Author's Note: I am so HAPPY!!! It's Christmas break! I have nothing important to do! Isn't that just so COOL? That means I have time to do things that I want to do (like writing this fic for one…)! Again, don't be expecting a million chappies, since I think I do have a minor case of writer's block…

Disclaimer: Jeez…I just LOVE those little gummy worm thingies!! They're so yummy!!! And the thing is, they're also pretty addictive…and what was I doing? Oh yeah, I have to disclaim Rurouni Kenshin. I don't own it…

Pools of Emptiness

Nakago looked back up into the sky. All was dark. The sun had already set, and night had come upon them.

It is nearly time…I have waited so long for this…

And a voice broke into his thoughts. It was a chilling, icy-cold voice that sounded very familiar.

"Nakago."

Nakago turned to see a tall black-haired, blue-eyed man standing at the foot of the forest. He smirked, knowing that at last, the time had come.

"Shinomori…it's been a long time…"

Chapter 10

Hate between two former friends

Dies only with an awakening...

It is a cruel game that fate plays

"Okina…dinner is ready. You can call Aoshi down from his room," Omasu said wearily.

Okon glanced up at the sound of Omasu's voice, and then looked promptly down at her hands again when she had realized that Omasu wasn't speaking to her.

Omasu felt that she didn't have the strength even to put some enthusiasm in the words she said. What was the point? Nobody really cared how excited she was about having accomplished making a dinner. The truth was, she wasn't even enthusiastic about it.

Normally, Omasu's mask of enthusiasm was used to make somebody feel better.

Now, the person who needed to feel better was not somebody else, but instead, it was her. She was worried about Misao, about Aoshi, and about nearly everyone.

Noticing that nobody had answered her, she wiped her damp hands onto her apron, and proceeded to call Okina yet again.

"Okina?"

Looking very sad, Okina came walking into the kitchen, his feet dragging on the floor. This picture very much reminded Omasu of a little child sulking over having to finish their vegetables during dinner. One might have thought that it would be a humorous sight, but Omasu knew that it was not. When Okina was walking like this (and times like these are pretty rare), there was something that was sure to be wrong. Okina was usually a very happy and energetic person, despite his age, so if he were to be sad about something, it was bound to be pretty important.

"What is it?" Okon asked concernedly, finally pulling her gaze from her hands to Okina. "Where is Aoshi?"

Okina glanced at her, and then said in a listless voice, "He won't be coming to dinner."

"What do you mean?"

"I believe he has gone after Misao. He knows something that he isn't telling us, and I fear that he may be in trouble."

With that, Okon and Omasu's attention were focused mainly on Okina. "What are you talking about?" they both said at once. They found it hard to believe that he would leave just like that, without considering all the possibilities. Aoshi usually didn't talk much, but he was known to carefully look over his plans before he acted.

Okina sighed. "It's just like I said. He went to get Misao—without our help."

Okon and Omasu exchanged uncomfortable glances, before turning back to what they were doing.

An uncomfortable feeling and a sense of foreboding hung over them as they all silently ate their dinner. They knew that they could do nothing to help, yet they still feared what was to come.

Keiichi stared off into the direction of where Nakago was. When he had looked there before, there had only been on figure. Now he could see two.

"Shinomori is here," he said quite suddenly.

Misao's head shot up. Aoshi-sama is here?

Keiichi remembered Nakago's orders. If you see Shinomori, come to where he is. Bring the prisoner along to show him that we have her. But, by no means must you leave her unattended. Though her stature is small, she is very dangerous.

He pulled Misao roughly to her feet and said, "Come."

Misao glared at him. So he got the gag part down. Now he's forgotten that I can't walk with this rope around my feet.

Keiichi seemed to realize the problem, since he stopped walking and instead, turned toward Misao. Bending down, he loosened the rope around Misao's ankles slightly so that she would be able to walk but not run.

"Come," he said again. He pulled Misao to her feet.

Misao still glared. Take this stupid gag off me.

As if reading her mind, Keiichi sighed. "I'll take the gag off if you promise not to bite me. Deal?"

Misao pretended to think about for a moment and then nodded.

Keiichi pulled the gag off, ready to quickly pull his arm to a safe distance away from Misao's mouth—he wasn't going to take any chances with this girl.

"Don't worry…a deal is a deal," Misao said, though she still longed to give the bastard what he deserved.

Keiichi relaxed a bit.

"Hurry up!" he commanded, regaining his confidence. He conveniently forgot that in truth, he was really at mercy with Misao's teeth. Had she decided to go back on her words, Keiichi would have been in considerable pain at the moment.

"It's been a long time, Shinomori," Nakago said. It was hard to tell what his facial expression was. It seemed to have a certain smugness to it, though it wasn't exactly that. There also seemed to be a tinge of regret, though Aoshi supposed he had only imagined it.

Aoshi stood still and silent. What was he to say in a situation like this?

"Oh…so you're not talking to me anymore, are you?" Nakago asked in a mocking tone. "It would make more sense if I wasn't the one talking to you. After all, I wasn't the one who betrayed a friend, was I?"

Narrowing his eyes, Aoshi stared piercingly at Nakago. Then finally, he opened his mouth to speak. "Then what are you doing now?" Aoshi asked quietly.

Nakago seemed taken aback by this statement. For a split-second it seemed that he was uncertain of how to answer. Then, he said, "What do you think? Revenge. Do you deny that you betrayed me? If so, how can you?"

Aoshi was silent.

Nakago laughed. "Hm. I wasn't expecting an answer. Didn't you come for your little girlfriend?"

Aoshi glared. "Where is she?"

"Aren't you supposed already know the answer to that?"

Aoshi hated the expression that Nakago wore on his face at the moment. This wasn't the friend he used to know. What happened to the friendship that we always had? Why does he think I betrayed him? Is Misao okay?

"…"

"Still as quiet as ever, aren't you? Hn…just to let you know, your little girlfriend is just fine. Don't know how long she'll be fine though…" Nakago nearly winced. He hated saying these words. They sounded nothing like what an honorable person would say. But then, a traitor did not deserve to be treated with honor.

"Don't you dare hurt her," Aoshi said in a threatening voice.

Nakago laughed. "Come, let's stop this stupid small talk and begin fighting!"

With that said, Nakago pulled out his katana, the blade glinting menacingly in the moonlight. He pointed it at Aoshi and exclaimed, "Draw your weapon."

Aoshi pulled out his kodachis.

Nakago's eyes widened. He now uses two kodachis? He used to only have one. No matter…he's still going to lose…

They turned to face each other. They stared at each other for a moment before they disappeared. All that could be seen were blurs.

Aoshi decided that it was better to wait for Nakago to attack, since it had been a long time since he had seen him fight. Aoshi blinked, which was a mistake.

Nakago's katana came slashing toward his right side, and Aoshi barely avoided it, having to awkwardly flip backwards. He escaped with only a thin, shallow cut. Aoshi decided that waiting for Nakago's next attack would not be wise, so instead, he attacked Nakago.

Aoshi aimed for Nakago's chest with one of his kodachis, only to have it blocked. Then, he brought his other one down toward Nakago's neck. Before he could make contact with it, he was punched hard in the face.

"That hurt, didn't it?" Nakago said mockingly. "You really aren't as good as everyone thinks you are."

Aoshi merely looked at him. "You can't say that yet. The fight has only just begun."

Nakago's eyes narrowed. "Oh really?"

With that, he lunged at Aoshi, his blade slashing forward. "If so, THEN SHOW ME!"

Aoshi's kodachi flashed quickly and met Nakago's sword in midair. Nakago quickly aimed his katana at Aoshi's stomach, only to have it gracefully blocked by Aoshi's other kodachi.

Nakago furrowed his eyebrows in concentration and frustration.

This is not going as quickly as I hoped…where is Keiichi and the girl? Perhaps having the girl here will serve me in some way…

Thinking quickly, Nakago sprung at Aoshi, slashing his blade forward. Aim for his chest…

There was nowhere to run.

Aoshi stood his ground, both of his kodachis crossed defensively in front of him. He braced himself and waited for Nakago's katana to make contact with his kodachis.

This was the scene that Misao saw before her as she arrived into the clearing with Keiichi.

Without thinking, Misao yelled, "AOSHI-SAMA!!!!" Her voice echoed through the forest, magnifying her fear. Misao hadn't stopped to think about the consequences this action could cause. She was worried, and had just acted before her brain had registered what she was doing.

And a time like this, the consequences could be fatal.

Misao watched, her mouth open in horror as Aoshi's eyes turned from Nakago's katana to her. She had distracted him, and this distraction was exactly what Nakago needed.

It was good for Nakago, but not good for Aoshi.

Aoshi's brief glance at Misao was enough for Nakago to change the direction of his sword.

As if in slow motion, the gleaming blade made contact with Aoshi's skin.

Misao's eyes widened, her mind screaming in fear as she watched Aoshi's blood stain the glinting sword.

She wanted to scream his name—she wanted to yell it continuously…she believed that in some way, this would make his wound disappear. She was not sure if Nakago's attack had been fatal or serious, but that was what made it worse.

Sometimes uncertainty was worse than knowing something for sure. Misao wanted to know…yet…somehow, she DIDN'T want to know.

She shut her eyes tightly. I don't want to see this…

"AOSHI-SAMA!!" Misao screamed again. But the words did not give her the comfort she wanted. Instead, it made her feel worse. At the moment, the words felt dry and foreign to her mouth.

Please…

Author's Note: o.O Ahem…SO…yeah, I already know that this chappie wasn't brilliant, okay? I TRIED!!!! I can't do fight scenes! Don't worry though…I'll tell y'all all a little secret! The fight of course is not over yet! Not even near it! Aoshi is just getting warmed up…the next chapter will be MUCH more interesting than this one! I have a lot of things planned for the next chapter, so be ready when it comes out! (well, maybe not A LOT…but…ahem…)

Oh and…the reason it will be pretty interesting is because my best friend (Anubis-Shinigami) has given me some GREAT ideas for it! GO READ HER FICS!!!

Thanks to all who reviewed!!! Alright, then. It's nearly Christmas!!! Most of you people should already be on break, right? Well, I hope you have a great holiday!! Eat lots of food and be merry! Don't work too hard! Er...yeah...