Why Sou-chan, how can you say such things to me, of all people," She cooed at him. "You know I would never do that to you."
"It was your father's seal on that box. And I know you took his seal when you left the mountain," Soujiro said, taking in a breath he stood facing her.
"I was wondering if you knew that," She said, slowly walking towards him, "I never knew what you were thinking when you always had that silly smile on your face. I must say that I prefer you this way, gives me some idea of how to deal with you."
Aoshi waited in the shadow of the room, he wanted desperately to jump between them but he knew that it would be best to wait and trust Soujiro, vowing that he would do what was necessary to protect him.
"So where is the Takara?" Soujiro said, hiding behind the smile he had used before. It was both comforting and a good defense.
"I honestly don't know nor do I care," Chiko said, haughtily, "Come away with me and we can leave Japan together, like we originally planned. We could go to Europe or America or any number of places. What do you say?"
"No, I don't love you and I am only helping you because of your father,"
"My father! That lunatic! He died a crazy man, and you are still loyal to him? Why?" she asked, her voice rising with each word.
"For a reason you wouldn't understand and I haven't the patience or time to explain," he said, the smile leaving his face to be replaced with a frown, "Youhio has given me three weeks to find the Takara. Now I suggest that you either help me find it or find a way to hide from him for the rest of your life."
"He wouldn't dare to threaten me," she said, her voice cracking. The frightened look on her face betrayed the words she spoke.
"Do you know the history behind the Takara?" Soujiro asked
"No, I just know it's a sake set. Very plain if I remember..."
"Yes but it had been used in your family for many generations and was considered a very important good luck piece. When your father took it, he broke tradition because it was to be given to the oldest son. Your father wasn't the oldest, Youhio was. But your father had power and took what he wanted because he believed that he was stronger than Youhio. And that is why your father wanted you to marry and bear him a grandson to pass that set down his line." Soujiro finished, glancing over in the corner, pulling strength from knowing that Aoshi was there.
"Well I am glad that he is dead, he caused my mother to die and then he went crazy, leaving me all alone," Chiko cried, tears streaming down her face.
"I am sorry, but he treated me good, he trained me and helped..."
"Helped you to what? Be strong, so you could become his little killing machine, just like him. No you would have been better left for dead," she yelled, anger filling her words.
"That's enough," Aoshi said, still standing in the shadow.
"I was wondering when you would make yourself known," she stated, turning to face Aoshi she asked, "Who are you?"
"Someone you shouldn't take too lightly," Aoshi said, walking over toward her. "And it would be in your best interest to help find the Takara."
"I have no idea where it is," she said, shaking her head.
"Where did you get the box?" Aoshi asked an edge to his voice.
"From my Aunt Tsuka, I don't know where she lives now," she said, facing Soujiro once again. "She hates the entire family so I don't know if she would still have it. Although I couldn't be responsible for the condition it is in if she still has it. She now has possession of father's seal."
"Any thing else you can remember?"
"No. Just be careful of Aunt Tsuka, I think some of father's craziness rubbed off on her," she said, shrugging her shoulders. Turning back to Soujiro, she said, "I'll keep in touch and let you know if I find out anything. Good luck." And with that she was gone, the door giving a small snap when it closed.
Soujiro sighed and then collapsed into Aoshi arms.
"Can you walk? We need to find a better place to stay for the night."
"Yes, as long as it isn't very far."
~The next morning while Soujiro was served breakfast in bed. Aoshi sat on the back porch talking with Mokuami while drinking their morning tea.
"Are you ready to rejoin the world, Aoshi?" Mokuami asked, playing with his tea cup. Picking up some of his candy from the tray, he counted the pieces before eating them.
"I think so," Aoshi answered honestly.
Mokuami chuckled, finished his tea and then sat gazing out at the pond in his back yard.
"There was a time when I would have charged into the sunset just to have something interesting to do," Mokuami started rambling, "But now that I am an old man with only a handful of relatives left and only other people's problems to solve, I have no desire to do anything other than sit and drink this cursed tea."
Aoshi sat, thinking that he should be out gathering information on where to find the Takara.
"Then you come back into my life and make me realize that life is what you make of it," Mokuami laughed, trying to get his point across, "For I was doing the same thing that you did, only I was using this house instead of a temple," he said, sweeping his hand to include the entire house.
"Mokuami-sama..." Aoshi started, uneasy at the direction the conversation was going.
"Don't worry my boy, I have plenty of life left in me," he said, motioning to one of his servants to pour more tea. "Now what information do you need to solve your problem?"
~It took Mokuami's people three days to get the information that Aoshi needed to find Tsuka. In the interim, Soujiro rested under the watchful eye of Aoshi and Mokuami's servants. By the third day he had regained enough strength to take his meals in the dining area although he still tired easily.
Waiting until after the servant poured his mid-afternoon tea, Mokuami popped a couple of candies into his mouth. Picking up his tea cup, he raised it to his lips, drinking the entire contents in one drink.
Aoshi watched as Mokuami set his cup down scrunching his face much like Soujiro had when Megumi gave the young man a cup of medicine that night.
"No matter how many cups of this cursed tea I drink, I will never get use to the taste but the candy helps," Mokuami complained, popping more candy into his mouth, "They serve me a special tea that Dr. Takani gives them. Imagine me taking orders from a woman doctor. In the time of a true ninja that would have been..." Mokuami stopped, looking at Aoshi who was sitting, waiting patiently for the older man to finish his ramblings.
Mokuami chuckled, "It's the quiet ones who are the most dangerous," he said under his breath.
With no response from Aoshi, Mokuami said, "My people report that Tsuka is living at Shingetsu Village. Seems there is a hot spring there that Makoto owned and she was able to retain it for giving the government information on where he kept his finances."
"How dangerous is she?" Aoshi asked, trying to remember where he had heard the name of that Village.
"Very. After the death of her sister, which she blamed on Makoto, she joined a convent. Everyone thought that she would just disappear.
But within a year, she showed up at Youhio's door, demanding money and a place to stay. She claimed that she needed the money to raise Makoto's daughter. Youhio got word to Makoto and sent Tsuka to him. True to her word, she raised his daughter."
"Chiko?"
"Yes," Mokuami said, raising an eyebrow before continuing, "The girl is just as conniving as her Aunt. Tsuka trained the girl well."
"Has any one found the location of the Takara?" Aoshi asked, reaching for his tea cup.
Rumor has it that she has it but won't give it up because she claims that if the Shishio men don't have it then they are cursed. She claims that she stole it the night Makoto tried to sail to Tokyo."
Aoshi thought back to that night, a part of his past he didn't want to think about. In all the confusion surrounding the night that the Jupongatana was to start the fires in Kyoto, the city should have burned to the ground, and it would have been easy enough for someone to enter the place and steal the Takara. And there had only been a few women at Shishio's camp that could have done such a thing.
"Aoshi?" Mokuami asked,
Aoshi blinked, then looking over at the older man he answered, "Yes."
"My people seem to think that she has possession of the Takara and she will do anything to keep it from Youhio. When you see her, be very careful."
~That night just as the sun was sinking over the walls, Aoshi sat on the back porch enjoying the soothing silence.
As footsteps approached his eyes opened, waiting for the young man to sit beside him.
Mokuami was about to go out on the back porch and enjoy the late afternoon breeze before retiring for the night. Reaching out to open the shoji, he stopped when he heard Aoshi's voice. He was about to continue when he heard another voice so he decided to listen to the conversation, straining to hear what was being said in hushed tones.
They sat for a moment before Aoshi said, "I am leaving tomorrow. I want you to stay here with Mokuami until I return."
"No."
"You need to..." Aoshi started to say.
"... to do this myself," Soujiro finished the sentence.
"I can't let you..."
"What about doing it together?"
"That was before I knew about the danger.."
"You have no choice," Soujiro said threw clenched teeth, "Either you take me with you or I go alone. This is my problem and I will not be pushed aside while you take all the risk."
"There is no risk for me. No one will be looking for me."
"They already know about you."
"I can handle it."
Soujiro's eyes widened then his brows furrowed as he set to the task of assuring his presence on the trip.
"I am not staying here and I can take care of myself."
"Like you have been doing for the last year?"
"I'm still alive," Soujiro squeaked.
"Only because I found you," Aoshi retaliated, his voice just barely a whisper.
"I was just resting," Soujiro stated, lowering his voice to match Aoshi's.
"In a dark alley?"
"What better place?"
"No, you're not going."
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"Yes."
Heavy footsteps brought silence with them, as Mokuami approached the two men sitting on the back porch. Clearing his throat, he whispered, "May I make a suggestion?"
Both men looked at each other, and then looked at the older man, waiting for him to speak.
"Aoshi, allow Sou-chan to go as long as he promises to obey you, eating properly and taking his medicine," Mokuami chuckled at the look on Aoshi's face. "Glad someone besides me has to drink that nasty tea," he said under his breath.
Aoshi opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when Mokuami indicated that he was not done yet.
Sitting down on the edge of the porch, he continued, "Sou-chan, you must promise to follow Aoshi's instructions with out exception. After watching you two for the past three days, I know that you two can work well together, if you can get over your past experiences."
Thinking that the two young men looked more like little boys, fighting over who was to go first, Mokuami continued to sit and swing his feet, waiting for one of them to say something.
"Aoshi?" Mokuami asked, getting tired of the silence.
"I agree, but..." Aoshi started to say.
"Sou-chan?" Mokuami asked, standing up looking down at the young man.
"I agree," he said, "but..."
"No. You must promise. We need young men like you two in this world. You are the future and I will take nothing less than your promise," Mokuami stated his voice firm with his conviction.
"I promise," he firmly said, looking directly at Aoshi.
"Now I can go to bed and not worry about you two," Mokuami said, padding down the porch and into the house.
"You should get some sleep. We will have a long day tomorrow," Aoshi stated.
"But I am not tired,"
Aoshi cocked his head, looking at the young man questioning his statement.
"Ok, I will get to sleep," Soujiro said, trying to hide a yawn.
After Soujiro left, Aoshi sat, thinking about the changes in his life since he had arrived in Tokyo.
Entering the room he shared with Soujiro, Aoshi noticed that the young man was already asleep. He quietly lay down on the futon next to him. Reaching over, he brushed the hair from his angelic face before lying down, drifting down into a world of beautiful dreams.
TBC.
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