Sorry for the delay. Chapters will come more slowly in the next few weeks.
I have a script to write (I am serious.), a research paper to make and a
book review to pass. In two weeks. All that notwithstanding, I have to
think over the coming chapters very well. ^^ Hope you all understand,
and keep reading.
After 10 chapters, do I still have to remind anyone that I do NOT own a certain white-haired businessman?! But I've learned a lot about him over those 10 chapters, and I can never get back to calling him a psycho. ^_^ Keep praying and hoping that Sony would someday animate him right.
..............
The carriage screeched to a halt in front of the train station. The driver stepped off, opened the door, and helped the uneasy young passenger out.
"Thank you," the passenger in green calmly said to the driver. "Take care of your boss for me, will you?" The driver nodded, took his seat again, and drove away.
Misao was now alone.
And she was mentally pounding her head to a wall.
She must have been in a trance for two long hours. Two long eternities.
She barely remembered what exactly happened. She went there just to warn her friend. Suddenly she found herself agreeing to go to Tokyo for him, wearing a long and unwieldy green dress, using a precious pearl ring. On top of all that, she---what?---actually, truly, sincerely, said "I love you" to him?!
Among Yukishiro Enishi's many talents, she never knew that casting hypnotic spells was one of them. She could not recall any magic bottles in the room, nor any mystical smoke, any swinging pendulums, or any tainted food and water. Maybe it was the glasses, the hair, the ENGLISH?! English is a horrible gaijin language! It has evil enchantments with it!! If the English language did that to a person, she was sticking to French. No, it must have been the glasses, definitely the glasses...
What was she thinking?!
She shook her head as much as her restricting frock allowed, and tried to focus. Enchanted or not, she was fulfilling this mission. Her friend's life and reputation was at stake. Aoshi's trust in her hung in the balance.
First things first.
She located the nearest of the Oni's pigeon posts, and wrote a quick note to the okashira.
Aoshi-sama,
I am very sorry for letting you down, but I can't find it in my heart to do what you ask. I'm heading to Tokyo, and I'm going to get proof that Enishi is innocent. I want you two to be friends, don't you see?
Misao
She then tied the note onto a pigeon's leg and sent it on the way to the Aioya. She made her way to the train station again, and bought her ticket to the next trip to Tokyo.
"That's the one, the girl in the funny green dress," someone in the shadows pointed to an associate. "We tail her to Tokyo. We meet up with our- friends-there." He smiled maliciously.
The girl in the funny green dress, trained for years in the science and art of espionage, was aware of being followed, if not of who was following. True to her training, though, she did not let on that she knew. It just made her more cautious. She readied her kunai in the purse and inside her sleeves.
This was not the first time she had traveled alone, and she was not afraid of any danger she might encounter. She bravely stepped into one of the train cars, and found a seat with a good view of the windows, both doors, and most of the seats. Aoshi-sama would be proud, she sighed.
She dared not sleep, all throughout the trip. She knew that the men who trailed her would wait for any chance to get at her. Unfortunately, staying awake for such a long ride, at night, was not easy. When she went to Tokyo with Aoshi, they left in the morning, and he allowed her to doze off. Now she did not have her Aoshi-sama's broad shoulders to lean on.
She spent her time, therefore, thinking about her decision.
Did she regret giving her love to Enishi? No.
She could honestly say that. He had earned it. He had shown her respect. He was completely honest with her. He did not impose himself on her, contrary to expectations.
She had learned to love everything about him. The turquoise eyes that penetrated your heart and sought the truth in your soul. The handsome face that hid hard-earned wisdom, and sadness. The brilliant mind that spoke through an elegant mouth. The hair that betrayed the deep sorrow in his heart and the control only he had on himself. The physique that displayed unlimited power in his grasp. The clothes that expressed his love of what is purer and finer in life. The love he showed, that knew no boundaries.
She had learned to love him, like Kaoru learned to love. Not his past, nor his future. But what he was, right now.
Like him, she saw no other man to love save Aoshi, until now. She had simply cultivated a girlish infatuation until it became more to her. She suddenly noticed that the love she had tried to grow, had turned into nothing more than a scrawny wayside plant. This new love grew quietly, quickly, but surely, and beautifully. It was like a beautiful white rose- rare and delicate, and remarkable.
It was impossible to put this relationship into a stereotype. Even if she did say she loved him, she was not his lover, she was not his concubine. She was..a best friend...the way a husband is the wife's best friend.
Did she hate Aoshi now? No, she did not hate him. She had much to be grateful for from him. She still loved him---as an older brother, as a surrogate father. Not as a lover.
Still, she missed his quiet strength beside her on this trip. It made her uneasy, stepping off at the Tokyo train station, to be alone in a crowded and slightly unfamiliar city.
"Good, she's off the train," one of the strangers noted, a few meters away. "Get our gear ready."
Should she telegraph back to Kyoto? Misao wondered, then decided against it. She was being followed, after all, so therefore there would be contacts elsewhere who could possibly intercept the telegram and create problems. Eventually she would find a way to tell Aoshi-sama she was safe. She ruffled her petticoat, tilted her hat, and bravely began to walk through the city.
She remembered enough of the route to Himura's house, to get to the market. Unfortunately, she got confused from there. Tokyo's streets were rather different from Kyoto's, and she was not used to the crowds rushing to and fro through those streets. She was better at finding her way through the woods and the forests. Soon she found herself hopelessly lost, somewhere in the middle of the market.
Still she kept her wits about her, and realized that more than two people were following her now from a distance. They hid behind stalls and posts and doors. She readied her kunai.
She dared not stop at one place, knowing that her stalkers would take that chance to grab her and do something. But she was getting very tired, very fast. The Western dress was annoyingly hard to walk in for itself, with the many layers of fabric dragging around her legs. Then she had to wear unfamiliar leather shoes, and walk gracefully with them. She was never complaining about kimonos again. She had to pause, take a few minutes of rest, regain her bearing and rethink her plans. If anyone attacked, her brain and her weapons would be ready for them.
She was still thinking of stopping, when a powerful presence swept her forcefully onto a deserted alley.
"Give us the papers."
"Not in your life!"
"Don't make me treat you rough, little miss."
Misao looked all around her. She was surrounded by six, muscular men. They were traditional Japanese attire, but something in their faces told her they were not her countrymen. The eyes were squinted differently.
Never mind where they came from. They were all armed with clubs, swords, and nunchucks.
She decided not to do anything stupid. Long dress notwithstanding, she took the battle stance, right arm in front of her person, four kunai positioned between her fingers.
Within a few moments, a small and thin man came out from the shadows. He wore black Western pants, a brown vest and a white collared shirt, buttoned very precisely. His weasel-like face ended in balding hair swept backward with even layers of oil. A methodical man, he seemed to even count the steps he took toward her. She felt that she had seen him before, in Kyoto, but she was not sure where.
"Don't make it hard for yourself, my dear. Give us what we want, and we won't hurt you."
"What do you want from me?" she asked as if it were a threat.
"Simple. We want the boss back. The only way we can get him back is if you are out of the way."
"The boss?"
"Innocence does not match your personality," the man smugly replied. "You're the boss' woman, and do not deny it. You are carrying his ring."
Misao only grasped her kunai harder, and made the white/black pearl ring glisten through her angry right fist. The six bodyguards now had her and the man in a tight circle.
"Let me tell you the situation, my dear miss," the man continued. "Since the boss left the organization two years ago, the business had been slowly going under. Wu has been running it like crazy. He doesn't know half of what he's doing, and the organization has been tricked countless time already. He'll never be what the boss was---and we need him back. We all need him. Those who work below him, and the top bosses above him."
Misao understood enough, and answered for the boss. "He won't come back to you. Not now, not ever."
"Ah, but that's the problem. YOU will tell him not to come back. YOU are the main reason why he continues to fight our plans. YOU are the one we have to take out of the picture."
The man ended with a very sinister grin.
"Unless...," he crooned, "you decide to help us, instead. You have good instincts and good sense. Tell us how and when we can get at him, and we'll do the rest."
She threw two kunai at him, and hit his left arm. "I will die first."
"Have it your way," he suavely answered, slightly wincing.
He snapped, and spoke three syllables in Chinese. All six men gave assent.
And attacked.
The men came from all points simultaneously. Two blocked her arms. One grabbed her legs. The three others gave her blows to the face and the back. It was too much for the young woman to handle, already disadvantaged by her clothes. She tried to wriggle and squirm out of their hold, but they were all too strong, and too well-trained.
At least they did not muffle her yet.
"SOMEBODY, HELP ME, PLEASE!!!!"
A burly man thwacked her hard on the head, and left her stunned. The others pinned her to the ground.
"Chief, can't we have a little fun with her first?" one asked in Japanese, as the men began to tear up the dress and the petticoat.
But the young woman had not given up the fight. She gave out one last cry. "HELP, PLEASE!" She kicked the men away with all her might. "SAVE ME!"
"Get rid of her now," came the order.
A final rain of blows were delivered.
She was left sprawled on the ground, bloody and bruised in her whole face, arms, and body. She tasted blood in her mouth, her breaths came with difficulty, and her vision had gotten cloudy. She barely made out----a sword, raised above her heart.
This is the end, then, she thought.
Mission failed.
Thank you for everything, Aoshi-sama. I am glad I knew you, Enishi-san.
This is goodbye.
....But the sword did not come.
Through the haze, she heard someone else shouting, even threatening. Then the clash of steel on steel. Then men groaning in pain.
Eventually someone spoke near her, a new, kind but anxious voice. "Are you alright? Please, talk to me! I have to get you out of here!"
She no longer understood the words. She felt weaker by the second. She felt life departing with every new minute.
She was lifted off the ground, on someone's arms.
"Hold on, please. I will get you home as soon as possible," the voice promised.
But she no longer heard the voice.
She was back in Kyoto. With him.
It was early morning after the sakura festival. She slept soundly at his house. He was kind enough not to wake her, but she felt the strong arms wrapping around her gentle body. He carried her so well, it felt like she floated on a cloud, brought by an angel.
"Please! Stay with me until we get home!"
She looked up, just for a second, as she floated down the stairs, in his arms. In her sleepy eyes, she saw a friendly face. An angel.
"Please, do not die on me!"
He wore blue, this angel, for the occasion. He wore white often enough, almost every day. It complimented his snowy head. She felt secure with the angel. She knew he would take care of her, always.
"Stay with me, Misao-dono!"
She closed her eyes to sleep again, and felt that her dreams were safe with him. He was a gentleman, he was her angel, and she loved him.
She went limp.
............
Please don't kill me just yet. I have not murdered anyone yet. Wait for the next chapter, before you quarter me and boil me in oil.
Please check out , a forum board I and some anime-loving friends from the old Anime Grapevine have made. We'd really like it if you'd visit.
Thanks to Chiki, JML, Lly, bittersweetKandy, Sabbie, NightRain and kyanos for reviewing Laundry Blues! ^_^
CardMistressSakura-thanks for taking time to read RK Titanic-and reviewing a lot of chapters! That one was my very first fic, and I wrote like the something-of-a-scriptwriter that I am. ^^ Sorry for the shocker.
Chavi-Westwind-No, your question is legitimate. A -gumi is an organized group of people, generally speaking. Example is the Shinsengumi, a group of samurai who acted as auxiliary police during that time. -gumi is used rather loosely in anime, that's why you have the Kenshin-gumi (the gang, basically) and the Urameshi-gumi (YuYuHakusho). Thanks for the compliments!
BittersweetKandy-Thanks for liking chap 9!
Mi-I hope you liked what you got!
Sabbie-I hope I cleared up some of the confusion you had. If you're still confused, I hope to settle it in the next chappie. ^^
Iceangel-Opo, Pilipino ako. ^_^V Thanks for the support! I hope the problem you're having is fixed already! Sometimes you just have to refresh a page or something.
Devil-Thanks much for the compliment!
Ayce Shade-No problem! I have the same problem with some fics. Thanks again!
Firuze-nee-san-Sorry you had to wait a while for the next chappie. Thanks for liking the last one! Oh, and thanks again for the tiger!
Dragowolf-End pairing? I don't know yet. ^^
Tesuka-chan-THAT Western dress Misao had on was SILLY to the extreme! Pesky Sony filler arc animators...grumble-grumble. I have been thinking about the confusing part you mentioned, don't worry, I have it covered. ^_^
Tiian-You got it right. I'm trying to say that Enishi is THAT fluent in English. ^^ That kind of thing happens a lot in my country. I have cousins who are talked to in my language, but they reply in English. ^_^ Thanks for liking the choice.
Well, that's everybody so far. Thanks for reading!
After 10 chapters, do I still have to remind anyone that I do NOT own a certain white-haired businessman?! But I've learned a lot about him over those 10 chapters, and I can never get back to calling him a psycho. ^_^ Keep praying and hoping that Sony would someday animate him right.
..............
The carriage screeched to a halt in front of the train station. The driver stepped off, opened the door, and helped the uneasy young passenger out.
"Thank you," the passenger in green calmly said to the driver. "Take care of your boss for me, will you?" The driver nodded, took his seat again, and drove away.
Misao was now alone.
And she was mentally pounding her head to a wall.
She must have been in a trance for two long hours. Two long eternities.
She barely remembered what exactly happened. She went there just to warn her friend. Suddenly she found herself agreeing to go to Tokyo for him, wearing a long and unwieldy green dress, using a precious pearl ring. On top of all that, she---what?---actually, truly, sincerely, said "I love you" to him?!
Among Yukishiro Enishi's many talents, she never knew that casting hypnotic spells was one of them. She could not recall any magic bottles in the room, nor any mystical smoke, any swinging pendulums, or any tainted food and water. Maybe it was the glasses, the hair, the ENGLISH?! English is a horrible gaijin language! It has evil enchantments with it!! If the English language did that to a person, she was sticking to French. No, it must have been the glasses, definitely the glasses...
What was she thinking?!
She shook her head as much as her restricting frock allowed, and tried to focus. Enchanted or not, she was fulfilling this mission. Her friend's life and reputation was at stake. Aoshi's trust in her hung in the balance.
First things first.
She located the nearest of the Oni's pigeon posts, and wrote a quick note to the okashira.
Aoshi-sama,
I am very sorry for letting you down, but I can't find it in my heart to do what you ask. I'm heading to Tokyo, and I'm going to get proof that Enishi is innocent. I want you two to be friends, don't you see?
Misao
She then tied the note onto a pigeon's leg and sent it on the way to the Aioya. She made her way to the train station again, and bought her ticket to the next trip to Tokyo.
"That's the one, the girl in the funny green dress," someone in the shadows pointed to an associate. "We tail her to Tokyo. We meet up with our- friends-there." He smiled maliciously.
The girl in the funny green dress, trained for years in the science and art of espionage, was aware of being followed, if not of who was following. True to her training, though, she did not let on that she knew. It just made her more cautious. She readied her kunai in the purse and inside her sleeves.
This was not the first time she had traveled alone, and she was not afraid of any danger she might encounter. She bravely stepped into one of the train cars, and found a seat with a good view of the windows, both doors, and most of the seats. Aoshi-sama would be proud, she sighed.
She dared not sleep, all throughout the trip. She knew that the men who trailed her would wait for any chance to get at her. Unfortunately, staying awake for such a long ride, at night, was not easy. When she went to Tokyo with Aoshi, they left in the morning, and he allowed her to doze off. Now she did not have her Aoshi-sama's broad shoulders to lean on.
She spent her time, therefore, thinking about her decision.
Did she regret giving her love to Enishi? No.
She could honestly say that. He had earned it. He had shown her respect. He was completely honest with her. He did not impose himself on her, contrary to expectations.
She had learned to love everything about him. The turquoise eyes that penetrated your heart and sought the truth in your soul. The handsome face that hid hard-earned wisdom, and sadness. The brilliant mind that spoke through an elegant mouth. The hair that betrayed the deep sorrow in his heart and the control only he had on himself. The physique that displayed unlimited power in his grasp. The clothes that expressed his love of what is purer and finer in life. The love he showed, that knew no boundaries.
She had learned to love him, like Kaoru learned to love. Not his past, nor his future. But what he was, right now.
Like him, she saw no other man to love save Aoshi, until now. She had simply cultivated a girlish infatuation until it became more to her. She suddenly noticed that the love she had tried to grow, had turned into nothing more than a scrawny wayside plant. This new love grew quietly, quickly, but surely, and beautifully. It was like a beautiful white rose- rare and delicate, and remarkable.
It was impossible to put this relationship into a stereotype. Even if she did say she loved him, she was not his lover, she was not his concubine. She was..a best friend...the way a husband is the wife's best friend.
Did she hate Aoshi now? No, she did not hate him. She had much to be grateful for from him. She still loved him---as an older brother, as a surrogate father. Not as a lover.
Still, she missed his quiet strength beside her on this trip. It made her uneasy, stepping off at the Tokyo train station, to be alone in a crowded and slightly unfamiliar city.
"Good, she's off the train," one of the strangers noted, a few meters away. "Get our gear ready."
Should she telegraph back to Kyoto? Misao wondered, then decided against it. She was being followed, after all, so therefore there would be contacts elsewhere who could possibly intercept the telegram and create problems. Eventually she would find a way to tell Aoshi-sama she was safe. She ruffled her petticoat, tilted her hat, and bravely began to walk through the city.
She remembered enough of the route to Himura's house, to get to the market. Unfortunately, she got confused from there. Tokyo's streets were rather different from Kyoto's, and she was not used to the crowds rushing to and fro through those streets. She was better at finding her way through the woods and the forests. Soon she found herself hopelessly lost, somewhere in the middle of the market.
Still she kept her wits about her, and realized that more than two people were following her now from a distance. They hid behind stalls and posts and doors. She readied her kunai.
She dared not stop at one place, knowing that her stalkers would take that chance to grab her and do something. But she was getting very tired, very fast. The Western dress was annoyingly hard to walk in for itself, with the many layers of fabric dragging around her legs. Then she had to wear unfamiliar leather shoes, and walk gracefully with them. She was never complaining about kimonos again. She had to pause, take a few minutes of rest, regain her bearing and rethink her plans. If anyone attacked, her brain and her weapons would be ready for them.
She was still thinking of stopping, when a powerful presence swept her forcefully onto a deserted alley.
"Give us the papers."
"Not in your life!"
"Don't make me treat you rough, little miss."
Misao looked all around her. She was surrounded by six, muscular men. They were traditional Japanese attire, but something in their faces told her they were not her countrymen. The eyes were squinted differently.
Never mind where they came from. They were all armed with clubs, swords, and nunchucks.
She decided not to do anything stupid. Long dress notwithstanding, she took the battle stance, right arm in front of her person, four kunai positioned between her fingers.
Within a few moments, a small and thin man came out from the shadows. He wore black Western pants, a brown vest and a white collared shirt, buttoned very precisely. His weasel-like face ended in balding hair swept backward with even layers of oil. A methodical man, he seemed to even count the steps he took toward her. She felt that she had seen him before, in Kyoto, but she was not sure where.
"Don't make it hard for yourself, my dear. Give us what we want, and we won't hurt you."
"What do you want from me?" she asked as if it were a threat.
"Simple. We want the boss back. The only way we can get him back is if you are out of the way."
"The boss?"
"Innocence does not match your personality," the man smugly replied. "You're the boss' woman, and do not deny it. You are carrying his ring."
Misao only grasped her kunai harder, and made the white/black pearl ring glisten through her angry right fist. The six bodyguards now had her and the man in a tight circle.
"Let me tell you the situation, my dear miss," the man continued. "Since the boss left the organization two years ago, the business had been slowly going under. Wu has been running it like crazy. He doesn't know half of what he's doing, and the organization has been tricked countless time already. He'll never be what the boss was---and we need him back. We all need him. Those who work below him, and the top bosses above him."
Misao understood enough, and answered for the boss. "He won't come back to you. Not now, not ever."
"Ah, but that's the problem. YOU will tell him not to come back. YOU are the main reason why he continues to fight our plans. YOU are the one we have to take out of the picture."
The man ended with a very sinister grin.
"Unless...," he crooned, "you decide to help us, instead. You have good instincts and good sense. Tell us how and when we can get at him, and we'll do the rest."
She threw two kunai at him, and hit his left arm. "I will die first."
"Have it your way," he suavely answered, slightly wincing.
He snapped, and spoke three syllables in Chinese. All six men gave assent.
And attacked.
The men came from all points simultaneously. Two blocked her arms. One grabbed her legs. The three others gave her blows to the face and the back. It was too much for the young woman to handle, already disadvantaged by her clothes. She tried to wriggle and squirm out of their hold, but they were all too strong, and too well-trained.
At least they did not muffle her yet.
"SOMEBODY, HELP ME, PLEASE!!!!"
A burly man thwacked her hard on the head, and left her stunned. The others pinned her to the ground.
"Chief, can't we have a little fun with her first?" one asked in Japanese, as the men began to tear up the dress and the petticoat.
But the young woman had not given up the fight. She gave out one last cry. "HELP, PLEASE!" She kicked the men away with all her might. "SAVE ME!"
"Get rid of her now," came the order.
A final rain of blows were delivered.
She was left sprawled on the ground, bloody and bruised in her whole face, arms, and body. She tasted blood in her mouth, her breaths came with difficulty, and her vision had gotten cloudy. She barely made out----a sword, raised above her heart.
This is the end, then, she thought.
Mission failed.
Thank you for everything, Aoshi-sama. I am glad I knew you, Enishi-san.
This is goodbye.
....But the sword did not come.
Through the haze, she heard someone else shouting, even threatening. Then the clash of steel on steel. Then men groaning in pain.
Eventually someone spoke near her, a new, kind but anxious voice. "Are you alright? Please, talk to me! I have to get you out of here!"
She no longer understood the words. She felt weaker by the second. She felt life departing with every new minute.
She was lifted off the ground, on someone's arms.
"Hold on, please. I will get you home as soon as possible," the voice promised.
But she no longer heard the voice.
She was back in Kyoto. With him.
It was early morning after the sakura festival. She slept soundly at his house. He was kind enough not to wake her, but she felt the strong arms wrapping around her gentle body. He carried her so well, it felt like she floated on a cloud, brought by an angel.
"Please! Stay with me until we get home!"
She looked up, just for a second, as she floated down the stairs, in his arms. In her sleepy eyes, she saw a friendly face. An angel.
"Please, do not die on me!"
He wore blue, this angel, for the occasion. He wore white often enough, almost every day. It complimented his snowy head. She felt secure with the angel. She knew he would take care of her, always.
"Stay with me, Misao-dono!"
She closed her eyes to sleep again, and felt that her dreams were safe with him. He was a gentleman, he was her angel, and she loved him.
She went limp.
............
Please don't kill me just yet. I have not murdered anyone yet. Wait for the next chapter, before you quarter me and boil me in oil.
Please check out , a forum board I and some anime-loving friends from the old Anime Grapevine have made. We'd really like it if you'd visit.
Thanks to Chiki, JML, Lly, bittersweetKandy, Sabbie, NightRain and kyanos for reviewing Laundry Blues! ^_^
CardMistressSakura-thanks for taking time to read RK Titanic-and reviewing a lot of chapters! That one was my very first fic, and I wrote like the something-of-a-scriptwriter that I am. ^^ Sorry for the shocker.
Chavi-Westwind-No, your question is legitimate. A -gumi is an organized group of people, generally speaking. Example is the Shinsengumi, a group of samurai who acted as auxiliary police during that time. -gumi is used rather loosely in anime, that's why you have the Kenshin-gumi (the gang, basically) and the Urameshi-gumi (YuYuHakusho). Thanks for the compliments!
BittersweetKandy-Thanks for liking chap 9!
Mi-I hope you liked what you got!
Sabbie-I hope I cleared up some of the confusion you had. If you're still confused, I hope to settle it in the next chappie. ^^
Iceangel-Opo, Pilipino ako. ^_^V Thanks for the support! I hope the problem you're having is fixed already! Sometimes you just have to refresh a page or something.
Devil-Thanks much for the compliment!
Ayce Shade-No problem! I have the same problem with some fics. Thanks again!
Firuze-nee-san-Sorry you had to wait a while for the next chappie. Thanks for liking the last one! Oh, and thanks again for the tiger!
Dragowolf-End pairing? I don't know yet. ^^
Tesuka-chan-THAT Western dress Misao had on was SILLY to the extreme! Pesky Sony filler arc animators...grumble-grumble. I have been thinking about the confusing part you mentioned, don't worry, I have it covered. ^_^
Tiian-You got it right. I'm trying to say that Enishi is THAT fluent in English. ^^ That kind of thing happens a lot in my country. I have cousins who are talked to in my language, but they reply in English. ^_^ Thanks for liking the choice.
Well, that's everybody so far. Thanks for reading!