Where the Shadow Lies
Chapter 2
Present.
Aoshi walked in the streets of Kyoto, glad to be home again after three weeks of traveling for a mission that Saitoh had given him. As he passed by the markets, he heard a voice he hadn't heard in seven years.
"BAKAYAROU!!! You just can't treat people like this!" There was a sound of scuffling as a vibrant voice cried out, "I'm going to teach you a lesson! Kansatsu Tobi Kunai!!!" the scuffle was fully underway when Aoshi found her.
There was a crowd around the gathering, and since he was just shy of an inch reaching six feet, Aoshi had no problems finding the object of his search. There was a petite figure in the Market, wearing a familiar blue mantle around her slender body. Her hood was thrown back to expose a delicate face with heart stopping blue eyes and a grim little smile on her pretty face as she kept three children behind her. Between each fingers, she held several kunai as she faced down the last thug. There were a total of six men, two of them lying on the floor, one on top of a closed barrel, and another two held back to the wall by several sharp kunai.
The thug and Misao continued to stare at each other, neither giving an inch until the sound of blowing whistles could be heard in the distance. The thug broke eye contact with Misao as he back away and snarled, "You're lucky the police are coming you little whore. We'll finish this another time." Turning his head, the thug barked out, "Let's go."
Realizing that there was a crowd for the first time, Misao began to make sweeping motions to crowd as she called out, "Alright minna-san! The show's over! Get going!" Misao caught sight of Aoshi and held his gaze for a long moment before she finally gave a small wave in greeting.
When the crowd began dispersing to her satisfaction, Misao turned back to the three children that were huddled behind her. She looked at the oldest, a girl of that looked to be nine years old, and asked in a gentle voice, " Daijoubu ka?" she checked them over visually as she said in a voice meant for their ears only, "You shouldn't have stolen his purse you know. That man is dangerous and you would've died for just picking the wrong pocket." Misao stopped as she picked up the little boy and settled him against her hip, unmindful of the dirty-ness against her.
The girl spoke up, "But we were hungry. No one wanted to give us any food."
Misao sighed as she looked over the filthy children. They looked like they could do with several hot meals and a bath. She brushed the boy's hair away from a sticky forehead as she said, "You guys are coming with me. I'll take care of you for a couple of days until I can get you to Hokkaido. A friend of mine can take care of you. You'll like her." Misao took the other little girls hand and told them to come follow her.
Aoshi stood where he was, waiting for Misao to appear until he saw that she was busy talking to the children. He headed towards her direction and stopped when he reached her side.
"Now come on every-" Misao had turned around to run into a firm wall of muscles. "Sumimasen Aoshi." The little boy in Misao's arm giggled as Misao took a step back and released the little girl's hand to rub at her nose. She shifted the boy in her arms again and then said, "Aoshi, could you." she lifted a shoulder to gesture the rest of her question.
Aoshi. She had called him Aoshi, not Aoshi-sama. It should have pleased him that Misao had finally turned her heart away from him, but for some odd reason, it hurt. Regret poured through his entire being as he realized with her addressing him like this, there may never be a reconciliation of friends, only a wary respect between two people who have nearly become strangers with passing of time. He sighed to himself, and the action did not go unnoticed by Misao. Immediately she canceled her request, "Sumimasen Aoshi. I didn't mean to-"
"Daijoubu Misao, I'll carry them," Aoshi said as he kneeled down to pick up the two little girls. Misao's eyes misted for a moment, Aoshi's movements inadvertently reminding her of a time when he had once carried her in his arms like that. She said nothing and turned around, heading towards the direction of the Aoiya with Aoshi and the two girls behind her.
As Aoshi followed Misao, he took this as an opportunity to watch the young ex-okashira of the Oniwa Banshuu. The years have been good to her, he decided. She looked as if she had matured a great deal since the youthful look that had always seemed to convince everyone that she was a child was gone. Misao looked older now, her face and body finally catching up with her age. She looked a lot like Miharu, Aoshi thought, with her walk, stature, grace, and the beauty. though for some odd reason, there was this dangerous note within her aura that seemed discordant with the harmony of her ki. Aoshi continued to study her until his eyes strayed down to watch the gentle sway of her hips as she walked, carrying the child. He could envy that little boy, being held in Misao's arms. Realizing what he where his thoughts were leading, Aoshi hurriedly brought his gaze up to the back of her head as he lengthened his stride to walk beside her.
Surprised that Aoshi was walking next to her, Misao felt the reunion of nervous and vulnerable feelings she had always encountered when near Aoshi; and hated herself for it. Being around Aoshi had always aroused these feelings that always left her weak and suspect to pain. Just like the rejection of her love offered to Aoshi and the humiliation she had felt. Misao didn't know what to do with the vulnerability she felt, so she had done what she did best for the past five years: avoid Aoshi. She had done everything to make sure that she wouldn't run into him whenever she appeared at the Aoiya for her all-too-brief stays. Seeing him made her heart race with all the love she still felt for him and the mortification of his rejection. Which was why she only visited the Aoiya when she had received confirmation from Saitoh Hajime that Aoshi was gone on business.
Unsure of what to do, Misao opted for the simple approach. "Ohayo gozaimasu Aoshi." She brushed back the little boy's hair from his forehead as she said quietly, "I didn't think I would run into you so soon after my return to Kyoto. How are Jiya and the others?" Her stomach fluttered nervously as she waited for Aoshi's answer, unaware of the stares they received at the picture of such a handsome couple with the armfuls of children.
"Okina is fine Misao, a little upset that you didn't extend your visit long enough last year to stay for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Omasu and Shiro are expecting their first child, Okon is still chasing after Seijuurou Hiko, and Kuro is in Tokyo, visiting the Himuras. He's due to return later on today or early tomorrow."
As Aoshi talked, Misao watched his face, trying to gauge his reaction of her. As usual, it was useless. His face showed nothing, and his eyes were expressionless as ever. She sighed mentally to herself and pulled the little boy closer into the circle of her arms.
There was once a time when she was a little girl and blessed with the uncanny ability to read his impassive face and predict his next moves. It used to delight her so that she was so close to Aoshi and understood him perfectly when none of the other Oniwa Banshuu could. Those were the days she had loved Aoshi unconditionally and believed that he felt as strongly for her as she did for him. And even though he had rejected her, she still felt that love that was so consuming for him even though she knew now that he had never, ever felt that way for her at all. It hurt; knowing that she loved him the way a woman loved a man and knowing that he would never feel anything else but kindness and brotherly affection for her.
Unaware of what she was doing to the little boy as she reflected on her memories, Misao didn't realized that she was giving him a near bone- crushing hug until the boy managed to squeak out, "Nee-chan. itai."
Embarrassed, Misao immediately loosened her hold on the boy. She gave a flustered laugh before she apologized to the boy. "Gomen ne little one. I didn't mean to crush you."
*** *** ***
Misao had barely placed little Kei-Chan down when Jiya came dashing out of the Aoiya to give her a bone-crushing hug as he bellowed out to Misao, "Ciao! My pretty little Misao!"
Kei-chan and the two girls stared, wide eyed at the old man with a pink bow in his beard giving Misao such a fierce hug that her face had begun to turn red from the lack of air. It took a moment for Kei to realize that his new nee-chan would not be in good order if her face changed from white to red to purple. He reacted instantly, throwing his small fists against Jiya's leg and pounding at it the best he could as he screwed his face up to cry out, "You leave her alone!!!"
Amused at the pint-sized child before him, Jiya let go of Misao who was about to faint, to look down at the young boy. There were two dirty, but pretty little girls trying to calm the child down, but he was having none of it. "Oi, my pretty Misao!" he said, "who is this?"
Deciding that Jiya needed to pay for nearly breaking her ribs, Misao said promptly, "This is my son Jiya and these two girls are my husband's daughters. I-"
She didn't get any further then that because at the mention of her son and husband, Jiya's face went through a rainbow of expressions and colors as he managed to croak out the words, "You're. married?! My pretty little Misao. MARRIED?!" He bellowed out the last word as his face turned red with rage and a vein bulged at his temple. "AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE ME!!! YOU'RE *BELOVED* JIYA?!!!" He stared at Misao in shock as Misao started to laugh not unlike certain a foxy doctor. He looked at Aoshi, whose face was expressionless as ever, and sighed to himself in mock sorrow.
As Misao sat on the floor laughing, Kei was staring at her with wide eyes. A mother? He didn't ever remember of having a mother. All he had were memories of being in the dark, and walking out one day into the sunlight where he had met the two girls who were now with him. His eyes watered happily as he said, "You'll be my kaa-chan now?"
Misao's laughter was abruptly cut off as she heard Kei's question. She held open her arms where the little boy promptly plopped himself into. Misao held him close as she said, "Gomen ne Kei-chan. I'm not your okaa- chan." She felt him stiffen in her arms and held tighter as she said, "But I will be your sister if you'd like. It's just as good as a okaa-chan."
The boy brightened up as he turned his eyes up to the young onmitsu. "Truly?" he said.
"Really," Misao said as she gave the little boy a hug.
"Will you be our sister too Misao-chan?" the other two girls chimed in from their perch in Aoshi's arms.
Misao continued to hug the boy as she turned and gave the girls a smile full of sunshine as she replied, "Hai, I'll be your sister as well." She planted a kiss on Kei's dark hair as she grasped Jiya's hand to help herself up. "Now if you'll follow me, I'll have you guys settled in the Aoiya until I can get you to Hokkaido."
Aoshi bent down as he released the girls who immediately ran after Misao as she entered the Aoiya. He watched them follow Misao until they had turned the corner and could not be seen anymore.
When they were sure that Misao and the children were gone, Jiya turned to Aoshi as he said, "Well, did you find out anything about the Kasumi clan? And what did Saitoh want?"
Aoshi was silent as he reached into his gi and withdrew several documents. He handed them to Jiya as he said, "There are rumors, but no definite evidence." Except for that rumored clan in the Hiei Mountains, Aoshi thought. They were definitely suspicious, but he didn't want to accuse them of anything until he was sure of it.
"And what of Saitoh?"
"He wants to deliver these documents to the foreigner Matthew Perry."
Okina scowled to himself as he tucked the documents into his gi. "I can't believe that we still haven't found anything on the Kasumi clan," he said. "If they're extinct, then who is the new clan practicing the old and forbidden arts?" Okina turned and entered the Aoiya as he continued to ponder about the Kasumi clan. Aoshi watched him for a few minutes before he turned around and headed towards the temple he usually meditated in.
*** *** ***
"Nee-chan! Stop scrubbing," Kei squirmed in Misao's grasp, "so hard!"
Thoroughly soaked, Misao silently prayed to Kami-sama for patience as she tried to clean the squirming boy in the tub. Mou! How did he ever get so dirty so soon after a bath only an hour ago?!
Omasu stood outside of the door, listening to the struggling boy and the harried Misao, her hand covering her mouth as she struggled not to laugh. Oh such sweet retribution! How many times had she done this with Misao? Now that the shoe was on the other foot, Omasu couldn't help but feel amused and satisfied as she listened in for a few more minutes before she went back into the room she shared with Shiro.
"Mou!" Misao exclaimed as she stopped again. She was about to start again when an idea occurred to her. "Kei-chan,' she said brightly, "If you don't let me bathe you, you'll never get to stay with in Hokkaido."
Kei stopped his splashing long enough to consider Misao's words before he resumed his splashing. "Hai nee-chan!" he crowed. "I'll stay with you forever and ever!" He splashed again for emphasis before he leapt from the tub to give Misao a dripping hug that was a miniaturized version of Jiya's bear hug. "Daisuki!"
Misao's eyes softened as she held the little boy in her arms. It was nice to know that she was loved. Since her return back to the Aoiya, she and Aoshi's relationship had stayed stagnant; neither was willing to make a move. Misao feared rejection once more and Aoshi still felt himself unworthy of her, though she didn't know that. She held the little boy tighter within the circle of her arms as she wallowed in her moment of self- pity.
"Nee-chan?"
"Mmm?"
"Daisuki."
Misao smiled once more as she began to rinse Kei-chan off. She finished rinsing out his hair and began the process of soap and lathering. It was a soothing process and it allowed Misao to keep herself busy. Washing Kei-chan was no easy task, especially now since he kept on turning around to watch Misao with large blue eyes filled with trust and love that was getting irritated by the soap.
Kei-chan watched Misao as she scrubbed at his hair. Though she didn't look it, Kei-chan could tell that something was wrong with the woman that bathed him. Wondering if he was the cause to her problem, he reached out and touched her smooth face as he said, "Nee chan? Daijoubu desu ka?"
Misao blinked at the little boy's question, and then answered, "I'm fine Kei-chan. Is something wrong?"
"Did Kei-chan make you sad?" He watched Misao's face intently. He didn't want to make the only person he loved unhappy. She was too important, and she made him feel special, and in a strange way, complete. He had never felt like that when he was in the dark. He had always felt as if he had something missing, or that something wasn't quite right.
"No Kei-chan. You didn't make me sad, I was just thinking," she said. She scrubbed his head playfully as she said, "Now if you let me finish washing you and stay clean, I'll be happy forever."
"Hontou?" Kei-chan said.
"Hontou."
*** *** ***
Several Days later.
It was several hours before Dawn when the incident happened. Misao was in the kitchen, chasing Kei-chan.
"Mou! Kei-chan!" Misao cried out as she chased the giggling little boy around the kitchen. Just as she reached out and grabbed the boy's collar, and suddenly stood still.
The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end when all of a sudden, a large portal of darkness appeared. Immediately she shoved the boy behind her and tensed.
Out stepped 5 men dressed in the traditional shinobi uniform with their weapons drawn. Recognizing their outfits, Misao breathed out a soft, "Oh no, not again," before they charged at her.
*** *** ***
Kuro was carrying out the laundry when he heard the sounds of a battle in the kitchen. Immediately he dropped the basket of clothes and whistled high and hard as he drew out his Kotewa Shuriken. He heard the high-pitched scream of Kei-chan screaming out for Misao as he rushed towards the kitchen.
He threw open the door and was prepared to hurl the shurikens out when the sight of the battle shocked him into standing still. The kitchen was a mess and young Kei was no where to be seen. Misao was straddling a man, her small delicate hand holding one very sharp kunai placed at his throat as the other held his head back by his scalp. There was an expression of coldness on her face that matched Aoshi's as she asked her question in a tightly controlled voice, "Where did you take Kei-chan?"
It sent shivers up Kuro's spine. It was eerie to see the young girl he had helped raise from babyhood calmly threatening a man for answers so coldly. When Misao was angry, she tended to be loud. not calm and quiet or filled with such malice.
Whenever Misao had returned for her yearly visits, she was so happy and light-hearted. never before had she ever been so ruthlessly proficient. The man didn't answer Misao and she removed her kunai from this throat to where his right eye was. She slowly and, but relentlessly began to push in the kunai, prepared to gut out his eye and anything else in order to receive an answer. The man squealed like a pig as Kuro stepped forward to stop her when the man started to babbling about the Hiei Mountains.
Satisfied with his answer, Misao stood up and with a strength that defied her small frame, she hauled the man up to his feet and headed towards the storeroom, unmindful of the bloody footprints she had left on the floor, grimly determined to find out where Kei-chan was. Kuro stared at the empty room for a full minute before he bellowed for the rest of the Oniwa Banshuu.
Chapter 2
Present.
Aoshi walked in the streets of Kyoto, glad to be home again after three weeks of traveling for a mission that Saitoh had given him. As he passed by the markets, he heard a voice he hadn't heard in seven years.
"BAKAYAROU!!! You just can't treat people like this!" There was a sound of scuffling as a vibrant voice cried out, "I'm going to teach you a lesson! Kansatsu Tobi Kunai!!!" the scuffle was fully underway when Aoshi found her.
There was a crowd around the gathering, and since he was just shy of an inch reaching six feet, Aoshi had no problems finding the object of his search. There was a petite figure in the Market, wearing a familiar blue mantle around her slender body. Her hood was thrown back to expose a delicate face with heart stopping blue eyes and a grim little smile on her pretty face as she kept three children behind her. Between each fingers, she held several kunai as she faced down the last thug. There were a total of six men, two of them lying on the floor, one on top of a closed barrel, and another two held back to the wall by several sharp kunai.
The thug and Misao continued to stare at each other, neither giving an inch until the sound of blowing whistles could be heard in the distance. The thug broke eye contact with Misao as he back away and snarled, "You're lucky the police are coming you little whore. We'll finish this another time." Turning his head, the thug barked out, "Let's go."
Realizing that there was a crowd for the first time, Misao began to make sweeping motions to crowd as she called out, "Alright minna-san! The show's over! Get going!" Misao caught sight of Aoshi and held his gaze for a long moment before she finally gave a small wave in greeting.
When the crowd began dispersing to her satisfaction, Misao turned back to the three children that were huddled behind her. She looked at the oldest, a girl of that looked to be nine years old, and asked in a gentle voice, " Daijoubu ka?" she checked them over visually as she said in a voice meant for their ears only, "You shouldn't have stolen his purse you know. That man is dangerous and you would've died for just picking the wrong pocket." Misao stopped as she picked up the little boy and settled him against her hip, unmindful of the dirty-ness against her.
The girl spoke up, "But we were hungry. No one wanted to give us any food."
Misao sighed as she looked over the filthy children. They looked like they could do with several hot meals and a bath. She brushed the boy's hair away from a sticky forehead as she said, "You guys are coming with me. I'll take care of you for a couple of days until I can get you to Hokkaido. A friend of mine can take care of you. You'll like her." Misao took the other little girls hand and told them to come follow her.
Aoshi stood where he was, waiting for Misao to appear until he saw that she was busy talking to the children. He headed towards her direction and stopped when he reached her side.
"Now come on every-" Misao had turned around to run into a firm wall of muscles. "Sumimasen Aoshi." The little boy in Misao's arm giggled as Misao took a step back and released the little girl's hand to rub at her nose. She shifted the boy in her arms again and then said, "Aoshi, could you." she lifted a shoulder to gesture the rest of her question.
Aoshi. She had called him Aoshi, not Aoshi-sama. It should have pleased him that Misao had finally turned her heart away from him, but for some odd reason, it hurt. Regret poured through his entire being as he realized with her addressing him like this, there may never be a reconciliation of friends, only a wary respect between two people who have nearly become strangers with passing of time. He sighed to himself, and the action did not go unnoticed by Misao. Immediately she canceled her request, "Sumimasen Aoshi. I didn't mean to-"
"Daijoubu Misao, I'll carry them," Aoshi said as he kneeled down to pick up the two little girls. Misao's eyes misted for a moment, Aoshi's movements inadvertently reminding her of a time when he had once carried her in his arms like that. She said nothing and turned around, heading towards the direction of the Aoiya with Aoshi and the two girls behind her.
As Aoshi followed Misao, he took this as an opportunity to watch the young ex-okashira of the Oniwa Banshuu. The years have been good to her, he decided. She looked as if she had matured a great deal since the youthful look that had always seemed to convince everyone that she was a child was gone. Misao looked older now, her face and body finally catching up with her age. She looked a lot like Miharu, Aoshi thought, with her walk, stature, grace, and the beauty. though for some odd reason, there was this dangerous note within her aura that seemed discordant with the harmony of her ki. Aoshi continued to study her until his eyes strayed down to watch the gentle sway of her hips as she walked, carrying the child. He could envy that little boy, being held in Misao's arms. Realizing what he where his thoughts were leading, Aoshi hurriedly brought his gaze up to the back of her head as he lengthened his stride to walk beside her.
Surprised that Aoshi was walking next to her, Misao felt the reunion of nervous and vulnerable feelings she had always encountered when near Aoshi; and hated herself for it. Being around Aoshi had always aroused these feelings that always left her weak and suspect to pain. Just like the rejection of her love offered to Aoshi and the humiliation she had felt. Misao didn't know what to do with the vulnerability she felt, so she had done what she did best for the past five years: avoid Aoshi. She had done everything to make sure that she wouldn't run into him whenever she appeared at the Aoiya for her all-too-brief stays. Seeing him made her heart race with all the love she still felt for him and the mortification of his rejection. Which was why she only visited the Aoiya when she had received confirmation from Saitoh Hajime that Aoshi was gone on business.
Unsure of what to do, Misao opted for the simple approach. "Ohayo gozaimasu Aoshi." She brushed back the little boy's hair from his forehead as she said quietly, "I didn't think I would run into you so soon after my return to Kyoto. How are Jiya and the others?" Her stomach fluttered nervously as she waited for Aoshi's answer, unaware of the stares they received at the picture of such a handsome couple with the armfuls of children.
"Okina is fine Misao, a little upset that you didn't extend your visit long enough last year to stay for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Omasu and Shiro are expecting their first child, Okon is still chasing after Seijuurou Hiko, and Kuro is in Tokyo, visiting the Himuras. He's due to return later on today or early tomorrow."
As Aoshi talked, Misao watched his face, trying to gauge his reaction of her. As usual, it was useless. His face showed nothing, and his eyes were expressionless as ever. She sighed mentally to herself and pulled the little boy closer into the circle of her arms.
There was once a time when she was a little girl and blessed with the uncanny ability to read his impassive face and predict his next moves. It used to delight her so that she was so close to Aoshi and understood him perfectly when none of the other Oniwa Banshuu could. Those were the days she had loved Aoshi unconditionally and believed that he felt as strongly for her as she did for him. And even though he had rejected her, she still felt that love that was so consuming for him even though she knew now that he had never, ever felt that way for her at all. It hurt; knowing that she loved him the way a woman loved a man and knowing that he would never feel anything else but kindness and brotherly affection for her.
Unaware of what she was doing to the little boy as she reflected on her memories, Misao didn't realized that she was giving him a near bone- crushing hug until the boy managed to squeak out, "Nee-chan. itai."
Embarrassed, Misao immediately loosened her hold on the boy. She gave a flustered laugh before she apologized to the boy. "Gomen ne little one. I didn't mean to crush you."
*** *** ***
Misao had barely placed little Kei-Chan down when Jiya came dashing out of the Aoiya to give her a bone-crushing hug as he bellowed out to Misao, "Ciao! My pretty little Misao!"
Kei-chan and the two girls stared, wide eyed at the old man with a pink bow in his beard giving Misao such a fierce hug that her face had begun to turn red from the lack of air. It took a moment for Kei to realize that his new nee-chan would not be in good order if her face changed from white to red to purple. He reacted instantly, throwing his small fists against Jiya's leg and pounding at it the best he could as he screwed his face up to cry out, "You leave her alone!!!"
Amused at the pint-sized child before him, Jiya let go of Misao who was about to faint, to look down at the young boy. There were two dirty, but pretty little girls trying to calm the child down, but he was having none of it. "Oi, my pretty Misao!" he said, "who is this?"
Deciding that Jiya needed to pay for nearly breaking her ribs, Misao said promptly, "This is my son Jiya and these two girls are my husband's daughters. I-"
She didn't get any further then that because at the mention of her son and husband, Jiya's face went through a rainbow of expressions and colors as he managed to croak out the words, "You're. married?! My pretty little Misao. MARRIED?!" He bellowed out the last word as his face turned red with rage and a vein bulged at his temple. "AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE ME!!! YOU'RE *BELOVED* JIYA?!!!" He stared at Misao in shock as Misao started to laugh not unlike certain a foxy doctor. He looked at Aoshi, whose face was expressionless as ever, and sighed to himself in mock sorrow.
As Misao sat on the floor laughing, Kei was staring at her with wide eyes. A mother? He didn't ever remember of having a mother. All he had were memories of being in the dark, and walking out one day into the sunlight where he had met the two girls who were now with him. His eyes watered happily as he said, "You'll be my kaa-chan now?"
Misao's laughter was abruptly cut off as she heard Kei's question. She held open her arms where the little boy promptly plopped himself into. Misao held him close as she said, "Gomen ne Kei-chan. I'm not your okaa- chan." She felt him stiffen in her arms and held tighter as she said, "But I will be your sister if you'd like. It's just as good as a okaa-chan."
The boy brightened up as he turned his eyes up to the young onmitsu. "Truly?" he said.
"Really," Misao said as she gave the little boy a hug.
"Will you be our sister too Misao-chan?" the other two girls chimed in from their perch in Aoshi's arms.
Misao continued to hug the boy as she turned and gave the girls a smile full of sunshine as she replied, "Hai, I'll be your sister as well." She planted a kiss on Kei's dark hair as she grasped Jiya's hand to help herself up. "Now if you'll follow me, I'll have you guys settled in the Aoiya until I can get you to Hokkaido."
Aoshi bent down as he released the girls who immediately ran after Misao as she entered the Aoiya. He watched them follow Misao until they had turned the corner and could not be seen anymore.
When they were sure that Misao and the children were gone, Jiya turned to Aoshi as he said, "Well, did you find out anything about the Kasumi clan? And what did Saitoh want?"
Aoshi was silent as he reached into his gi and withdrew several documents. He handed them to Jiya as he said, "There are rumors, but no definite evidence." Except for that rumored clan in the Hiei Mountains, Aoshi thought. They were definitely suspicious, but he didn't want to accuse them of anything until he was sure of it.
"And what of Saitoh?"
"He wants to deliver these documents to the foreigner Matthew Perry."
Okina scowled to himself as he tucked the documents into his gi. "I can't believe that we still haven't found anything on the Kasumi clan," he said. "If they're extinct, then who is the new clan practicing the old and forbidden arts?" Okina turned and entered the Aoiya as he continued to ponder about the Kasumi clan. Aoshi watched him for a few minutes before he turned around and headed towards the temple he usually meditated in.
*** *** ***
"Nee-chan! Stop scrubbing," Kei squirmed in Misao's grasp, "so hard!"
Thoroughly soaked, Misao silently prayed to Kami-sama for patience as she tried to clean the squirming boy in the tub. Mou! How did he ever get so dirty so soon after a bath only an hour ago?!
Omasu stood outside of the door, listening to the struggling boy and the harried Misao, her hand covering her mouth as she struggled not to laugh. Oh such sweet retribution! How many times had she done this with Misao? Now that the shoe was on the other foot, Omasu couldn't help but feel amused and satisfied as she listened in for a few more minutes before she went back into the room she shared with Shiro.
"Mou!" Misao exclaimed as she stopped again. She was about to start again when an idea occurred to her. "Kei-chan,' she said brightly, "If you don't let me bathe you, you'll never get to stay with in Hokkaido."
Kei stopped his splashing long enough to consider Misao's words before he resumed his splashing. "Hai nee-chan!" he crowed. "I'll stay with you forever and ever!" He splashed again for emphasis before he leapt from the tub to give Misao a dripping hug that was a miniaturized version of Jiya's bear hug. "Daisuki!"
Misao's eyes softened as she held the little boy in her arms. It was nice to know that she was loved. Since her return back to the Aoiya, she and Aoshi's relationship had stayed stagnant; neither was willing to make a move. Misao feared rejection once more and Aoshi still felt himself unworthy of her, though she didn't know that. She held the little boy tighter within the circle of her arms as she wallowed in her moment of self- pity.
"Nee-chan?"
"Mmm?"
"Daisuki."
Misao smiled once more as she began to rinse Kei-chan off. She finished rinsing out his hair and began the process of soap and lathering. It was a soothing process and it allowed Misao to keep herself busy. Washing Kei-chan was no easy task, especially now since he kept on turning around to watch Misao with large blue eyes filled with trust and love that was getting irritated by the soap.
Kei-chan watched Misao as she scrubbed at his hair. Though she didn't look it, Kei-chan could tell that something was wrong with the woman that bathed him. Wondering if he was the cause to her problem, he reached out and touched her smooth face as he said, "Nee chan? Daijoubu desu ka?"
Misao blinked at the little boy's question, and then answered, "I'm fine Kei-chan. Is something wrong?"
"Did Kei-chan make you sad?" He watched Misao's face intently. He didn't want to make the only person he loved unhappy. She was too important, and she made him feel special, and in a strange way, complete. He had never felt like that when he was in the dark. He had always felt as if he had something missing, or that something wasn't quite right.
"No Kei-chan. You didn't make me sad, I was just thinking," she said. She scrubbed his head playfully as she said, "Now if you let me finish washing you and stay clean, I'll be happy forever."
"Hontou?" Kei-chan said.
"Hontou."
*** *** ***
Several Days later.
It was several hours before Dawn when the incident happened. Misao was in the kitchen, chasing Kei-chan.
"Mou! Kei-chan!" Misao cried out as she chased the giggling little boy around the kitchen. Just as she reached out and grabbed the boy's collar, and suddenly stood still.
The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end when all of a sudden, a large portal of darkness appeared. Immediately she shoved the boy behind her and tensed.
Out stepped 5 men dressed in the traditional shinobi uniform with their weapons drawn. Recognizing their outfits, Misao breathed out a soft, "Oh no, not again," before they charged at her.
*** *** ***
Kuro was carrying out the laundry when he heard the sounds of a battle in the kitchen. Immediately he dropped the basket of clothes and whistled high and hard as he drew out his Kotewa Shuriken. He heard the high-pitched scream of Kei-chan screaming out for Misao as he rushed towards the kitchen.
He threw open the door and was prepared to hurl the shurikens out when the sight of the battle shocked him into standing still. The kitchen was a mess and young Kei was no where to be seen. Misao was straddling a man, her small delicate hand holding one very sharp kunai placed at his throat as the other held his head back by his scalp. There was an expression of coldness on her face that matched Aoshi's as she asked her question in a tightly controlled voice, "Where did you take Kei-chan?"
It sent shivers up Kuro's spine. It was eerie to see the young girl he had helped raise from babyhood calmly threatening a man for answers so coldly. When Misao was angry, she tended to be loud. not calm and quiet or filled with such malice.
Whenever Misao had returned for her yearly visits, she was so happy and light-hearted. never before had she ever been so ruthlessly proficient. The man didn't answer Misao and she removed her kunai from this throat to where his right eye was. She slowly and, but relentlessly began to push in the kunai, prepared to gut out his eye and anything else in order to receive an answer. The man squealed like a pig as Kuro stepped forward to stop her when the man started to babbling about the Hiei Mountains.
Satisfied with his answer, Misao stood up and with a strength that defied her small frame, she hauled the man up to his feet and headed towards the storeroom, unmindful of the bloody footprints she had left on the floor, grimly determined to find out where Kei-chan was. Kuro stared at the empty room for a full minute before he bellowed for the rest of the Oniwa Banshuu.