Chapter 5
The storm was raging in the mountains making it hard for the chariot to ride on the way to the cabin. The figures inside tried to maintain their cheerfulness with not much success. It was a long cold ride, but soon it'll all be over. "Faster Princess!" shouted the driver at the horse. "We must get to the cabin before we'll freeze to death! You can do it!" The chariot dashed off like the wind on the road to the cabin.
Back in the house, Misao burst into room number one in tears. She jumped on the bed, shaking Megumi awake. "Megumi San, you have to help Aoshi Sama! He's very sick. He's hallucinating!! He's going to die! Help him! Please!!!" "Calm down girl! You're exaggerating. He is a very strong man and will survive this little sickness until the morning. There there." Megumi petted Misao's head comfortably. "Just lie down here and relax. Hey! Not too much. Don't fall asleep. Arge!" Misao was fast asleep in Megumi's arms. "What am I suppose to do now?"
Sano and Kenshin were busy in the kitchen. Sano looking for cups for the tea when Kenshin pulled out a Sake jug from the bottom drawer. "Kenshin! Sake in the middle of the night? Isn't it Gensai's Sake?" "Lighten up, Sano, don't be so serious." "Wait a minute, me refusing to Sake? Forget Gensai, bring it on!" Kenshin smiled happily and placed two Sake cups on the table. They started drinking. Five minutes later, Kenshin was already spilling nonsense out of his muzzle. "You know Sano, *hic* there are many beautiful flowers in the world, but the most beautiful one is right here in this house. And you know, *hic* there are many beautiful birds, but none compare to the one I'm talking about." Sano smiled at the silliness of his friend and the innocent expression of love towards Jo-Chan, and decided to play along. "So. You fancy one of the residents, eh." he winked. "That person is very lucky." Kenshin blushed red and giggled. "S..Sano, you're embarrassing me." "Kenshin, you're acting like a little school girl." *We never talk about thing like that. What should I say?* He thought about giving him an advice from his experience, or lack of experience, in relationships. "Don't be shy; you should just go to that person and." He never finished his sentence, because the minute Kenshin heard the word "go" he leaped across the table into Sano's lap. Now it was Sano's turn to blush. He was too shocked to move and was quite taken aback when Kenshin came closer. They were both startled when a voice from behind said, "What a surprise. I turn my back for one second and you jump on him, Battousai." Saito stood at the door, his wolfish eyes shining with rage aimed at the puzzled pair in front of him. "And you" his gaze shifted to Sano "don't look so dumb! You've been playing with everyone tonight!" "What the hell are you.?" Sano started but Kenshin barged in. "Really Saito, you had plenty of chances to make a move. So don't be upset I was smart enough to strike first. Now leave us alone." "Kenshin" Sano said "I don't know what you're." "I'm not going anywhere. Just get off him and we'll settle it once and for all." "Listen" Sano got up pushing Kenshin away "I don't want to interrupt your little conversation." "Saito, look what you did. Sano come back here!" "He doesn't want you Battousai, that's obvious!" "May I have a word.?" "We WILL settle this now, Battousai, over the match we had long ago." Saito said and pulled the chess board out of his pocket. "Suits me fine!" They set next to the table, both determined to win. Sano stood there agape. *What the hell are they talking about? Are they really.* A blush covered his entire face. "Now you listen up! You better stop this right now, 'cause I'm not into this." "Shut up Sano!" They said in union. "This is important!" Said Saito while Kenshin said, "This concerns your future!" and they started setting the pawns. "That's it, I've had enough!" Sano said to the empty air. "I'm outta here!"
Megumi's mind was working fast to the sounds of Misao's soft snoring. She was still curled up in her arms. *She's fast asleep. I think I can move her now. With her out of the way, I can go safely to see Aoshi.* She moved Misao and quietly left the room into Aoshi's room.
Sano stormed out of the kitchen, and thought to himself. *Those stupid morons! How DARE they treat me like that?! Wait a minute, I'm alone and it's the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to my doctor friend. Finely I know what room she's in, I can't miss now.* He went up to room number one. *Okay, take a deep breath* He opened the door cautiously and walked in on his teepee toes. There, on the bed, Megumi was fast asleep. *I shall wake my love with a kiss. And make it dramatic.* He closed his eyes and leaned closer to his sleeping beauty. Her muffled voice said, "Hmm. Aoshi Sama." *Aoshi Sama?* Sano thought and opened his eyes in alarm. "YOU?!" "What? YOU AGAIN?!" Misao jumped out of the bed and kicked him across the room. "I knew there was something funny about you! What on earth were you doing?!" "What are you doing in Megumi's room?! Where is she?!" "She was here a moment ago. None of your business! Get out!" She drew her knives out. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm going." He said and backed out of the room. *What a tiring night. And I haven't accomplished anything. I'm going to bed.* He went back to his room only to find Yahiko building a snowman from the bed covers. "That's it! I've had enough! I'm going to sleep in the living room!" and stormed out. "What did I do?" thought Yahiko and carried on with his master piece grumbling.
Megumi stood in Aoshi's room and was stunned by the scene reviled before her eyes. Aoshi was sitting next to the window, gazing at the storm outside. He looked so beautiful. Megumi approached him slowly and noticed his sad eyes. "You look so sad." Megumi whispered. "Even Ninjas can be sad." He said with a despaired tone. "Is there anything I can do?" "Look at the snow. It's so beautiful and tranquil." "Yes" "Yes" There was an awkward pause. Aoshi turned to Megumi. "I'm like the snow in a storm. So beautiful and tranquil from the outside, but on the inside, there's a storm. I feel so lost and poor. Nobody understands me and my." he kept going on describing his long life and miserable self. Megumi started thinking to herself *How annoying, he just goes on and on. How could I fall for this guy? He's so boring and self centered. I should shut him up.* ". and when I was eighteen, I." He stopped talking because Megumi had her arm around his face when she hugged him. "It's okay Aoshi" she comforted him "There there, just relax." Suddenly the door burst open and an angry Misao appeared. "Are you trying to choke Aoshi Sama? Is that what you came here for?" "No. I'm comforting him." Megumi said with a soothing voice. "Oh" Misao's face relaxed and brightened. "Can I sleep here too? I don't like sleeping alone, and this rooster-head is bothering me all the time."
Finely, after many arrangements Sano managed to find a comfortable place to sleep. He closed his eyes and was drifting into a dream. He was sitting on the dojo steps minding his own business. *Damn. All I wanted was some food. Where are those guys?* when someone knocked on the gate. "Who are you?" "How do you do? I'm a peddler from Tama; I have some unusual medicines called Ishida powder. My name is Fujita Gorou." *Wait a minute, that's Saito. What does he wants?* "Hey Saito, I won the match! The deal was for you to leave Sano for me!" Kenshin appeared suddenly. "I don't honor deals with cheaters like you!" said Saito. "You just don't know how to lose" "Cheater!" "Loser!" Sano turned in his sleep. *These guys just won't give up. Shut up!!* "Cheater!" "Loser!" Sano opened his eyes and saw Kenshin and Saito arguing above him. "Cheater!" "Loser!" "What the hell! Are you guys still on that?" "There was a tie, Rooster. You have to choose once and for all."
Kaoru was sitting on her bad in front of an empty page. "How should I rephrase that note so Kenshin will understand that he needs to come to this room, and still make it tempting and mysterious? I wonder why he didn't understood the first note." She heard voices from the living room and tried unsuccessfully to ignore them. "How can I think with all that racket! I'm going there right now to give them a piece of my mind!" and she left the room. Out side she met Yahiko. "How come you're still up? You're just a kid. You need to go to sleep early." "Don't talk to me like that! I'm not a kid. I, Yahiko Myoujin, can't work on my master piece with all that noise. I'm going there right now to give them a piece of my mind!" "Me to!" "Misao chan, you're up too?" Misao, Megumi and Aoshi stood in the hall. "Aoshi Sama needs his rest and those idiots are shouting so laud that the neighbors will call the police." "What neighbors?" asked Yahiko. "Never mind that! It woke us all up. So lets go there right now and give them a piece of our mind!" The angry-gumi marched to the living room.
"You cheating lying scum!" "You big headed loser!" "Get away from me! Both of you!" Sano shouted and looked around for a place to hide. He noticed the fuming bunch. Kaoru was practically gnashing her teeth. "Look what you did! You woke everyone up with your stupid unrelated arguments!" "Kenshin! What's going on? Why are you holding Sano like that?!" "O.Oro?" "Great, Battousai. Everyone is up and it's all because of you." Aoshi approached Saito "How could you, Saito? Is it because I shouted at you? Now I need to close myself in a room and let the storm rage." "Oh shut up! No one cares about you and your whining" "Megumi San, don't talk like you know anything. You've never been there for Aoshi Sama. You don't know him like I do. Aoshi Sama, what are you saying?" "What do you mean 'I don't know him'. He's a boring, whining, depressed man who thinks the world revolves around him! He's bad like the rest of them." Sano felt he had to say something "I've been looking for you the whole night, fox, and now that I've finely found you the whole atmosphere is ruined. The truth is." "The truth is, rooster head, that you've been flirting with me the whole night with that stupid note you left. That note." Everyone stared at the note is Saito's hand. Kenshin snatched the note "That note was for me! Sano left it on my bed!" "I didn't write any stupid notes. It's not my style." "Ah. I. I left you that note Kenshin." Kaoru blushed. There was a heavy silence. Everyone stared at everyone, mad and embarrassed. "You're all stupid" said Yahiko. Suddenly the door burst open. Inside came four dark characters. "Who are you? I didn't invite anyone to my house!" said an angry Dr. Gensai, and a vicious looking Ayame and Suzame glared at everyone. "Chief Uramura! Arrest these trespassers!" Chief Uramura came in with nasty handcuffs.
...In the police station. "Okay, the situation is this" the chief of police knocked his club to his palm irritably. "Since we arrested twelve criminals who tried to take over Kyoto and all of Japan, we have only six cells left. So we'll need to divide you into some pairs." The eight characters stared at each other with despair.
Owari.
The storm was raging in the mountains making it hard for the chariot to ride on the way to the cabin. The figures inside tried to maintain their cheerfulness with not much success. It was a long cold ride, but soon it'll all be over. "Faster Princess!" shouted the driver at the horse. "We must get to the cabin before we'll freeze to death! You can do it!" The chariot dashed off like the wind on the road to the cabin.
Back in the house, Misao burst into room number one in tears. She jumped on the bed, shaking Megumi awake. "Megumi San, you have to help Aoshi Sama! He's very sick. He's hallucinating!! He's going to die! Help him! Please!!!" "Calm down girl! You're exaggerating. He is a very strong man and will survive this little sickness until the morning. There there." Megumi petted Misao's head comfortably. "Just lie down here and relax. Hey! Not too much. Don't fall asleep. Arge!" Misao was fast asleep in Megumi's arms. "What am I suppose to do now?"
Sano and Kenshin were busy in the kitchen. Sano looking for cups for the tea when Kenshin pulled out a Sake jug from the bottom drawer. "Kenshin! Sake in the middle of the night? Isn't it Gensai's Sake?" "Lighten up, Sano, don't be so serious." "Wait a minute, me refusing to Sake? Forget Gensai, bring it on!" Kenshin smiled happily and placed two Sake cups on the table. They started drinking. Five minutes later, Kenshin was already spilling nonsense out of his muzzle. "You know Sano, *hic* there are many beautiful flowers in the world, but the most beautiful one is right here in this house. And you know, *hic* there are many beautiful birds, but none compare to the one I'm talking about." Sano smiled at the silliness of his friend and the innocent expression of love towards Jo-Chan, and decided to play along. "So. You fancy one of the residents, eh." he winked. "That person is very lucky." Kenshin blushed red and giggled. "S..Sano, you're embarrassing me." "Kenshin, you're acting like a little school girl." *We never talk about thing like that. What should I say?* He thought about giving him an advice from his experience, or lack of experience, in relationships. "Don't be shy; you should just go to that person and." He never finished his sentence, because the minute Kenshin heard the word "go" he leaped across the table into Sano's lap. Now it was Sano's turn to blush. He was too shocked to move and was quite taken aback when Kenshin came closer. They were both startled when a voice from behind said, "What a surprise. I turn my back for one second and you jump on him, Battousai." Saito stood at the door, his wolfish eyes shining with rage aimed at the puzzled pair in front of him. "And you" his gaze shifted to Sano "don't look so dumb! You've been playing with everyone tonight!" "What the hell are you.?" Sano started but Kenshin barged in. "Really Saito, you had plenty of chances to make a move. So don't be upset I was smart enough to strike first. Now leave us alone." "Kenshin" Sano said "I don't know what you're." "I'm not going anywhere. Just get off him and we'll settle it once and for all." "Listen" Sano got up pushing Kenshin away "I don't want to interrupt your little conversation." "Saito, look what you did. Sano come back here!" "He doesn't want you Battousai, that's obvious!" "May I have a word.?" "We WILL settle this now, Battousai, over the match we had long ago." Saito said and pulled the chess board out of his pocket. "Suits me fine!" They set next to the table, both determined to win. Sano stood there agape. *What the hell are they talking about? Are they really.* A blush covered his entire face. "Now you listen up! You better stop this right now, 'cause I'm not into this." "Shut up Sano!" They said in union. "This is important!" Said Saito while Kenshin said, "This concerns your future!" and they started setting the pawns. "That's it, I've had enough!" Sano said to the empty air. "I'm outta here!"
Megumi's mind was working fast to the sounds of Misao's soft snoring. She was still curled up in her arms. *She's fast asleep. I think I can move her now. With her out of the way, I can go safely to see Aoshi.* She moved Misao and quietly left the room into Aoshi's room.
Sano stormed out of the kitchen, and thought to himself. *Those stupid morons! How DARE they treat me like that?! Wait a minute, I'm alone and it's the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to my doctor friend. Finely I know what room she's in, I can't miss now.* He went up to room number one. *Okay, take a deep breath* He opened the door cautiously and walked in on his teepee toes. There, on the bed, Megumi was fast asleep. *I shall wake my love with a kiss. And make it dramatic.* He closed his eyes and leaned closer to his sleeping beauty. Her muffled voice said, "Hmm. Aoshi Sama." *Aoshi Sama?* Sano thought and opened his eyes in alarm. "YOU?!" "What? YOU AGAIN?!" Misao jumped out of the bed and kicked him across the room. "I knew there was something funny about you! What on earth were you doing?!" "What are you doing in Megumi's room?! Where is she?!" "She was here a moment ago. None of your business! Get out!" She drew her knives out. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm going." He said and backed out of the room. *What a tiring night. And I haven't accomplished anything. I'm going to bed.* He went back to his room only to find Yahiko building a snowman from the bed covers. "That's it! I've had enough! I'm going to sleep in the living room!" and stormed out. "What did I do?" thought Yahiko and carried on with his master piece grumbling.
Megumi stood in Aoshi's room and was stunned by the scene reviled before her eyes. Aoshi was sitting next to the window, gazing at the storm outside. He looked so beautiful. Megumi approached him slowly and noticed his sad eyes. "You look so sad." Megumi whispered. "Even Ninjas can be sad." He said with a despaired tone. "Is there anything I can do?" "Look at the snow. It's so beautiful and tranquil." "Yes" "Yes" There was an awkward pause. Aoshi turned to Megumi. "I'm like the snow in a storm. So beautiful and tranquil from the outside, but on the inside, there's a storm. I feel so lost and poor. Nobody understands me and my." he kept going on describing his long life and miserable self. Megumi started thinking to herself *How annoying, he just goes on and on. How could I fall for this guy? He's so boring and self centered. I should shut him up.* ". and when I was eighteen, I." He stopped talking because Megumi had her arm around his face when she hugged him. "It's okay Aoshi" she comforted him "There there, just relax." Suddenly the door burst open and an angry Misao appeared. "Are you trying to choke Aoshi Sama? Is that what you came here for?" "No. I'm comforting him." Megumi said with a soothing voice. "Oh" Misao's face relaxed and brightened. "Can I sleep here too? I don't like sleeping alone, and this rooster-head is bothering me all the time."
Finely, after many arrangements Sano managed to find a comfortable place to sleep. He closed his eyes and was drifting into a dream. He was sitting on the dojo steps minding his own business. *Damn. All I wanted was some food. Where are those guys?* when someone knocked on the gate. "Who are you?" "How do you do? I'm a peddler from Tama; I have some unusual medicines called Ishida powder. My name is Fujita Gorou." *Wait a minute, that's Saito. What does he wants?* "Hey Saito, I won the match! The deal was for you to leave Sano for me!" Kenshin appeared suddenly. "I don't honor deals with cheaters like you!" said Saito. "You just don't know how to lose" "Cheater!" "Loser!" Sano turned in his sleep. *These guys just won't give up. Shut up!!* "Cheater!" "Loser!" Sano opened his eyes and saw Kenshin and Saito arguing above him. "Cheater!" "Loser!" "What the hell! Are you guys still on that?" "There was a tie, Rooster. You have to choose once and for all."
Kaoru was sitting on her bad in front of an empty page. "How should I rephrase that note so Kenshin will understand that he needs to come to this room, and still make it tempting and mysterious? I wonder why he didn't understood the first note." She heard voices from the living room and tried unsuccessfully to ignore them. "How can I think with all that racket! I'm going there right now to give them a piece of my mind!" and she left the room. Out side she met Yahiko. "How come you're still up? You're just a kid. You need to go to sleep early." "Don't talk to me like that! I'm not a kid. I, Yahiko Myoujin, can't work on my master piece with all that noise. I'm going there right now to give them a piece of my mind!" "Me to!" "Misao chan, you're up too?" Misao, Megumi and Aoshi stood in the hall. "Aoshi Sama needs his rest and those idiots are shouting so laud that the neighbors will call the police." "What neighbors?" asked Yahiko. "Never mind that! It woke us all up. So lets go there right now and give them a piece of our mind!" The angry-gumi marched to the living room.
"You cheating lying scum!" "You big headed loser!" "Get away from me! Both of you!" Sano shouted and looked around for a place to hide. He noticed the fuming bunch. Kaoru was practically gnashing her teeth. "Look what you did! You woke everyone up with your stupid unrelated arguments!" "Kenshin! What's going on? Why are you holding Sano like that?!" "O.Oro?" "Great, Battousai. Everyone is up and it's all because of you." Aoshi approached Saito "How could you, Saito? Is it because I shouted at you? Now I need to close myself in a room and let the storm rage." "Oh shut up! No one cares about you and your whining" "Megumi San, don't talk like you know anything. You've never been there for Aoshi Sama. You don't know him like I do. Aoshi Sama, what are you saying?" "What do you mean 'I don't know him'. He's a boring, whining, depressed man who thinks the world revolves around him! He's bad like the rest of them." Sano felt he had to say something "I've been looking for you the whole night, fox, and now that I've finely found you the whole atmosphere is ruined. The truth is." "The truth is, rooster head, that you've been flirting with me the whole night with that stupid note you left. That note." Everyone stared at the note is Saito's hand. Kenshin snatched the note "That note was for me! Sano left it on my bed!" "I didn't write any stupid notes. It's not my style." "Ah. I. I left you that note Kenshin." Kaoru blushed. There was a heavy silence. Everyone stared at everyone, mad and embarrassed. "You're all stupid" said Yahiko. Suddenly the door burst open. Inside came four dark characters. "Who are you? I didn't invite anyone to my house!" said an angry Dr. Gensai, and a vicious looking Ayame and Suzame glared at everyone. "Chief Uramura! Arrest these trespassers!" Chief Uramura came in with nasty handcuffs.
...In the police station. "Okay, the situation is this" the chief of police knocked his club to his palm irritably. "Since we arrested twelve criminals who tried to take over Kyoto and all of Japan, we have only six cells left. So we'll need to divide you into some pairs." The eight characters stared at each other with despair.
Owari.