Chapter 9- Terror at the Aoiya

It wasn't long before Genichi was to turn six. And as with the past years, a big celebration was being planned in the boy's honor. The Aoiya was closed for the day and the dining rooms were quickly transformed into an array of bright decorations and even some piles of gifts.

Okina was the one behind most of those, having Kumo and Shiro stack them up to the ceiling one-by-one. Okon had asked him. "Do you think you've got him enough?"

The old man flashed an excited smile and replied. "Oh, but there's more!"

Omasu and Okon were both working on making the food, mainly noodles, tea, and to wrap things up: a huge cake.

To keep things a secret, Shiro was called upon to take Genichi into town and pick up some sake as soon as the boy was awake. Now, they were long gone and the Aoiya was filled with the sounds of construction and the smell of delicious food.

Only Aoshi was at ease, while the rest of his crew struggled to get up the decorations and get things situated. He sat on the step that led down into the dojo, with a pouch in his large hand. He stared at it intently. This was the year Genichi would receive what was inside of it, something that had been hidden away within the building for 6 years.

"Aoshi! Come quick! Your son's on his way back!" Omasu yelled to him.

Sighing, the okashira got to his feet, tucked the blue bundle into his gi, and headed towards the dining hall where all the Oniwaban gathered.

Shiro opened the door first, three large bottles of sake in hand. Winking towards them all, he hopped aside and propped open the door with one foot. "Come on, Genichi! Let's move a little here!"

"Sorry, Uncle Shiro I was just." Genichi fell silent before letting out an excited yelp. "WOW!!!"

"Tanjoubi omedetou, Genichi!" Okina shouted first, followed by a chorus of the same thing from the others.

The boy was jumping up and down. "Yay! Cool!"

Aoshi shook his head, a slight smile on his face. This was the part he would have hated had he been Genichi.

The party went exactly as everyone had planned and then some. Genichi went from joyously gobbling up every bit of food on his plate to opening the presents piled sky-high for him. Okina had given him all kinds of toys and a new wooden sword to train with. The girls gave him a new kimono and some training outfits, Oniwaban-style of course. Shiro and Kumo made him a dummy out of some old sacs and sand to practice training with. The boy was on cloud nine at the moment.

At long last, Aoshi cleared his throat. "Genichi."

The child stopped laughing, looked up at his father, and rose to his feet. "Papa?"

Aoshi reached into his gi to pull out a familiar blue pouch. With great care, as though holding a priceless piece of art, he held it out to his son. "Shinomori Genichi, contained within this is the prized weaponry of your mother."

Everyone, not just Genichi, gasped.

"Aoshi is really going to give those to him." Okina thought.

Genichi stared past the pouch and into his father's eyes, those of which he could barely see beneath those long black bangs. Slowly, he reached out to take them.

POOM!!!!

A loud explosion and crash brought the event to a grinding halt. "What was that?" Omasu gasped.

"The entrance!" Was all Okina yelled as he rushed out of the room. Everyone scattered about, leaving father and son in the wake of it all.

Aoshi could already hear the sounds of a battle taking place. "No." He glanced down at his child. "Genichi! Get out of here now! Go upstairs!"

The boy's face paled. "But Papa, I."

POOM!!! POOM!!! CRASH!!!!

The Aoiya erupted in chaos as fighters came flying into the room. Aoshi shoved Genichi behind him and reached for his kodachi.