Hello. This chappie got started a while ago, even before the chapter before
it. I wanted to know how I would really end this thing. So I figured, it
would be better if I thought it out while writing it down. "Alias" is
pretty good inspiration, by the way.
This is probably the longest chapter in all of White and Black. Sorry for the long read. ^^
............
The trial that ensured was completed without much fanfare and without much delay. With all the evidence available, it was a straightforward case. The man, familiar with the former boss' documents, copied his documents and filled them with new data, then told police they were from the boss' own hand. Faced with real documents from his old files, and the boss' unique sealing ring, it was obvious that Enishi was framed. The man was sent to the main penitentiary in Tokyo.
Himura bade farewell to his friends in Kyoto soon after, and returned to his wife and son. He, of course, paid his respects to Tomoe's grave before he left, and chatted with his brother-in-law. He would accept no token of gratitude from him, other than a promise to take care of himself.
However, the presentation of even the most basic of Enishi's old documents alerted some of the highest ranked officials to a large, and international, syndicate. The government could not simply turn its eyes away on such a problem. They had to deal with it, even if only its Japanese branch. Here was one of the syndicate's former top officials, virtually turning himself in, after two years of their careful but fruitless surveillance. On the other hand, the metalworks factory was currently one of Kyoto's larger sources of revenue. To suddenly shut it down would not be good for the city. It was quite a predicament for the Kyoto police, what to do with their best businessman, but also their best catch.
Misao was in a predicament of her own.
"Misao, it has come to my attention that I had not shown my gratitude to you adequately," Enishi mentioned. She had visited him in his office, a few days after the trials ended.
"Come on, haven't you thanked me enough already?" she asked, as she stood by the window facing the street.
He slowly walked nearer and nearer to where she stood. "Thank you for letting me in your life." He stood beside her. "Thank you for showing me your heart." He raised her to the windowsill, until their eyes were level. "Thank you for teaching me how to smile, and how to laugh." He put a hand on her waist. "Thank you for making me see another woman." He caressed her cheek. "Thank you for trusting me." He drew his eyes closer to her. "Thank you for believing me."
He drew her close, and he took her into a long and loving kiss. This time, she relished every millisecond, feeling his arms around her and his breath in her. It was full of his power, his control, as well as his new tenderness and understanding.
When his lips parted from hers, she did not have a clear idea of what hit her. It took her breath away.
"Thank you for giving me back my life."
She blinked at him and stared at his fathomless blue-gray eyes. "Well, now, that's more than adequate."
Neither had noticed a dark figure watching them intently from the street. He took a deep breath of defeat, and walked in the direction of the main temple. The okashira.
He begged to be excused from dinner that evening, so as not to see her across him.
"Please, Aoshi-sama, why are you ignoring me?" Misao asked a few days later at the Shirobeko. She had to practically force the okashira to come with her there for some of Sae's hotpot and some rational conversation.
"Don't you want to be with Yukishiro instead?" he asked, a barely perceptible bitterness in his voice.
She wrapped her arms around him and cooed. "I want to be with you, Aoshi- sama..."
"Like you would want to be with a father, or a brother."
"But you've been my father and my brother for such a long time, Aoshi- sama!"
She suddenly had a very womanly, very mature air about her, as she looked into his eyes. From his surprised face, one could see that he had noticed.
"Aoshi." She said with resolve. "I want to be with you. With YOU."
"But Yukishiro..."
"I have only been waiting for you. While waiting for you, I made him my friend."
"More than your friend."
"So be it. But he is not my Aoshi."
She suddenly found her lips locked in his. Her hands desperately sought the tatami mat, but his arms were on her back, and he raised her far off where she sat. She decided not to fight it. Everything was so right, so perfectly right, so wonderfully right...that somehow it was wrong.
"What....are you doing....Aoshi?" she breathlessly asked at the end.
"Something I should have done much earlier," he replied.
Misao heard the crash of breaking porcelain. She looked behind her, and saw the fragments of a teacup near the booth opposite theirs.
And in the booth, Enishi.
"Sae-san, I apologize for breaking the cup," He cocked his glasses over his nose. "I will pay for it, along with the bill. Send it over to the house tomorrow morning. Thank you for the meal. I must be going." He stood up without a second glance and exited the restaurant.
...............
A month came and went.
A month of emotional and psychological torture.
"This is CRAZY!!" Misao complained to the birds in the forest. "I hate being so lonely!" she griped as she kicked the trees.
"Aoshi-sama is avoiding me. Enishi-san is avoiding me. I can't talk to Okina or the girls about it. I have no one to talk to!!" She screamed the last sentence, until three sparrows flew out of an overhead nest.
Indeed, both the businessman and the Oniwabanshuu okashira took all pains not to be with the ninja. His apologies, but Aoshi-sama had a mission to attend to, and could not come until after dinner. Enishi-san was sorry, but he had clients to meet. And both would not tell her directly. Aoshi sent word by Okina. Enishi sent a messenger.
"It's not my fault! I'm sure it's not my fault!" she argued to a nearby rabbit. "I love them both. I'd die first before I see either of them in trouble. I've tried to be nice. So why are they avoiding me?!"
"They do not know what to do next, Misao-san," the rabbit suddenly replied.
Now Misao knew enough about rabbits and the forest not to be deceived. She looked around her and up at the branches. She eventually found the blue bird she sought. "So you're still in Kyoto, wandering smiley?"
"Hai." The blue bird dropped down beside Misao and grinned.
"You were saying?"
"Misao-san, I do not assume to know much about love and all that," he began, as he brushed off the leaves in his hair. "But as a man, I could guess that they're thinking about their next move. They need time to do that."
She scratched her head.
"Allow me to explain."
He went on his hands and knees for a few seconds, then sat cross-legged before her. He offered the grass beside him to her. She also sat cross- legged, then remembered she sat beside a young man, and changed her position to the half-kneel. Satisfied, the young wanderer beamed and started the demonstration.
"I have here three pebbles, see?" He lay down a small round green stone. "This is you." He placed a large black pebble a few inches away to the right from the green stone. "This is Shinomori-san." To the left of the green stone, at roughly the same distance, he placed a white stone. "And this is Yukishiro-san." The three stones were now in a row, with the green stone in the middle. Misao nodded understanding.
"This is the situation right now, a perfect, if unsure, balance between all of you," Soujirou explained. "Shinomori has no bad feelings for Yukishiro, and vice-versa. However, they would rather keep this precise distance between each other. Because each knows that the other is a rival."
"They shouldn't be rivals! They're both my dear friends!" Misao protested.
"It is hard to explain, Misao-san, but that's the way with men. They prefer it when they have exclusive rights to a woman."
Soujirou moved the white stone closer to the green stone. "Now, if Yukishiro-san, for example, were to make a move," he moved the black stone farther, "Shinomori-san would move away politely, and leave you with him. But," and he moved the green stone again, to restore the first even position, "you would notice, and try to win back Shinomori, losing Yukishiro in the process. Do you understand so far?"
Misao nodded slowly.
"However," and this time he moved the white stone farther away from the even position, "should Yukishiro move farther away from you," he moved the black stone nearer, "Shinomori would eventually notice, and get closer to you. Again, you would be worried, and try to win Yukishiro back, but lose Shinomori." He placed the stones again in the even position.
"Therefore, both Shinomori-san and Yukishiro-san are at a stalemate. They do not want to be farther from you than they are now. But each realizes your importance to the other, and out of courtesy do not want to be nearer to you either. And that, Misao-san, is the situation."
"Can't I be with you for a while, and spite them both?" Misao grinned mischievously.
Soujirou waved his hands in front of him and smiled sheepishly. "No, thank you, Misao-san. Love is a dangerous game to play, so I won't."
"Just kidding." She gave him a quick peck at the cheek. "Thanks for explaining all of that. But what do I do now?"
"Choose."
"Eh?"
"Choose, Misao-san. Once and for all."
..............
Somewhere in the middle of Kyoto, Enishi walked to the middle of a pedestrian bridge. He stopped between two lampposts, leaned on the railing, and admired the changing hues of the setting sun. His tousled hair and silk jacket moved with the slight breeze.
Soon he heard the distinct footsteps of the okashira stop beside him. He took out his tinted glasses from a pocket, and positioned them over his eyes with an elegant twist of his fingers. He did not change his position for the newcomer. He continued to look down on the ripples of the river flowing under the bridge.
"You wanted to see me, Shinomori?"
"Aa." The okashira leaned his back on the railing beside Enishi, and folded his arms over his dark uniform.
Five minutes of silence. Enishi enjoyed the perfect sunset without interruption. If only it did not remind him of the setting of his chances with Misao....
The sky darkened into a deep red. The lamplighter came by and lighted the lampposts between the two men. Still they had not spoken a word.
Finally, the white-haired man broke the silence.
"Is it true, Shinomori?"
"Yes."
"Your idea, I suppose. Admit it, you want to get rid of me."
"It was not my idea. You have my word."
"Pardieu...." he muttered under his breath.
He watched the stars appear and the moon rise from beyond the hills.
"She taught me to smile again, that weasel..."
"Aa."
"She saw beyond what I thought I was...."
"Aa."
He continued with a sad voice, still looking down at the dark water below him. "Shinomori, I have an idea of what you feel about her. I respect that. I even think that Misao would be better off with you than with me. But, Shinomori, it does not change the fact that...I love her. Be the situation as it is, I still want to tell her that. But with everything that you have done for her, and with everything you have done for me, I could not propose to her without your approval, or at least your permission."
The okashira listened in silence.
"If you will not allow me, I will not force the issue. I will not propose. I will leave her with you." And the businessman hid his face in his arms, trying vaguely to hide his consternation and defeat.
"A proposition, Yukishiro," Shinomori eventually said.
Enishi looked up at the man with some surprise.
"We both tell her."
"Then?"
"She shall decide what to do."
Another five minutes of silence, as both contemplated the agreement.
"I have one request," Enishi spoke.
"Go on."
"Whatever she decides, I ask for the option to continue to be her associate, her companion, her ally--"
"-Her friend, yes?"
"Yes." Enishi presented his right hand to him. "A handshake is all I ask to seal the oral contract."
Shinomori took the hand into his own. "Agreed."
"Merci beaucoup."
"Now, we must plan. How to tell her."
..............
A week passed.
The poor ninja received the coldest receptions then. If she waved happily at Enishi in the market, he would merely and absolutely ignore it, continuing on his way. If she tried to hug Aoshi in the carefree way she used, the okashira would silently wrench himself free from it, and walk to the next room.
"AAAAARGH! Men! They're annoying! VERY annoying!!" she complained to the air in her room.
At any rate, she would not let them get her down for a long time. She ransacked the closets and drawers, and tried to play at dress-up for a few hours, to get her spirits up.
She found one of Okon's prettier everyday kimonos, dark blue with cherry blossoms flying near the hems and the sleeves. She took out Omasu's nicest obi, a white silk one, and admired its effect with a violet tying ribbon. She saw a nice long piece of purple silk lying around, and with it she tied up her hair high on her head, similar to Kaoru's usual hairdo. But she did not like the effect of the ponytail. She wound up the loose hair around the ribbon, and kept it in place with a hair comb from Enishi. Finally, she took out a pair of wooden sandals, barely used, a birthday gift from her Aoshi-sama.
"Misao-chan, a messenger is downstairs to see you!" Omasu called out from the bottom of the stairs.
"Tell him I'm coming," she replied.
One of those annoying messenger boys again, she griped. She could come down to them in any way she looked, they would not bother with her. Thus, after applying a little lipstick and some color to her cheeks, she hobbled down the stairs, without bothering to look at herself in a mirror. She figured she would give the messenger boy a laugh for his pains.
She opened the main door, and was rather surprised to see Soujirou behind it.
"Soujirou-san!" she greeted.
"Kirei..." The young wanderer muttered with ogling eyes. Indeed, she was pretty.
"Really, Soujirou-san?" she grinned, thinking he was playing along. "Do you know of a nearby traveling circus? I need work as a clown...."
"You look just perfect, Misao-san," he mumbled as he gawked at her. Then he shook his head furiously, as if to set it in order. "Aiyaya, I have a message for you. You are to come with me to the edge of town, right now if possible."
"But I can't go to the edge of town looking like this!" she protested.
"On the contrary, you look fine. I am not kidding, Misao-san. We can go right now."
"But why are we going to the edge of town?"
Soujirou gave one of his cheeriest smiles. "I am not allowed to say." He took her right hand, and dropped two pebbles into it. "Although, Misao- san, now would be a very good time to think about our conversation last week."
Misao looked at her right hand, and saw the two stones from his demonstration. White, and black.
She twirled the stones in her hand, as she walked beside her handsome messenger.
He led her to a little hill at the edge of town. Misao had been there several times. She had watched a few glorious sunsets from that hill, and seen the bright lights of Kyoto during festivals. It was one of her favorite places......and both men knew that.
Normally she took the liberty of lying on the grass, head on her hands, feet flapping in the air, the cool mountain breeze through her face and hair. Now, there was a picnic mat waiting for her. Soujirou helped her to sit on the mat, in the elegant position Okon's kimono forced on her.
From behind the trees, she saw the dark uniform of her beloved okashira, and the elegant Chinese suit of her best friend.
Much like their messenger, the blue kimono and the upraised hair stopped both dead in their tracks. She saw the okashira bow his head, and the businessman take out his dark spectacles. "I can't do this," she heard the snowy-haired man complain. The okashira just walked forward resolutely, and motioned for him to follow.
Even the ordeal with that shifty little ferret of a man did not leave her as speechless and petrified as this meeting. Both of them, together, to talk to her?! While she had indeed waited for the chance that these two men would be friends, something about them did not seem right.
There was a confrontation that was not being said, a polite duel that was silently being waged.
"What is the meaning of this, Soujirou-san?!" she begged to be told.
"I do not know everything, either, Misao-san," he replied. "But you will be asked to decide in the end. Listen to them well, and think things over carefully. Once you have made up your mind, decide without hesitation, and make yourself clear. That is all the help I can give you."
He took her right hand, and gave it a final gentlemanly kiss. "Best of luck." He then walked away, to the bottom of the hill.
Jade looked up at turquoise and ice, with eyes full of dread.
............
If you're confused, so am I. And I'm the writer. It's not a good thing. ^^ Ah, the trouble White and Black got me into.
Anyways, replies, replies:
Dallisse-Thanks! Of course I can't kill the guy! ^^ Hope you liked what you got! Thanks for placing me in your faves list!
JML-I'm still asking, why didn't you become a doctor?! ^^ Maybe you plan to be like Michael Crichton instead?
Sabbie-Yeah, ff.net can be annoying. It's getting glitches again? Really? Eni and Mi are balanced? Thanks! Even I didn't notice! But then Misao is not the kind of girl you can subdue for a long time, right?
Chitchat-Thanks for liking last chappie!
CardMistressSakura-Don't die on me yet..you'll get your answer soon. ^-^
Mi-Arigatou. Yeah, but what actual human in the world is like Enishi?!
Devil-Not a lot of troubles left, just the MAJOR problem, as you can see from this chapter.
Iceangel-Yup, I'm watching Rave everyday, then RK afterward of course. I'm actually glad that I could watch Haru without thinking he's an Enishi clone- except in those times he goes "My nee-chan said....I'll fight for what I and nee-chan believe..." And I like Musica, too! Maybe not as much as you, but I like his spunk.
Tiian-Yay, you got to review! Yeah, I know what you mean about describing emotions and such, and that's my weak point. I hate it in novels when things go overboard with descriptions. I have a tendency to go "Some more action, please! More talking! More movement!" Thus, I skip reading descriptions sometimes, to the detriment of my writing. ^^
Firuze-nee-san-Just a few more chapters, and you'll see. ^^ No, no one dies. Sorry for the torture. You believe in me too much, nee-san, arigatou!
Bee-Hi, nice to see ya! Thanks for liking it so far! I'm glad you liked seeing things our way!
Everybody accounted for? Jolly good. You will all have your answer next chapter. ^^
This is probably the longest chapter in all of White and Black. Sorry for the long read. ^^
............
The trial that ensured was completed without much fanfare and without much delay. With all the evidence available, it was a straightforward case. The man, familiar with the former boss' documents, copied his documents and filled them with new data, then told police they were from the boss' own hand. Faced with real documents from his old files, and the boss' unique sealing ring, it was obvious that Enishi was framed. The man was sent to the main penitentiary in Tokyo.
Himura bade farewell to his friends in Kyoto soon after, and returned to his wife and son. He, of course, paid his respects to Tomoe's grave before he left, and chatted with his brother-in-law. He would accept no token of gratitude from him, other than a promise to take care of himself.
However, the presentation of even the most basic of Enishi's old documents alerted some of the highest ranked officials to a large, and international, syndicate. The government could not simply turn its eyes away on such a problem. They had to deal with it, even if only its Japanese branch. Here was one of the syndicate's former top officials, virtually turning himself in, after two years of their careful but fruitless surveillance. On the other hand, the metalworks factory was currently one of Kyoto's larger sources of revenue. To suddenly shut it down would not be good for the city. It was quite a predicament for the Kyoto police, what to do with their best businessman, but also their best catch.
Misao was in a predicament of her own.
"Misao, it has come to my attention that I had not shown my gratitude to you adequately," Enishi mentioned. She had visited him in his office, a few days after the trials ended.
"Come on, haven't you thanked me enough already?" she asked, as she stood by the window facing the street.
He slowly walked nearer and nearer to where she stood. "Thank you for letting me in your life." He stood beside her. "Thank you for showing me your heart." He raised her to the windowsill, until their eyes were level. "Thank you for teaching me how to smile, and how to laugh." He put a hand on her waist. "Thank you for making me see another woman." He caressed her cheek. "Thank you for trusting me." He drew his eyes closer to her. "Thank you for believing me."
He drew her close, and he took her into a long and loving kiss. This time, she relished every millisecond, feeling his arms around her and his breath in her. It was full of his power, his control, as well as his new tenderness and understanding.
When his lips parted from hers, she did not have a clear idea of what hit her. It took her breath away.
"Thank you for giving me back my life."
She blinked at him and stared at his fathomless blue-gray eyes. "Well, now, that's more than adequate."
Neither had noticed a dark figure watching them intently from the street. He took a deep breath of defeat, and walked in the direction of the main temple. The okashira.
He begged to be excused from dinner that evening, so as not to see her across him.
"Please, Aoshi-sama, why are you ignoring me?" Misao asked a few days later at the Shirobeko. She had to practically force the okashira to come with her there for some of Sae's hotpot and some rational conversation.
"Don't you want to be with Yukishiro instead?" he asked, a barely perceptible bitterness in his voice.
She wrapped her arms around him and cooed. "I want to be with you, Aoshi- sama..."
"Like you would want to be with a father, or a brother."
"But you've been my father and my brother for such a long time, Aoshi- sama!"
She suddenly had a very womanly, very mature air about her, as she looked into his eyes. From his surprised face, one could see that he had noticed.
"Aoshi." She said with resolve. "I want to be with you. With YOU."
"But Yukishiro..."
"I have only been waiting for you. While waiting for you, I made him my friend."
"More than your friend."
"So be it. But he is not my Aoshi."
She suddenly found her lips locked in his. Her hands desperately sought the tatami mat, but his arms were on her back, and he raised her far off where she sat. She decided not to fight it. Everything was so right, so perfectly right, so wonderfully right...that somehow it was wrong.
"What....are you doing....Aoshi?" she breathlessly asked at the end.
"Something I should have done much earlier," he replied.
Misao heard the crash of breaking porcelain. She looked behind her, and saw the fragments of a teacup near the booth opposite theirs.
And in the booth, Enishi.
"Sae-san, I apologize for breaking the cup," He cocked his glasses over his nose. "I will pay for it, along with the bill. Send it over to the house tomorrow morning. Thank you for the meal. I must be going." He stood up without a second glance and exited the restaurant.
...............
A month came and went.
A month of emotional and psychological torture.
"This is CRAZY!!" Misao complained to the birds in the forest. "I hate being so lonely!" she griped as she kicked the trees.
"Aoshi-sama is avoiding me. Enishi-san is avoiding me. I can't talk to Okina or the girls about it. I have no one to talk to!!" She screamed the last sentence, until three sparrows flew out of an overhead nest.
Indeed, both the businessman and the Oniwabanshuu okashira took all pains not to be with the ninja. His apologies, but Aoshi-sama had a mission to attend to, and could not come until after dinner. Enishi-san was sorry, but he had clients to meet. And both would not tell her directly. Aoshi sent word by Okina. Enishi sent a messenger.
"It's not my fault! I'm sure it's not my fault!" she argued to a nearby rabbit. "I love them both. I'd die first before I see either of them in trouble. I've tried to be nice. So why are they avoiding me?!"
"They do not know what to do next, Misao-san," the rabbit suddenly replied.
Now Misao knew enough about rabbits and the forest not to be deceived. She looked around her and up at the branches. She eventually found the blue bird she sought. "So you're still in Kyoto, wandering smiley?"
"Hai." The blue bird dropped down beside Misao and grinned.
"You were saying?"
"Misao-san, I do not assume to know much about love and all that," he began, as he brushed off the leaves in his hair. "But as a man, I could guess that they're thinking about their next move. They need time to do that."
She scratched her head.
"Allow me to explain."
He went on his hands and knees for a few seconds, then sat cross-legged before her. He offered the grass beside him to her. She also sat cross- legged, then remembered she sat beside a young man, and changed her position to the half-kneel. Satisfied, the young wanderer beamed and started the demonstration.
"I have here three pebbles, see?" He lay down a small round green stone. "This is you." He placed a large black pebble a few inches away to the right from the green stone. "This is Shinomori-san." To the left of the green stone, at roughly the same distance, he placed a white stone. "And this is Yukishiro-san." The three stones were now in a row, with the green stone in the middle. Misao nodded understanding.
"This is the situation right now, a perfect, if unsure, balance between all of you," Soujirou explained. "Shinomori has no bad feelings for Yukishiro, and vice-versa. However, they would rather keep this precise distance between each other. Because each knows that the other is a rival."
"They shouldn't be rivals! They're both my dear friends!" Misao protested.
"It is hard to explain, Misao-san, but that's the way with men. They prefer it when they have exclusive rights to a woman."
Soujirou moved the white stone closer to the green stone. "Now, if Yukishiro-san, for example, were to make a move," he moved the black stone farther, "Shinomori-san would move away politely, and leave you with him. But," and he moved the green stone again, to restore the first even position, "you would notice, and try to win back Shinomori, losing Yukishiro in the process. Do you understand so far?"
Misao nodded slowly.
"However," and this time he moved the white stone farther away from the even position, "should Yukishiro move farther away from you," he moved the black stone nearer, "Shinomori would eventually notice, and get closer to you. Again, you would be worried, and try to win Yukishiro back, but lose Shinomori." He placed the stones again in the even position.
"Therefore, both Shinomori-san and Yukishiro-san are at a stalemate. They do not want to be farther from you than they are now. But each realizes your importance to the other, and out of courtesy do not want to be nearer to you either. And that, Misao-san, is the situation."
"Can't I be with you for a while, and spite them both?" Misao grinned mischievously.
Soujirou waved his hands in front of him and smiled sheepishly. "No, thank you, Misao-san. Love is a dangerous game to play, so I won't."
"Just kidding." She gave him a quick peck at the cheek. "Thanks for explaining all of that. But what do I do now?"
"Choose."
"Eh?"
"Choose, Misao-san. Once and for all."
..............
Somewhere in the middle of Kyoto, Enishi walked to the middle of a pedestrian bridge. He stopped between two lampposts, leaned on the railing, and admired the changing hues of the setting sun. His tousled hair and silk jacket moved with the slight breeze.
Soon he heard the distinct footsteps of the okashira stop beside him. He took out his tinted glasses from a pocket, and positioned them over his eyes with an elegant twist of his fingers. He did not change his position for the newcomer. He continued to look down on the ripples of the river flowing under the bridge.
"You wanted to see me, Shinomori?"
"Aa." The okashira leaned his back on the railing beside Enishi, and folded his arms over his dark uniform.
Five minutes of silence. Enishi enjoyed the perfect sunset without interruption. If only it did not remind him of the setting of his chances with Misao....
The sky darkened into a deep red. The lamplighter came by and lighted the lampposts between the two men. Still they had not spoken a word.
Finally, the white-haired man broke the silence.
"Is it true, Shinomori?"
"Yes."
"Your idea, I suppose. Admit it, you want to get rid of me."
"It was not my idea. You have my word."
"Pardieu...." he muttered under his breath.
He watched the stars appear and the moon rise from beyond the hills.
"She taught me to smile again, that weasel..."
"Aa."
"She saw beyond what I thought I was...."
"Aa."
He continued with a sad voice, still looking down at the dark water below him. "Shinomori, I have an idea of what you feel about her. I respect that. I even think that Misao would be better off with you than with me. But, Shinomori, it does not change the fact that...I love her. Be the situation as it is, I still want to tell her that. But with everything that you have done for her, and with everything you have done for me, I could not propose to her without your approval, or at least your permission."
The okashira listened in silence.
"If you will not allow me, I will not force the issue. I will not propose. I will leave her with you." And the businessman hid his face in his arms, trying vaguely to hide his consternation and defeat.
"A proposition, Yukishiro," Shinomori eventually said.
Enishi looked up at the man with some surprise.
"We both tell her."
"Then?"
"She shall decide what to do."
Another five minutes of silence, as both contemplated the agreement.
"I have one request," Enishi spoke.
"Go on."
"Whatever she decides, I ask for the option to continue to be her associate, her companion, her ally--"
"-Her friend, yes?"
"Yes." Enishi presented his right hand to him. "A handshake is all I ask to seal the oral contract."
Shinomori took the hand into his own. "Agreed."
"Merci beaucoup."
"Now, we must plan. How to tell her."
..............
A week passed.
The poor ninja received the coldest receptions then. If she waved happily at Enishi in the market, he would merely and absolutely ignore it, continuing on his way. If she tried to hug Aoshi in the carefree way she used, the okashira would silently wrench himself free from it, and walk to the next room.
"AAAAARGH! Men! They're annoying! VERY annoying!!" she complained to the air in her room.
At any rate, she would not let them get her down for a long time. She ransacked the closets and drawers, and tried to play at dress-up for a few hours, to get her spirits up.
She found one of Okon's prettier everyday kimonos, dark blue with cherry blossoms flying near the hems and the sleeves. She took out Omasu's nicest obi, a white silk one, and admired its effect with a violet tying ribbon. She saw a nice long piece of purple silk lying around, and with it she tied up her hair high on her head, similar to Kaoru's usual hairdo. But she did not like the effect of the ponytail. She wound up the loose hair around the ribbon, and kept it in place with a hair comb from Enishi. Finally, she took out a pair of wooden sandals, barely used, a birthday gift from her Aoshi-sama.
"Misao-chan, a messenger is downstairs to see you!" Omasu called out from the bottom of the stairs.
"Tell him I'm coming," she replied.
One of those annoying messenger boys again, she griped. She could come down to them in any way she looked, they would not bother with her. Thus, after applying a little lipstick and some color to her cheeks, she hobbled down the stairs, without bothering to look at herself in a mirror. She figured she would give the messenger boy a laugh for his pains.
She opened the main door, and was rather surprised to see Soujirou behind it.
"Soujirou-san!" she greeted.
"Kirei..." The young wanderer muttered with ogling eyes. Indeed, she was pretty.
"Really, Soujirou-san?" she grinned, thinking he was playing along. "Do you know of a nearby traveling circus? I need work as a clown...."
"You look just perfect, Misao-san," he mumbled as he gawked at her. Then he shook his head furiously, as if to set it in order. "Aiyaya, I have a message for you. You are to come with me to the edge of town, right now if possible."
"But I can't go to the edge of town looking like this!" she protested.
"On the contrary, you look fine. I am not kidding, Misao-san. We can go right now."
"But why are we going to the edge of town?"
Soujirou gave one of his cheeriest smiles. "I am not allowed to say." He took her right hand, and dropped two pebbles into it. "Although, Misao- san, now would be a very good time to think about our conversation last week."
Misao looked at her right hand, and saw the two stones from his demonstration. White, and black.
She twirled the stones in her hand, as she walked beside her handsome messenger.
He led her to a little hill at the edge of town. Misao had been there several times. She had watched a few glorious sunsets from that hill, and seen the bright lights of Kyoto during festivals. It was one of her favorite places......and both men knew that.
Normally she took the liberty of lying on the grass, head on her hands, feet flapping in the air, the cool mountain breeze through her face and hair. Now, there was a picnic mat waiting for her. Soujirou helped her to sit on the mat, in the elegant position Okon's kimono forced on her.
From behind the trees, she saw the dark uniform of her beloved okashira, and the elegant Chinese suit of her best friend.
Much like their messenger, the blue kimono and the upraised hair stopped both dead in their tracks. She saw the okashira bow his head, and the businessman take out his dark spectacles. "I can't do this," she heard the snowy-haired man complain. The okashira just walked forward resolutely, and motioned for him to follow.
Even the ordeal with that shifty little ferret of a man did not leave her as speechless and petrified as this meeting. Both of them, together, to talk to her?! While she had indeed waited for the chance that these two men would be friends, something about them did not seem right.
There was a confrontation that was not being said, a polite duel that was silently being waged.
"What is the meaning of this, Soujirou-san?!" she begged to be told.
"I do not know everything, either, Misao-san," he replied. "But you will be asked to decide in the end. Listen to them well, and think things over carefully. Once you have made up your mind, decide without hesitation, and make yourself clear. That is all the help I can give you."
He took her right hand, and gave it a final gentlemanly kiss. "Best of luck." He then walked away, to the bottom of the hill.
Jade looked up at turquoise and ice, with eyes full of dread.
............
If you're confused, so am I. And I'm the writer. It's not a good thing. ^^ Ah, the trouble White and Black got me into.
Anyways, replies, replies:
Dallisse-Thanks! Of course I can't kill the guy! ^^ Hope you liked what you got! Thanks for placing me in your faves list!
JML-I'm still asking, why didn't you become a doctor?! ^^ Maybe you plan to be like Michael Crichton instead?
Sabbie-Yeah, ff.net can be annoying. It's getting glitches again? Really? Eni and Mi are balanced? Thanks! Even I didn't notice! But then Misao is not the kind of girl you can subdue for a long time, right?
Chitchat-Thanks for liking last chappie!
CardMistressSakura-Don't die on me yet..you'll get your answer soon. ^-^
Mi-Arigatou. Yeah, but what actual human in the world is like Enishi?!
Devil-Not a lot of troubles left, just the MAJOR problem, as you can see from this chapter.
Iceangel-Yup, I'm watching Rave everyday, then RK afterward of course. I'm actually glad that I could watch Haru without thinking he's an Enishi clone- except in those times he goes "My nee-chan said....I'll fight for what I and nee-chan believe..." And I like Musica, too! Maybe not as much as you, but I like his spunk.
Tiian-Yay, you got to review! Yeah, I know what you mean about describing emotions and such, and that's my weak point. I hate it in novels when things go overboard with descriptions. I have a tendency to go "Some more action, please! More talking! More movement!" Thus, I skip reading descriptions sometimes, to the detriment of my writing. ^^
Firuze-nee-san-Just a few more chapters, and you'll see. ^^ No, no one dies. Sorry for the torture. You believe in me too much, nee-san, arigatou!
Bee-Hi, nice to see ya! Thanks for liking it so far! I'm glad you liked seeing things our way!
Everybody accounted for? Jolly good. You will all have your answer next chapter. ^^