Author's Notes: Okay... whoa. The last time I updated was before Thanksgiving. I'm sorry! (kicks self) My brain has been elsewhere. I moved into a new house just before Christmas, and have been trying to find a job (for nearly a year now, with no luck...) so I haven't been in the fic-writing mood. I really, really do want to finish this... I just have to try to remember where I want to go with it.
For those of you who have been following this fic, I'm sorry for taking so long. I'll try to update more often, really!
Disclaimer: The characters actually belong to N. Watsuki/Shueisha, etc. I am just borrowing them to amuse myself.
Italics indicate thoughts or emphasized words.
Alternate Tale of the Meiji Era, Chapter 10
by Fujimiya Maru
Wind whistled through the cracks of the rickety dojo, as a springtime storm passed quickly overhead. It was late now, and most of the occupants had retired to bed. Except for one.
Shinomori Aoshi was seated in a room set aside for his study, going over paperwork and having a cup of tea. It was a peaceful night, despite the creaking and groaning of the building against the wind. Setting down his work, he just sat and listened to the sounds of the dark.
Trees, with their new leaves, rustling.
The occasional raindrop hitting the ground.
Sanosuke, snoring in the room down the hall.
A dog, barking in the distance.
Footsteps on the roof.
Footsteps on the roof?!?!?
Aoshi quietly grabbed his kodachi and made out of his study, sliding the door shut behind him. Who was this intruder? A thief, or an assassin? Saitou had made sure that no one really knew who was staying at the Kamiya Dojo, so that the Oniwabanshuu could operate properly. Either way, their security was compromised.
Following the sounds from the roof, the okashira made his way down the hall. The intruder had managed to get all the way across to where the bedrooms were. Aoshi froze, and raised an eyebrow when the person slipped on the shingles, paused, then continued to the edge of the building. He stayed hidden around the corner as he heard the clumsy trespasser climb down to the porch.
Aoshi realized that the person was about to enter Sanosuke's room. Of course that idiot hasn't woken up, despite all the noise this person has made. The intruder had the door open wide enough to enter the room, and disappeared inside. Aoshi waited to see what they would do, and if Sano would notice. Hopefully he'll wake up before his throat gets cut...
Sanosuke evidently did notice, as there was a sudden crash, followed by the ex-fighter yelling, "What the fuck!?!?" This was quickly followed by a rather high-pitched scream, and the sound of a slap to the face.
Taking pity on the boy, Aoshi quickly entered the room and lit the lantern by the door. Hannya had also heard the commotion and was quietly standing nearby. Sano was sprawled partially on his futon, glaring at his attacker.
"Aoshi-sama!"
Small warm arms latched around his waist, and he looked down at the assailant.
"Misao?"
*************
Misao fiddled with her pink obi while the men of the Oniwabanshuu took their seats nearby. She had expected a much more warm welcome than this... She'd even tried to sneak up on her beloved Aoshi-sama, to surprise him. How could she have known that the person sleeping in that room was someone else?
Moping by the doorway was Sano, his left cheek still burning from the little ninja girl's slap. When Aoshi came in, he decided to speak up.
"So... You guys know this pervert?"
The petite girl jumped up. "Pervert!!! Who are you calling a pervert, jackass!"
"You're the one who tried to crawl in bed with me! What kind of girl are you?" Sano smirked in her direction.
"I thought you were someone else! Besides, you're the one who grabbed my chest!" Misao pointed a finger at the tall brunette, blushing pink.
"I was only trying to defend myself!" countered Sano, "Besides, you didn't have much of anything to grab in the first place."
Misao whipped out her kunai, prepared to make sashimi of the rude ex-fighter-for-hire. Aoshi put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Misao," he said quietly. "What are you doing here?"
Happy to have her okashira's attention, she put away her weapons and beamed a bright smile at him.
"Well, since you guys left me in Kyoto with Jiya I've been looking for you guys! Usually when I hear of your whereabouts you guys are gone by the time I get there but this time I found you! I'm so happy to see-"
Aoshi cut her off. "Does Okina know that you are here?"
Misao looked away and started to fidget again. "Well... sort of..."
"I see. I will write him a letter tomorrow, so he can send somebody to fetch you."
The young ninja gaped, and looked crestfallen. Isn't he at least the tiniest bit happy to see me?
"Aoshi-sama," interjected Hannya, "Misao-sama has just arrived. Perhaps she could stay awhile before she goes back to Kyoto?"
"True, it has been so long since we've seen our precious Misao-chan. Why not let her visit?" added Shikijo.
"Yeah!" Misao piped up, no longer sad. "I mean, I don't want to go back to Kyoto, I want to stay here with you guys! I'll go back if you tell me to but at least let me stay for a while!"
Aoshi pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to stop a headache. Having to take care of the girl interfered with his plans for the Oniwabanshuu here in Tokyo, and he had left Misao in Kyoto with the old man for a reason. But looking over to her hopeful sea-green eyes, he found he could not entirely deny her request.
"Very well." he said, and she nearly jumped up in celebration. "You may stay a while, but I will still send word to Okina where you are. I am very disappointed that you went against my wishes and left the Aoiya, but since you are already here we will look after you."
"Just don't sneak into my bed again. I don't go for little kids!" griped Sano from his spot across the room.
"Who are you calling LITTLE!" Misao threw the nearest object she could find at Sanosuke. A teacup hit him square in the middle of the forehead, shattering. The other ninjas laughed and spurred them on as they argued, as the okashira looked on with concealed amusement.
*************
It took a lot of persuasion, but Hannya finally convinced Misao to retire for the evening after promising to train with her the next day. Bedroom arrangements were changed, and Aoshi found himself moving his futon into his study so that the girl could have a room to herself.
He regretted being so cold to the young girl, but his training and nature prevented him from outward displays of affection. Why did she have to come here *now*?
He also felt bad about leaving her in Kyoto all those years ago. She was but a wisp of a child back then, full of innocence and energy. He had left without saying good-bye to her, which he was sure broke her heart. He and the four members of the Oniwabanshuu had been her family. At the time, it had been the best decision, both for the Oniwabanshuu and for Misao's sake.
Aoshi wanted to think that the little girl he had taken care of all those years ago would never change, never grow up. And while she seemed to have retained both her innocence and vital energy, his Misao wasn't a little girl anymore.
Why did she have to grow into such a lovely young woman?
*************
Saitou approached the dojo early in the morning, intent on dropping off the files on the circus case. The sooner I rid myself of this drivel the sooner I can move on to more important things...
Rounding the corner into the courtyard, the lanky policeman managed to barely avoid a sharp kunai, which whistled past his ear and stuck itself in the wall behind him. On the ground before him was Sanosuke, who had obviously ducked to evade the attack. In front of Sano was a tiny girl in an indecently short outfit, with more kunai ready in one had and an embarrassed look on her face. The Oniwabanshuu stood quietly behind her, eating breakfast.
"Heh, good one, Jou-chan! You nearly killed the psycho cop!" Sano brayed from the ground, laughing loudly. Saitou eyed the girl, then turned to the quiet okashira.
"Oi, who is this... " A thousand insulting thoughts ran through Saitou's head. "... Weasel girl?"
Misao immediately took offense and moved to kick the discourteous man in the head, but Sano held her back. "Maa, maa, don't mind that temee, that's just his way..."
Aoshi, however, regarded Saitou with a rather icy glare. "Makimachi Misao is the granddaughter of our former okashira, and a member of the Oniwabanshuu. She will be staying with us for a while. Do you have a problem with that?"
The former shinsengumi just shrugged. "Whatever. I just came by to drop off the information on the case."
He took the folder from Saitou and thumbed through the contents. Locations, permits for the circus tents, a list of people who had been threatened, and informants who might know what the targets might be up to. Misao perked up and tried to peek over Aoshi's shoulder, but a stern look from the scary cop sent her to sit next to Hannya.
"Hn. We will look into it today, then."
"Look into what?" queried Misao.
"None of your business, Weasel girl." She bristled at Saitou, but Aoshi chose to explain.
"This man is Saitou Hajime, the former captain of the third squad of the Shinsengumi. We work for him now." He paused, and Misao eyed the Wolf of Mibu with a mixture of awe and suspicion. "He was given a minor case involving a circus that's in town, so we are going to investigate for him."
Misao clapped her hands together. "The circus! Aoshi-sama, I love the circus! When are we going?" Saitou and Sano both rolled their eyes. Aoshi sighed but kept his face neutral.
"I suppose you can go with us. Besides, it would look strange for a group of grown men to go to the circus by themselves." Misao smiled brightly and thanked him, then ran towards the house, chattering all the way about what she was going to wear and how much she loved it when Aoshi-sama used to take her to the circus in Kyoto when she was little.
"So we'll be leaving soon, then?" asked Hannya.
"Ah. Hannya, take Beshimi and Shikijo and investigate the alleys around the tents; keep your eyes out for suspicious looking people and keep out of sight as much as possible. Hyottoko, Misao and I will see the show, then question the employees. Any questions?"
"Yeah, what about me?" demanded Sanosuke, picking his teeth with a fishbone.
"Um..." Aoshi blinked, having actually forgotten the loud boy's presence. "Stay here and... do the laundry?"
"WHAT???"
"Think of it as training... to learn patience." Aoshi said, hiding a smirk. Saitou and the others openly snickered.
The Oniwabanshuu all retreated to the house to prepare and to fetch their young companion, leaving Sanosuke grumbling and Saitou watching him in amusement. After a moment, he turned and started leave. Realizing this, Sano jumped to his feet and went after him.
"Hey, wait a minute, Officer Fujita." he growled.
Saitou decided to humor the boy, and stopped to light a cigarette. "... What is it, ahou?"
"I have a question I want to ask you." Saitou still had his back to him, but he hadn't walked away or cut him off. He nervously stuck one hand in his pocket and scratched the back of his head with the other. "Well, y'see... I was kinda wondering why you didn't tell me who you really were. I found out from Hannya, but..."
A trail of smoke lazily drifted by. "Ahou." Saitou said quietly, almost fondly. "Does it really matter?"
"It does to me!" spat the ex-fighter. "I mean, we were certainly all cozy when I was staying at your place, you could have at least..." He trailed off, noticing that Saitou was glowering at him from over his shoulder. Sano flushed, feeling foolish, and stared down at his feet.
Saitou approached the self-conscious brunette, and patted him condescendingly on the head as if he was a child.
"Now, ahou, don't pout. I figured you would have found out sooner or later." Sano looked up at the cop, who had that disturbing friendly face on. "Actually, I would have thought you'd figure it out sooner, but I guess I overestimated you." Sano ground his teeth, not wanting Saitou to have the pleasure of goading him into losing his temper.
"Fine. Whatever, temee." Sano looked to the side, not wanting to show that it bother him. Saitou smirked at him, and moved his hand from the top of the boy's head to pat him softly on the cheek.
"I have to go back to the station. Have fun doing the laundry... sweetheart."
Saitou was out the door before Sano could even retort, knowing that the boy was sputtering and blushing as red as his bandana. He made his way down the street, smiling to himself and taking lazy drags on his cigarette. Hn, maybe the ahou is right... Maybe I am stalking him...
More Author's Notes: It was such an Aoshi + Misao chapter, I felt the need to put a little Saitou + Sano at the end.
Next chapter: Okay the next chapter is fun at the circus... maybe.
