Hello! Only a few more chapters and the torture will be over. ^^
I got a chance to try out a pair of purple tinted sunglasses. Contrary to my first impression, it isn't hard on the eyes! So now I understand how Eni-chan could possibly wear those violet spectacles all day.
Back to business. I found this chappie to be the craziest to write. Work a bit at the middle, then the end, then the beginning, at the end again…….. I switch between Aoshi's first and last names, because Misao and Kenshin use his first name but Enishi would understandably use his last name. I consistently use Kenshin's surname, because everybody in this story calls him that.
Dialogue-intensive chapter. Hold on to your hats, this will be one bumpy ride………… ^^
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"Can't this carriage go any faster?!" Misao demanded.
"It's running as fast as the horses could allow, Misao-san!" Soujirou yelled from the driver's seat, as the carriage rumbled at breakneck speed through the Kyoto thoroughfares.
"Someday this country's going to make horseless carriages, and they'll be faster, much faster…….," she murmured as she wrung her hands.
"Calm down, Misao-dono, we're moving as fast as we can," Himura assured her.
"I CAN'T calm down, Himura! We're talking about Aoshi-sama's life here!"
"What about………."
"Enishi-san's too, I know, Enishi-san's too…………now PLEASE HURRY!"
"I see the Aioya now, Misao-san!" Soujirou called out from the carriage top. "We'll be there in a minute!"
As the younger wanderer predicted, the carriage screeched and neighed to a stop within the next sixty seconds. The passengers immediately descended.
They were rather surprised by the unnatural stillness of the building. Misao knew there were no customers at that hour, but this silence was ridiculous………..and suspicious.
"Jiya! Omasu!" Misao called out. "Where is everybody?!"
They found only one person in the whole Aioya. The okashira was in one of the interior rooms.
Lying face down on the wooden floor.
She made a rapid inspection of the okashira's person. She quickly found a small dart imbedded in his right arm. The kind she knew came from a narrow blowpipe, and shot at close range.
"Poison dart? People still use this kind of thing?!" Misao noted with repugnance. Still, she knew how to handle it. "Soujirou-san, medicine cabinet, in the kitchen, third bottle from the second rack. Hurry! Himura, if you don't mind, keep an eye on Aoshi-sama's face. I'll get this thing out."
Both men did as the okashira-of-a-few-months ordered. With careful and deft hands, the ninja cautiously drew out the dart from his arm, ensuring that the poison spread no further on him or on her.
"Himura, did he change in appearance?"
When the redhead shook his head with a smile, she sighed with much relief, wrapped up the dart in a piece of paper, and hid it in a spare box for checking later. Soujirou came back in the nick of time with the antidote. Himura turned him over. She then put the antidote to the okashira's lips and made him drink the contents of the whole bottle.
"Arigatou," he said simply afterward. He sat up weakly and greeted, "Welcome home."
She was the capable ninja no longer. She was his little girl Misao. Her arms flew to his neck in a warm and teary embrace. "I've missed you, Aoshi-sama! I'm sorry for everything I did for the last few months! I didn't understand……….I'm so sorry I ran off………I'm so sorry!"
"Part of the fault was mine," he ruffled the top of her head. He looked up at Himura. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"It was nothing," Himura quietly smiled at him.
Then Misao became official again. "Who did this, Aoshi-sama? And where is everyone else?"
"One of the lower-ranked officers came by and said the chief needed Jiya and the rest for a mission. As he knew I was otherwise occupied, he said I was not needed. Unfortunately, I was not the one who answered the door. I was aware of a man at the window, but he was too fast with the dart for me to do anything."
"And the officer? Description, Aoshi-sama!"
"They said he was small, very neat, shifty eyes, well-slicked hair……..."
"It's him, Himura," Misao looked at the rurouni. He nodded understanding. "That would mean…………"
Her fears for her other friend came back, with a menacing vengeance.
"Aa. Most of the documents we gathered point to that man, who is also Yukishiro's secretary," Aoshi further explained. To this Soujirou nodded. "He went in the direction of the precinct."
"And now the precinct is on fire!!" Misao told him.
"He is planning arson," the okashira analyzed, and Himura agreed. "To eliminate incriminating evidence in the building, as well as-----"
"-------kill off Shinichi!" she ended the sentence with shaking hands.
"Call him by his name, Misao," he finished with a frown, then added with a slight understanding smile, "I do not mind. Hurry, if you still want to save Yukishiro. He does not deserve to go like Shishio did."
Misao suddenly beamed with hope……….then remembered. "Are………..you sure, Aoshi-sama?" she asked uneasily.
He nodded, and waved her off.
She gave him another tight hug from the waist. "Thank you very much. I love you, Aoshi-sama!"
He merely returned a sorrowfully straight face.
She gestured to her two escorts, and they went on their way.
They reached the precinct five minutes later, running from the Aioya at the speed of light. They found it covered on two points by fire brigades, two long lines of police and civilians passing buckets. Everything else was in chaos. Policemen were shouting at prisoners, as they were hauled into waiting carriages. Nurses and doctors were all rushing to and fro, attending to the burnt and the wounded sprawled around the gardens. Nosy civilians and other busybodies were scattered and added to the confusion.
"Yukishiro Enishi! Shiroyuki Shinichi! Whatever his name is! Where is he?" Misao begged of the officers.
"White hair! Tall, rather muscular! Have you seen him?" Himura helped her inquire.
No police officer had seen him.
"Perhaps he is still inside?" Seta asked. Misao paled.
"All the prisoners have been let out, Makimachi-san," a kindly officer informed her.
"So how come no had seen him?"
Suddenly her ninja-trained eyes spotted someone hauntingly familiar, ducking and avoiding notice among the crowd. From Enishi's factory………..from Tokyo…………from that horrifying ordeal……….
"Himura! Behind you!!" Misao pointed at a small, well-buttoned police officer.
With shock, the man recognized her as well, and ran for it. But Himura's quick eyes and quick reflexes were faster. In less than 10 seconds, Himura had pulled the man to the ground and forced his arms to his back.
"Start talking!" Misao furiously took off the hat and grabbed the man's well-oiled hair. "What did you do to Enishi-san?"
"Why should I give information to you ? You're just the boss' woman!" the man defiantly declared.
Misao gave him a hard slap. "I am NOT his woman! How DARE you call me that!" She finally recognized him fully, and gave him another slap. "You're nothing but his useless secretary! Now where is he?!"
"Let's just say, the key didn't work on his door," the secretary sneered at the ninja.
Misao screamed and put her hands on the man's neck. Soujirou immediately sped inside the building into the smoke and flames.
"Stop, Misao-dono!" Himura sternly ordered. "He is more useful to us alive."
In between Misao's hands and under Himura's knee on his back, he gave a hoarse and strained answer. "Why should I be afraid of you? The boss is going to die, either right here or by the noose. And I am going to inherit his business! I'm going to be rich!"
"What makes you so sure, you arrogant ferret of a man?" Misao was fuming.
"I MADE sure, little missy!"
"And you actually think you could get the better of Yukishiro Enishi?" Himura harshly inquired, and tightened his grip on his hands. "I may not have agreed with his way of life, but you are surely underestimating his intelligence!"
"The man is too smart to notice he's been taken for a fool!" the man retorted. Misao gave him another terrible slap.
"Tasukete kudasai! Help, please!" someone yelled from the smoky front door of the precinct building. Misao looked behind her, and saw Soujirou struggling with something, as he dragged it from one end out of the building. Two policemen rushed to the young man and relieved him of his load. He gratefully sat on the grass and coughed out the smoke.
One policeman carried the burden from each end, and lay it on the ground near Himura. It was rather long………and it wore shoes.
"Himura-san!" one of them called out. "White hair, tall and rather muscular, you said?" Himura nodded calmly.
The officer waved a melancholy hand at their dead weight.
Himura could not believe his eyes, Misao could only stare blankly. "Masaka……….it's not true………."
But it was he. Somewhat weaker, somewhat thinner. The proud eyes were now sunken and shut. The full cheeks now showed the bone underneath. The haughty mouth was dry and parched. The snowy hair was tainted with soot and very matted.
"Chotto matte," Soujirou interrupted the tears forming in Misao's eyes. His hands went to the man's wrist and neck. He aligned his ears to his nose and chest. "A while ago he was still mumbling. He is still alive, but somebody or something has to get him breathing again, or we lose him for good."
"Do something, Soujirou-san!!" Misao begged, hands to his white undershirt.
"Unfortunately, Misao-dono, assassins are trained differently from ninjas," Himura sadly explained. "We were taught to assess life, so we can ensure death. We know nothing more."
Misao looked in desperation at the lifeless figure before her, and racked her brain.
"I remember now……." She quietly told Himura and Seta. "Something Aoshi-sama taught me a few years back……..you align your mouth………….breathe into the victim…………..a life-saving technique…………just in case………."
"Do it, Misao-dono."
"ME?!"
"There is no one else, Misao-dono. Do it. Waste no time."
"But…….but……."
"Misao-dono. Now is not the time to think about what is past. If it is in your power to save his life, do it."
"The little miss can't do it," the little man under Himura sneered. "Why don't you just admit you used him for your own purposes? How different are you from me, eh? You're only his woman!"
Misao readied a right fist.
"What? So now you'll try to save a known criminal's life?" the man provoked again. "Isn't he better off dead?"
The readied fist loosened slightly. She looked in consternation at her accuser, Himura, Soujirou, and the still figure beside her.
"Hayaku, Misao-san!" Soujirou snapped her back. "His pulse is fading!"
I see you remember me now, Makimachi.
She remembered his arrogant stance, his proud bearing………his sad eyes. He said it, that first day they met again in Kyoto.
I understand that you have a right and a reason to fear me.
Fear was not the word for it. She was terrified of him then.
But I will make you understand, Makimachi.
She now understood. He made her understand.
You have nothing to fear.
She had nothing to fear.
She assumed the bearing of the professional Oniwabanshuu ninja, and went to work.
Tilt head back………….raise chin………..pull chin back and open mouth…………..pinch nose………..inhale deeply…………….blow……….one, two……………watch chest rise…………..inhale deeply………….blow…………..one, two………..inhale…………….blow………………
"It's not working, Misao-san," Soujirou said anxiously.
"Let us be patient, Soujirou-dono," Himura replied.
Even Misao was getting worried. Still she kept on. "Come on, you have to help me!" she pleaded with her unresponsive patient.
Inhale deeply………….blow…………….one, two…………...watch chest rise……………inhale…………blow……………one, two……………inhale…………..blow……………
Inhale…………
Blow………….
"Please, Kami-sama, I beg you," she prayed. "Give him another chance!"
Inhale………..
Blow…………
"You gave Aoshi-sama another chance. You let Himura talk sense to him. Do the same with this……….my friend……and more……..no matter what it is he has done. He wants to change, you know he has changed. Please, give him another chance!"
Inhale deeply…………
One last time…………
"Let me show him what love truly means, Kami-sama. I ask only that."
Blow…………………!
A slight quiver.
A weak cough.
A stronger one. A succession of coughs.
"Oh, thank you, Kami-sama!" and Misao tearfully flew into Himura's arms.
She faced the traitor again, with flaming eyes. "No, I am not Enishi's woman. I am more than that. I am his friend, and he is mine. More than that, in a way different from Aoshi-sama, I love him. Before you ever get to touch him again, you will have to go through me."
"That is very good to hear, weasel."
Seta had propped him up, and he weakly smirked at her with mischievous eyes.
Misao smiled back, tears still streaming down her face, and held out her right fist. "Call me weasel again, and I will personally see you to the afterlife."
Much of the fire had been quelled by then, and more policemen surrounded the scene.
"My good sirs, arrest this man," Himura ordered, with the power of one used to authorities, and pointed to the man below him.
"On what grounds?"
"Falsification of documents, influencing witnesses, arson, and attempted murder," Enishi recited.
"For a man just from the brink of death, you're good," Misao commended with a sweatdrop.
"It will all be proven in court, in a few days," Soujirou continued with a happy smile. "We are finally ready with the evidence."
As the man was tied up and escorted to the police carriage, he looked behind him and called out, "How sure are you, boss, that you'll win?"
"Simple, you imbecile," the boss countered, right hand in hers. "Now, I have friends."
………………………….
I am not through yet. I haven't answered the ultimate question yet. Sorry for the delay. I had no internet last week.
Chotto matte—Wait a bit
Hayaku—Hurry
That was only mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The full CPR thing is done when the victim isn't breathing and has no pulse. I learned that on Gameplan! ^^V I'm not dead sure of my procedures as given here, but I did get it from a book, and out of the cobwebs of old first aid demonstrations. I figure people like Misao were taught such things back then, even basic versions of it.
I enjoyed watching Bridget Jones's Diary (the movie)—and casting Misao as Renee, Eni-chan as Hugh Grant, and Aoshi as Colin Firth. ^^
Thanks to Nia and Ayako for putting me in their faves lists!
Sabbie—Writer's block, aye? Read another book, watch more RK for a while! ^^ Don't panic. Nice things come out of writer's blocks. White and Black came out of a Nine Months writer's block!!
Tesuka-chan—Ending? (looks around……..and nods.) But I don't make a habit of being a hitokiri as a writer. ^^ Thanks for understanding Misao's problem. Thanks about the nomination, same to you! I liked that last chappie of Mission: Frustration!
Devil—Thanks for understanding the predicament Misao is in!
Dallisse—Like I said, I'm not a hitokiri as a writer. ^^ Thanks much!
Iceangel—Hello kabayan! Firuze-nee-san is really very nice. ^^ Don't worry about coming to her for help. You can also try reading her fics. Midori's gives you a look on his emotional state, Firuze's give you a nice idea of the world around him. I'll wait expectantly for When Memory Fails, and This is Me of course!
CardMistressSakura—Yes, I'll write more. You'll have to wait for a while more to find out.
Mi—Long time no see! Thanks much! Yup, I have HUGE crush on the snowhead already from writing White and Black! Brain to match brawn, incredibly good looks, eligible bachelor, rich too—what more could you ask? ^^
Tiian—Believe me, I've heard it from Firuze-nee-san too! ^^ Don't' worry, she's just confused. No problem, I'm glad you got to review now!
Chitchat—Thanks much. I hope your questions are answered by this chappie?
BittersweetKandy—You're answered as well. Hope you like the chapter!
Firuze-nee-san—Thanks for understanding and for clarifying. Good luck with the house! I tried to make it sound that Misao didn't forget a lot, just the most recent happenings, that's why I made her ask where's Aoshi-sama, Okon, Jiya, Omasu a few chapters back. I meant to say she still remembered everything from that far off in her memory. ^^ Sorry. Fanfic of the YEAR?! Are you serious, nee-san?! With Midori and Chiki as competition, are you serious?! Um, thanks for the support!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you come back!