A/N:
Sorry for the slow updates! I'm into the third week of uni and third year is BUSY. Neways, as an apology I loaded this up even though it's only the first half of this chapter. Hope you guys are happy with this. Lady Tskuya, I've added a ~ to indicate a switch of POVs, so I hope that helps. And Daiji, I hope this chap helps a little with your questions, but I can't reveal too much as well! :D Bear with me please.
Heaps of people said Yowan reminds them of Gollum. That was actually unintentional cause he's appeared in several of my fics (In The Still Of The Night, for one over at fictionpress.net) that I wrote several years ago before watching LOTR. Cool coincidence tho, hey?
Oh yes, now that I'm back in Australia my editors can't help me check this so if there's any errors it's entirely my fault and I will give you the gun to shoot me. :D Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed before, and who do at the end of this chapter. They are really really good for encouragement. Thanks again :)
Chapter 3A : Hidden Intentions and Grand Ambitions
"Master, Yowan back", he announced his return, remembering to Knock Before Opening The Door just in time. He hesitantly peered into the room, meek obedience and deference emitting from every single line of his small, lithe form.
The figure standing by the window hardly gave the intruder a glance, opting instead to go straight to the point. "Do you have anything to report?"
"Yes, Master!"
A pause as 'Master' patiently waited, then sighed at Yowan's simplicity; obviously here was a creature that would do anything and everything for his Master, provided they gave him exact instructions. Absolutely precise instructions.
"Yowan, tell me what you have seen".
Yowan stood to attention, gaining a couple more inches in height as he straightened out of his submissive slouch. His expression was strangely vacant as he began the retelling of all he had seen. When it came to the more interesting conversations; "Little girl was watching, just like how Yowan was watching. Pretty told Shadow…" and here his voice suddenly twisted into a perfect mimicry of Megumi's smooth, calm voice complete with a slight pinch of annoyance. "Aoshi… it would be better if you told me what's going on. The real reason why you want me here…" Instantly his voice dropped several octaves, and it was as though Aoshi was speaking through him. "I have told you everything there is to know".
He blinked owlishly then, his attention suddenly captivated by the sparkle of jewels on the desk. 'Master' paid him no need then, knowing that the simpleton had reported all he knew. For all his dim-wittedness, Yowan had his uses. Spying and vocal impersonations were just a couple of his highlights.
Well, well… Shinomori Aoshi knew. This was to be expected though. After all, the Omnitsu clan specialized in gathering information. No doubt the man had been keeping tabs on any strange activities linked to that Takani doctor, as was obvious from his sudden appearance in Tokyo. And really, giving those bitter souls who called themselves doctors a means of ridding themselves of the object of their jealousy really was the best way to force his hand.
Still, that was a waste of thugs… and it's so hard to get good hired help these days... Maybe we should have sent more capable assassins so it would have been over and done with…
No, dear-heart. Aoshi would kill them however capable they are. And besides, we have to be the ones to kill her.
A sharkish smile came and went. Regardless of what and how much Shinomori Aoshi knew, it would not save Takani Megumi. He couldn't save her this time, just as how he couldn't save those dead comrades of his. Especially when, for whatever reasons of his own, Aoshi wasn't telling Megumi about anything.
Yes… We will finally be able to complete what we started all those years ago.
The smile appeared again. "Yowan, come close. Master has new orders…"
A hesitant knock on the door. "Good morning, Megumi-san? We're having breakfast downstairs, so if you'd like to join us…" Reluctance seemed to have robbed the speaker of any more words.
Megumi pulled the comb through her hair one last time before putting it down. "We?" She smirked a little when she sensed a blush through the door. Misao's crush on Aoshi was so obvious that she almost felt sorry for the girl. In the meantime, his indifference towards it was just so apparent that it was near the point of embarrassment.
"Hai". The door slid open a little, and at Megumi's affirmation, slid all the way open. The teenager stood in the doorway looking a little sheepish in her blue and white kimono. "Jiya was asking for you".
"I can hardly refuse my host, can I?".
Walking through the corridors, Megumi returned hurried greetings to the staff as they rushed past, ready to begin what promised to be a very busy day. Even at this time in the morning, customers were already gathering in the restaurant downstairs.
"The Aoiya's doing very well". An obvious statement, but the silence between her young hostess and herself was beginning to make her uncomfortable, especially since the girl was snatching glances of her every so often when she thought Megumi's gaze was elsewhere.
A proud grin appeared on Misao's face, "Hard work pays off! Heh, not to mention we're the best in Kyoto and everyone knows it".
"I'm sure…".
"Oh". A tiny pause as the girl had a mini debate with herself, before finally giving in. "Ahh… Megumi-san, can I ask you something?". There was that hesitation again. A nod from Megumi and this time the girl actually stopped in her tracks, brilliant green eyes fixed on her socked feet, "Ah… have you and Aoshi-sama met before?".
Megumi directed a faint smile at the blushing girl, "You could say so". I see… she's jealous of me. I can't say I blame her though. She smothered the thought before she could start chortling. No use in making Misao feel bad.
The mischievous side of her that Sanosuke had so eloquently labeled 'fox' sniggered a yet.
"So how long have you known Aoshi-sama?". Though pressing for details, Misao's expression held a trace of dread.
"Hmm". Thoughtful, Megumi resumed walking down the open corridor, forcing the girl to once again lead the way. "About two, three years or so. It's so hard to keep track". Watching the girl's shoulders go rigid, Megumi hid a grin. Misao should be feeling grateful I can't see her face right now. "Anyway", she added smoothly, "It's been so long, and that was back then. I'm sure he's changed".
"Oh?". Misao's voice was slightly strained now, and Megumi felt a pang of guilt then.
"Yes. In any case, this is a different aspect of him". Considering this is his territory now. A predator will feel more at ease in familiar surroundings. Megumi pursed her lips at the thought. Could that be the main reason to why he wanted her to move? But what purpose would that serve?
"How is that?".
How is it, indeed. "We met in… rather unusual circumstances". Spotting an open door up ahead, she directed a question to Misao before the girl could formulate her own, asking pleasantly, "Are they in there?".
The girl nodded and hurried forward to disappear into the room. After a momentary pause, Megumi started forward as well.
Stepping into the room, she was immediately welcomed by a cheery "Good morning!". A brief scan of the room brought an old man into view, his weathered face wrinkled into a happy and friendly smile. Long white hair was tied in a simple ponytail whilst his facial hair was scrupulously shaved into an exaggerated goatee. The only thing that was blatantly out of place was the bright pink bowtie in his small beard.
He looks pretty harmless. Is this the Okina Kaoru was telling me about? And yet there was a certain way his wizened brown eyes regarded her that irritated her beyond belief. "Good morning", she greeted back, masking her annoyance with a polite smile, "I apologize if I held any of you up". Seeing how Misao had seated herself next to Aoshi, why am I not surprised?, and that Okina was at the head of the table, Megumi had no choice but to opt for the seat across Aoshi. He transferred his attention from the papers in his hand to give her a brief nod of greeting.
In the meantime, directed by Okina's gaze, Misao hurriedly grabbed the teapot and began filling Megumi's cup. "This is why I can't be a waitress", Misao admitted sheepishly to the lady doctor.
Okina rewarded her with a fond grin before turning to Megumi, "So you are the doctor Aoshi mentioned! He speaks very highly of you".
Two questioning sets of eyes, one dark mahogany the other emerald green, instantly fell on the man who currently was taking a sip of tea. Unfazed by the attention, he simply replied, "You are a very capable doctor".
Megumi watched his impassive face carefully, and smirked when she saw a brow twitch ever-so-slightly at the words. Ah, so he caught you off-guard too. I wonder where the old geezer's going with this…
In the meantime, the grin on Okina's face grew wider as he leaned over to place a hand over Megumi's, causing an instant switch of attention from Aoshi to the offending hand. Ignoring her viper glare, he continued, "But I didn't believe him when he told me how beautiful you are until I saw you".
Expressions changed instantly; shock and disbelief for Megumi, horror in Misao's case. Aoshi's eyes meanwhile darkened noticeably into steel blue, "Old man, do not twist my words to leech on women".
"I'm not… and what do you mean 'old man'?!" Okina huffed, dignity clearly ruffled by Aoshi's lack of support. "Besides, intelligent women like Megumi-san need to know how beautiful they are. Haven't I taught you anything?" He smiled at Megumi hopefully, who in return narrowed her eyes and snatched her hand away from his questing one.
~
Across the table, Misao rolled her eyes, the gesture alone clearly saying 'God, here he goes again. Why is he so embarrassing?' Taking hold of her empty cup, she gazed at Okina and absently wondered how much trouble she would get into should she beat some sense into him with it. By the time she reached a conclusion, the cup was already in midair, halfway to being introduced into Okina's preoccupied face, and rapidly accelerating.
A soft cink, and Aoshi lowered his hand, the cup safely nestled in his palm. "Misao, no throwing at the table". There was no reproach in his voice though, just mild resignation. Hiding her disappointment, she nodded.
"Misao, my little grand-daughter, have I not taught you to respect your elders? Where did I go wrong?" Large tears gathered in the old man's eyes as he turned his attention back to the now very shocked, very horrified and very, very irritated Megumi. "Megumi-dono, if you could join this family, maybe your feminine presence will be of help to Misao. You and Aoshi could…"
"Megumi", Aoshi's deep voice interrupted. "Maybe now would be a good time to conduct Okina's physical?"
Misao blinked. Why was Aoshi-sama suddenly giving Okina the opportunity to perve more on Megumi? Obviously the old man thought the same as he stared at the younger man in confusion, but for only a moment. Clearly, one was not to question good luck.
"Come, Misao. Megumi will need privacy to conduct the physical". With that, Aoshi stood up and gave the lady doctor a slight nod. "He's been having some back problems, I hear".
A strange, almost chilly smile appeared on her cherry-red lips. "Back problems, you say?"
Stepping outside, Misao slid the door shut, wondering about this strange turn of events. To her surprise, despite the fact that Aoshi had clearly stated the need for privacy, he sat himself down onto the floor, legs crossed and eyes shut, seemingly meditative. She tentatively joined him.
Maybe this is a good time to ask him about Megumi-san…
She cleared her throat, wondering how to approach the question. "Ah… Aoshi-sama…" Her voice trailed off when he lifted his hand, signaling for silence. Voices had started to drift through the door.
It was Megumi's smooth voice first. "I'm just going to check your back to see if there's any irregularities". A slight pause and a rustle passed. Misao shot a glance to Aoshi. Was it his intention to eavesdrop?
"Ahhh… Megumi-dono… your hands are so soft and ski-", a yelp cut off the sentence; obviously she had found a tender spot.
"A couple of vertebrae seem to have slipped", her calm voice was dripping with innocence, "Once I set them back into place, you'll be fine".
"Set?". There was a note of uncertainty there. Clearly the old man was uncomfortable with the thought of having his bones manipulated.
"Yes. Set. Now remove your shirt and lie flat on the floor, on your stomach".
"Really?!".
Misao slapped a hand to her forehead at the sudden tone of hopefulness in the old man's voice, "Aoshi-sama, should I go in there and make sure he doesn't scare off Megumi-san?".
Finally opening his eyes, he cast a reflective glance towards the room, "Megumi does not scare easily".
Aoshi-sama… For a man who kept a firm check over his emotions and expressions, she couldn't help but mouth his name silently when she saw the strange flicker in his eyes, the almost imperceptible flex of his fingers as he assured himself of his weapons.
Her train of thought derailed as Okina's voice ploughed its way through her thoughts, "Megumi-dono, I can't tell you how happy I am now that you're here". There was an odd wistful tone to his voice; old age creeping in to lend a suitable quiver.
It made her realize exactly how old Jiya was… In the meantime, Aoshi had hints of curiosity on his expression as his body shifted slightly to face the direction of the room.
"Why is that?". Megumi's voice, this time cautious. Even she seemed to be aware that Okina was acting out of character.
"Aoshi had me worried for quite a while. He wasn't interested in dating, chasing skirts, or anything in a kimono!".
That statement was met with baffled silence, both from Megumi and Misao. From the latter's right, Aoshi appeared to be taking in this new bit of information with distaste furrowing his brows.
A slight chuckle now, Okina's mood clearly brightening, "Ahh… but once he mentioned you, talking about how he would bring you back here, I thought 'there is still hope!'".
"Hope for what?" There was a certain dread in her tone, as though she already suspected his answer.
"For what? Grandchildren of course!"
WHAT?!
There was a very heavy, very deliberate silence from both inside the room and outside, and Okina took it as his cue to begin crooning, his voice clearly portraying the tears of joy which must surely be streaming down his face. "And with so beautiful a wife! That boy… he did learn something from this old man!"
The silence grew thicker and thicker, tension practically solidifying around them, and was finally pierced by a very calm and quiet, "Is this the reason why I left everything back in Tokyo?"
A louder chuckle. "Oh, that boy has his own reasons. Ah! Maybe he finally realized he shouldn't have let go of such a beautiful woman! Oh ho ho ho-". A very loud CRACK instantly followed by a non-too-manly screech earned a sympathetic whimper from the young ninja girl listening outside. Her idol however merely appeared thoughtful.
"There. Your back should be just fine now".
Misao watched uneasily as Aoshi slid the door wide open with a solid thunk to reveal Megumi kneeling by a near-comatose and twitching Okina. She almost flinched at seeing the anger emanating from Megumi's slight figure; her pose stiff and imposing, solid fury focusing directly onto the withering man at her feet. Clearly, Aoshi was right. Takani Megumi was not a woman to mess around with.
Yet there seemed to be something else behind that anger, besides Okina's tactless efforts at match-making.
At the moment, Megumi looked up at the newcomers, attention fully on the tall man in the doorway. Angry mahogany eyes challenged calm slate-grey, clearly demanding an explanation for everything. For heaven's sake, future grandchildren?!
He met her accusations coolly. "Okina is growing senile in his old age; even I can't tell what's going on in his head". He transferred his gaze to her patient, seemingly thoughtful. A moment later, "I hear his knees have problems as well".
Megumi's lips curved into a decidedly cruel grin, "His knees, you say?"
Well, that's it for now guys. Remember to review, please! :D