The reason for Anji's presence at the dojo was not one even Anji himself
could provide. He could only state that the police had come early that
morning and placed him on an escorted carriage to the city.
Instead, the answers that those who lived at the dojo wanted came at dusk, in the form of a straw-haired man clad in red carrying several swords upon his back.
As he came through the gate door, the adults of the dojo came out to see this curious sight. Kenshin, as master of the house, was followed into the courtyard by Kaoru, Sano, and the unexpected guest, Anji.
"Well, isn't this a happy reunion," Cho saluted Anji a bit irreverently. "Never thought I'd see you for another twenty years or so."
"Neither did I," Anji answered calmly.
"Wait a second here-" Sano stepped between the two former Juppongatana. "- you mean to say that you didn't know he'd be here?"
"Anji?" Cho grinned. "Of course not. I'm here on police business. Told to come take in a person who might be useful." He gave Sano a withering look, "And in case you still don't get it, it's the opium dealer inside. Not Anji."
Sano briefly contemplated wiping that stupid grin off the man's face. But he wasn't one to take the bait. While Cho needed some lessons in manners, his mind was preoccupied more by other things. "What a coincidence, though, that you just happen to show up now."
Cho shrugged. "I didn't say I didn't know why he was here. Just said I wasn't expectin' him. This transport ain't going to be a simple one. I guess the chief thought old Anji here might be of some help."
"Isn't he going to the station?" Kaoru spoke up.
"Err-" Cho scratched his chin. "Well - in a matter of speaking."
Kenshin's expression seemed to change. "Perhaps not the station we're thinking of. Saitou must want the man moved somewhere else."
"Saitou?" Sano frowned. "What does that wolf have planned now?"
"Heh." The broomhead grinned. "You were always pretty good at reading other people, Himura. I'm in charge of transferring some people to Kyoto. Guess Anji happens to be one of them, and the other is your mysterious guest."
"Kyoto?" Sano considered the destination and its distance. "Kyoto is far. What's in Kyoto?"
"What is not in Kyoto is important." Kenshin spoke up when Cho simply shrugged.
"Someone?" Kaoru asked.
"-or something." Sano shook his head. "So what is it? A person? The government? What?"
"He didn't say." Cho grew impatient. "And time's a wastin.' There was a fire early this morning at some house. Kind of made the boss mad.'"
Sano's eyes widened.
Kenshin's face grew grim. "There must be a great deal of trouble about the recent arrests that Saitou would ask Cho to undertake this trip. It seems that fires take a while to cool."
A certain look of worry passed over Kaoru's face as she realized her husband wasn't just referring to their guest. Sanosuke was already a step ahead of her. He narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to Cho. "There's one other thing you didn't say. And that is there is more than one witness."
"Megumi-dono." Kenshin's face was stern. "What of her?"
"I'm not here for her." Cho waved his hand.
"Why you insolent-" Sano rethought the issue of knocking the punk's head into the ground. If the broomhead lost a few teeth, no one would really miss them all that much.
Kenshin on the other hand simply issued the younger man a challenge. "And yet we can not turn over this witness to you without thinking about the other! We do not mean to create trouble, but we will not allow someone who pays so little attention to the welfare of one to be entrusted with yet another life. We handed her to you this morning trusting you would watch her!"
"Ah geez." Cho scratched his head. "It's not like I didn't say I didn't care. She just happened to be taken off my hands."
"Off your hands?" Kaoru gasped. "What do you mean?"
"The boss said it was no longer my concern once she got to the station. I just had to make sure to get her statement and then the rest would be left up to him."
"But why?-" Kaoru looked to Kenshin for some kind of explanation. "We should have been told this-"
Kenshin considered this for a moment. "If this is Saitou's plan, then we will have to trust he did not want us to know for that would pose greater danger either to her or to us. This would be the first place someone would look for Megumi or inquire of her whereabouts." He shook his head. "We have no other choice. We must believe in him, that we must." He turned a thoughtful expression towards his friend, who already knew that for himself. "Right, Sano?"
Sano kicked a small rock near him. "I suppose." The very way things continued to unfold did not please him. Saitou wasn't a particularly easy person to understand. However, Kenshin did understand him and accepted this turn of events. And he knew Saitou well enough to say that the trust that was required to sit here and do nothing was entirely warranted. "Not that I like going along with a plan we don't completely understand or know of."
"Well this part of it is pretty much clear." Cho continued impatiently. "The monk and the drug dealer inside come with me."
Kaoru shook her head. "I'm afraid that he won't like a boat or train all that much."
"-Nor would that be wise," Kenshin spoke up. "There are so many people about-"
"Bah!" Cho grinned. "Who said we'd be taking a boat or train? Anji here knows his way around the old roads. People don't really go all that much those ways anymore. I have a cart too for the first part of the ride. The guy can lie down in the back-"
"-What about the yakuza?" Sano spoke up, already seeing a problem here. "Those small towns are little traps, just crawling with dirtbags where you police are less likely to be. You can't drive and fight you know."
"Anji is pretty handy in a fight-"
Anji who had been largely silent during this whole conversation, looked slightly perturbed now. "I have not fought in five years. I do not intend to start while still serving my sentence."
Cho gave an exasperated sigh. "Then *you* watch the patient and I'll take on any punks along the way."
Sano frowned as he noted that the discussion was still going absolutely nowhere. "Then *I'll* come."
"What?!" Cho looked at him suspiciously.
"I'll tag along and watch your back. Anji can guide."
"Wait a minute," Cho started sputtering, but Kenshin and Kaoru were already smiling and moving back towards the house, as if the matter were settled. "Wait a minute , wait minute. What's all this about? All of sudden you want to go?"
"Well, it would make more sense, wouldn't it?" Sano glared back. "If Saitou won't let us do anything more for Megumi, then at least I could help her by keeping this guy here safe. I don't care if you get beaten to a pulp by some local jerks, but I'm not going to let a witness get bullied or killed here."
"It is a sensible proposal, Cho." Anji spoke up.
"But-"
"I know the patient too." Sano stuck his hands in his pocket. "I'm the one who got him help. He'll be easier to keep quiet. Otherwise you're asking the man to go off into the forest with two strangers."
After a moment Anji added, "We will be able to go further in our journey with more men."
Cho scowled. Now that it was two against one, he was pretty much forced to agree. "Fine, fine. Whatever. If Sagara can go, can we stop arguing over this already and get ready to go? We want to move while . . ." His words trailed off as he realized that everyone was already moving. Anji was following Kenshin and Kaoru towards wherever the witness was in order to help prepare the man, and Sano had slinked away towards some of the back rooms where his younger brother and some of the out of town dojo students resided.
In his irritation, Cho opened both his eyes. "Stupid boss," Cho muttered to no one in particular. "--Sending me here so I can get bossed around by a monk and a gangster. When I see him again, I'm going to whack him a few times with my sword." He paused for a moment before correcting himself. "Make that with all my swords!"
Somewhere else in Japan, a man suddenly sneezed.
~ ~
Aoshi stayed near the long stairs that led up to the home of Madame Kata, but just out of sight.
Night had fallen, and it was his intention to ferret out an enemy.
Somewhere behind him both Okina and Shoji lingered in the shadows. Only in the case of trouble would they reveal their presence. Only that is if Aoshi chose to execute a high-pitched whistle that would summon them to him with their blades or knives in hand.
It was an oddly quiet evening at Madame Kata's residence. Just a half hour earlier, the young girls that lived there had all gone off noisily and cheerfully towards town. He suspected that they were gone for a time, as the gate had been drawn shut and latched.
Locks, latches, bars. These were no obstacle for any respectable ninja. Gates were easily cleared and places of hiding easily found. He chose to hide in a tree, in order to watch the activity in the house below.
One of the doors slid quietly open and a person walked out slowly and patiently. He watched as the Madame walked to the well and pulled out a small amount of water.
She paused as she arrived halfway between the well and her porch and looked around. After a moment, Aoshi was aware that she was looking at the tree.
He knew he couldn't be seen, and yet, she was somehow aware he was there.
"I'm about to have some tea." She turned away and continued towards the house. "If you wish, you can join me instead of standing up there and spying."
Her knowledge of his presence was unanticipated. And now there was no reason to hide. He leapt down quietly, and moved towards the house. Knowing that Okina and Shoji had likely witnessed this exchange and were alarmed about the change in plans, he made sure to look up once and touch the back of his neck, before touching the sheath on his back that held both of his kodachis. They would understand the signal. He had his weapons at hand, and would be alert. In the meantime, they would wait.
"So you've come back, have you, friend of Zanza?" She took the water and poured some of it into another pot, which he guessed held hot water. It's rather late and my girls are not here at the moment. I sent them out to go run some last minute errands. "
Both knew that he wasn't there for a social call. "Where is he?" Aoshi demanded.
"He?" Madame Kata paused as she poured out the cooled tea into several cups that she had placed on a small table.
"Shimada."
"Shimada?"
He noticed that she had filled three cups. "That name is not a popular one, I'm afraid."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "It is a name which you also once had."
"That was a long time ago," her eyes were hidden to him now. "And it's a story that may be too hard for you, an orphan, to understand."
"He has wronged very many people," Aoshi pressed .
"Yes, he has, Aoshi Shinomori. Including you and your own."
Somehow, it did not surprise him now that she knew his name. She who had been able to sense him from the moment he was at her gate was no ordinary woman.
"It surprises you little that I know who you are now, but the truth is that I knew from the moment you first walked into my home who you were. I kept company with many great men of Edo, and made it a point to know about others. You were a protégé of sorts who many knew of, Captain of the Edo Castle Guard."
He bowed, acknowledging that former title.
"I make it my business to know many things, Shinomori."
"And you knew much more, Madame, the day we came here to see you."
"I told you the truth, in the way I saw fit. You were not exactly truthful yourself-" She took a sip of her tea.
When he said nothing, she looked at him carefully. "You are truly a man as difficult to read as the stories say. Yet- I can see now you are even more intrigued and perhaps angry. Will you not have some tea?"
He took one cup of tea, but did not drink it. "Knowing who I am, and my grievance against that man, you evade me still. He's your son--"
"Son!??!?" At this, she began to laugh heartily. "I am not that old. He is my brother-my fallen brother -- so to speak."
"Your brother called for an attack on my home," Aoshi made himself clear. "And more grievous, he was allied with someone who kidnapped and tortured someone valuable to me."
"I am aware of that now," she said somewhat mysteriously. "Although I did not know of it all that well before. My brother was here, in fact, not all that long ago. But he has left Tokyo."
"My information says he is here."
"You misunderstand." Her eyes took on an amused cast. "But I expect that. Search every room if you must. Then we shall talk further." She turned back to preparing the tea, and ignored him as he rose and moved towards one of the doors in the back of the room.
As he continued down the hallway, he let his senses judge her words. His hearing, while not as good as Shoji's, was good enough to detect sounds that might give away the presence of other persons. And Shinomori Aoshi, former Okashira of the Oniwaban, knew after only a few steps that Madame Kata was lying.
At the end of a hallway, he found a sliding door slightly ajar. The room beyond was dark, but he could hear within it the faint sound of breathing. He moved quickly and quietly inside, ready to strike if necessary.
However, a half-second later, he was glad that he had not.
"Kata-san?" A young woman sat up on her blanket and rubbed her eyes. Her voice was tired, but familiar. "Is it time?"
Madame appeared from nowhere, gliding gracefully and effortlessly past him, with a small candle in hand to provide a little light in the dark room. "Not quite yet, my dear. But soon -- now that this young man has come." As she held her candle out slightly towards the 'young man', illuminating his face, it was the young woman's turn to be surprised.
"Aoshi?" Megumi clutched her light yukata around her, concerned for appearance of modesty.
He moved quickly, placing himself between her and the other woman. "You said you wanted to strike a deal. Is this the deal, Madame? Megumi Takani for something else?"
"Aoshi!" Megumi stood up angrily, forgetting for a moment her earlier embarrassment. "How dare you speak that way to Kata-san! I'm not a prisoner!"
Still facing Madame Kata so he could observe her, he raised his arm to keep Megumi back. "You are supposed to be with the police. And yet you are here at the home of the sister of one of the men who worked for your captor?"
"I know who she is!" Megumi pushed his arm aside. "She's told me all she knew . . . and also that she was already acquainted with both you and Sano!"
As he looked at her, he realized that somehow Madame Kata had already earned Megumi's trust. Was it because of the relationship between Kata and Sagara? Or out of some passionate need to trust a woman who also had a fallen brother, but one still alive and, therefore, redeemable?
In this strange conversation, it was Madame Kata who restored calm. "She came willingly, because it was in her best interest. Had she stayed where she was, she would have been transferred into another facility in Tokyo from where she would have then disappeared to parts unknown."
"Kata-san came for me with one of her girls earlier today. I exchanged clothing with the girl, and was told that I was to be moved."
"And you did not question this?" Aoshi's face was stern. "After all that has happened."
"I did. But when Cho came back in and pretended not to notice the change I knew then, that this was one of *his* plans."
Her tone of voice held a certain, almost unwilling respect as she referred to the man whose mind had foreseen many things. Aoshi briefly considered this and forgave Megumi her trusting act.
"Inspector Goro was the name he gave," Madame Kata nodded.
"Why?" Aoshi's face was still wary. "Why are you involved now? And how much did you know before? Did you know where Megumi was?"
She shook her head. "When you and Zanza came to me, I knew that you had business with my brother. He had shown up just before, a bit out of sorts. He told me he had made enemies and had to quit Kyoto. I offered to hide him but he refused, saying he would go back to his sponsors. As for the part about the geisha -- that was a place that he and others like him liked to visit. The missing girl I did hear rumors about from my girls. I gave you what information I could - without necessarily pointing to him or hurting him. But I had no idea of who Megumi-san was or that she was involved with my brother's clients - not until that inspector came to see me."
He narrowed his eyes. "And why would you do this?"
"The Inspector knew who I was." She shook her head. "He just barely missed my brother, and pressed me for information. I was so unwilling to help then - unlike now." She paused. "As we speak, my brother is being transferred to a prison in a safer place away from here, where there are too many watchful eyes and corrupt men who have influence over the fate of those in jail. That is the favor given by Inspector Goro. I return the favor by helping Megumi-san also leave Tokyo. That is the agreement "
Aoshi listened carefully to the infection and tone of her voice. The woman's words were tinged with truth. He could not detect any further deception on her part. "What plan does he have in mind?"
She looked at Megumi and then turned to him. "You. You're the plan."
"Aoshi?" He felt Megumi's eyes turn upon him.
Madame Kata repeated herself. "Shinomori's presence here was part of the Inspector's plan. At least, that is the logical conclusion to be made. That you were told that my brother was here must be his doing, to draw you out here."
"But what is the plan?" Megumi looked back and forth between the two of them.
He glanced at Megumi. "He knows me well enough to know that I would take you where it is easiest to protect you. I have no intent on holing up somewhere in hiding. Rather, I would return to Kyoto and defend our position from there. That is," he paused, considering what she had done and said earlier that day, "-if you're willing to come with me to Kyoto."
"And why would I not be?"
He did not mention one reason, but another. "You were rather willing to go to prison, among other things."
"To face the truth - but I won't argue with the inspector if he disagrees."
"Then we leave now." He looked at her. "It'll take us a few days-"
"You can't leave now," Madame Kata frowned. "It is one thing for a ninja to be able to move and leave here unnoticed, but what about her?"
"Then what do you propose instead? How will she be able to leave without being seen?"
Madame Kata thought for a moment and then went over to a cabinet on the far side of the room and withdrew something from it. She gave them both a wry smile as she handed a bundle of white clothing to Megumi.
Megumi looked at it somewhat confused and then laughed.
Aoshi turned, slightly puzzled.
Megumi's eyes glittered slightly as she began unfolding the clothing. "You're to meet a girl tomorrow at a nearby temple or shrine for a marriage ceremony." She took the white hood in her hands and placed it over her head. "Another one of the Madame's girls getting married is no big deal in this neighborhood. I'll be able to walk down those stairs tomorrow in plain view."
"My girls would be able to move her quickly into a carriage from here, and to wherever you think best." Madame Kata nodded.
He considered the idea, outlandish as it was. He touched the hood on Megumi's head and carefully adjusted it, ignoring the slight color that rose in her cheeks. Her face painted and obscured by the hood, she could easily pass as just another bride from this household. "There is a temple near the castle that will do. Are you familiar with it?"
"Of course," Madame nodded. "It is a marvelous place, absolutely appropriate for one of 'my girls.' "
"Have her there after sunrise. I will make the preparations."
Megumi glanced at both of them, the doubt evident in her eyes. "Is it really possible that we'll make it? That this will work?"
They both looked at her, assuring her silently that it could before they continued their discussion.
"Madame Kata, prepare her well. If I may ask you to also help her pack a few things for the journey, I will compensate you for your time and trouble."
"-None is necessary. My girls can provide Megumi-san with all the things she needs. As I said - the debt is owed all to your inspector comrade."
"If you will not accept that type of compensation, I will send some men with you after the ceremony for your protection. I was able to easily infiltrate this place. It will not do to leave you alone. Tonight, with your permission I will also leave one of my men to watch-if there is any trouble, he'll know how to reach me."
"Understood and appreciated." Madame Kata moved to withdraw. "I have much to do for tomorrow then. I trust you will show yourself out, Shinomori?"
He nodded and then as she disappeared, drew the door shut for some privacy. He turned back to the woman who he had unwittingly come here to retrieve. "Megumi."
He looked at her carefully to gauge her feelings. The hood she had put on her head was gone; it had been placed carefully aside so that it would not be wrinkled. "I apologize. This is not the way I had planned to return to Kyoto."
"I know." She turned away, although he wasn't sure why. "It's only a ceremony after all. And I know Madame Kata will do a good job on making sure that I can't be recognized." She rambled on somewhat absentmindedly. "Madame Kata is quite good at disguises. You should have seen the girl who took my place in the cell. When she had finished with the both of us, you would have not known that a switch had taken place--"
He cut off her off gently. "She is an excellent woman. But while I do not think she will play a trick, you must be careful. I must leave to make preparations for what is to come next, but you will not be alone here. I'll have someone stay and keep a close eye on you. But tomorrow, when you leave, you must look up at the tree by the gate and talk about the trees in Kyoto."
"Why?" Megumi turned her head to give him a curious look.
"My men will know that it is you they are following and watching -- in the case there are any other last minute switches."
"Aoshi," her eyes became troubled at the insinuation of yet another possible twist in their plans.
"You must take this-" he placed something in her hand.
Megumi looked up at him, startled.
"It's a knife-"
"I know that," her voice sounded irritated, but her eyes flickered with some strange memory.
He shook his head. "To protect yourself. Not for any other reason." He forced her hand to close around it. "Do you understand?"
She hesitated only slightly, but it was enough to tell him that she did understand. "Do you believe I'll need to use it?"
He looked outside for a moment, recalling that somewhere in the past, they had a conversation like this.
"No." He did not turn away from her now as he did then. "I do not. I believe in all possibilities, except in failure. I will take you safely to Kyoto. "
At his words, the last remnant of fear disappeared then from her face. He watched as the knife disappeared in the fold of her clothing and saw strength return to her eyes. "Aoshi-"
"Yes?" His hand was already moving the door aside.
"Don't be late tomorrow."
He raised his eyebrow. "Late?"
"I might not wait." She turned away, but not before he could see the hint of a sly smile on her face.
.
.
As he emerged and leaped back up into the trees, his two shadows made themselves known.
"Well?" Okina's eyes reflected his concern. "It took you long enough."
"Shimada isn't here. But Megumi is."
"Megumi?" The two other men exchanged a glance.
"Shoji," Aoshi spoke quietly to the other man. "I'll need you to stay here to keep an eye on the house." He handed the younger man some small flares. "If something happens, use these. I will find you an additional pair of eyes before morning comes. You will follow the bride that emerges from the house. She will look up at the tree by the gate and speak of Kyoto. That is how you shall know that it is Megumi."
"Bride?" Okina's eyes had already grown large at the sound of that word. But with the mention of Megumi's name, they had grown even larger.
"Okina." Aoshi was not to be so easily sidetracked . "There are Oniwaban here in Tokyo still. Shirotome can help you track them or lead you to others who can assist us now. Shoji will need backup here and I will need you to send a message to our former clan to be watchful."
"What?!" Okina looked confused. "Some of them are in Kyoto--"
"And some are not," Aoshi finished.
"What should I say to them?"
"Nothing yet." Aoshi thought carefully. "Just that this is a time of need. That will be enough. Then return to Shirotome. I will join you at his hotel in the morning."
"What should I tell Shirotome?"
"Tell him that there has been a change of plans. Ask him for a carriage to be ready before dawn and see if he can find a kimono that will fit me."
"A kimono?!"
"Yes. One that is suitable enough for a wedding."
Aoshi left quickly, all too aware that if it weren't for Shoji at that very moment, Okina would have fallen clumsily, but happily out of a tree.
As he made his way back down the hilly side of the Kata estate, he regretted that he did not explain the matter more carefully to Okina. But there was no adequate way of explaining this to Okina such that he would not misconstrue what was about to happen. And he didn't have time to try - he needed to revisit places and persons of the past tonight in order to prepare for tomorrow and the journey.
Okina and Shirotome were entitled to think as they pleased. He would ease their confusion later. But not now.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
A/N: oh yeah. Contests. See my profile for the link to the page that has contests where you can win rk stuff.
A warning note regarding Japanese marriages. A religious ceremony does not mean the a wedding is official. Papers and documents are what I read made marriages really legal and official. So don't freak out people. Even though I guess it's kind of romantic, despite it being a ruse.
Will it be a rollicking journey to Kyoto full of danger ? Or just a contemplative one? A long one? A short one? And with Okina thinking weird things and smiling goofy smiles? I don't know. Bah!
To my reviewers: Offline emails, fanarts, arguments and impassioned pleas for pairings. Wow. And thanks.
Darkchild , plumwarrior37, Junyortrakr, Lady Tskuya, Candace , Trupana- I appreciate hearing from you all.
animefreak5483: You may not like this part, but Megumi would never just blow Sano off. Sano and Megumi are both heading towards Kyoto and so inevitably those two will meet again.
Cookie: Did you mean "note of support" or "not support" to Aoshi? Big difference between the two.
CherieDizon: the review thing is a quirk of ff.net that was supposedly fixed. What you do is just go back and hit "review" again. It works for me on all the fics I review. ^_- Regarding cutoff point for shippers. Uhhh. I stopped asking for people to vote a long time ago. It was becoming so one-sided it was ridiculous. At this point, just enjoy the ride.
Heaven-Dragoon: I don't care about your English! I am glad to see that you can enjoy the fic and am tickled by your review! Thanks!
iAteTheLotus: Cho and Megumi. Well, why not? Heh.
Shimizu Hitomi: An evil or devious person is much more readily amused by one's own writing. The thought of "what can I do to my characters today" is a driving force behind this fic.
Mij: ^_^ You are right on the ball almost all the time. Scary how you read minds. And I don't know if it's Nenji or Neji. Someone else want to clarify? I'll go back and fix it the next time around.
Jieli: I didn't want to go into the Megumi learning the ways of the Oniwaban. Not that I'm opposed to it, but it's something that other authors have chosen for her and developed very well. I leave that to them. (And it seems to be a fanon concept that not only would Megumi wear Okon's type of uniform, but look even better than Okon in it. I agree, but that's besides the point.) But wait, Megumi has Aoshi's knife now. So that's something ^_^
Leila: :-p
Instead, the answers that those who lived at the dojo wanted came at dusk, in the form of a straw-haired man clad in red carrying several swords upon his back.
As he came through the gate door, the adults of the dojo came out to see this curious sight. Kenshin, as master of the house, was followed into the courtyard by Kaoru, Sano, and the unexpected guest, Anji.
"Well, isn't this a happy reunion," Cho saluted Anji a bit irreverently. "Never thought I'd see you for another twenty years or so."
"Neither did I," Anji answered calmly.
"Wait a second here-" Sano stepped between the two former Juppongatana. "- you mean to say that you didn't know he'd be here?"
"Anji?" Cho grinned. "Of course not. I'm here on police business. Told to come take in a person who might be useful." He gave Sano a withering look, "And in case you still don't get it, it's the opium dealer inside. Not Anji."
Sano briefly contemplated wiping that stupid grin off the man's face. But he wasn't one to take the bait. While Cho needed some lessons in manners, his mind was preoccupied more by other things. "What a coincidence, though, that you just happen to show up now."
Cho shrugged. "I didn't say I didn't know why he was here. Just said I wasn't expectin' him. This transport ain't going to be a simple one. I guess the chief thought old Anji here might be of some help."
"Isn't he going to the station?" Kaoru spoke up.
"Err-" Cho scratched his chin. "Well - in a matter of speaking."
Kenshin's expression seemed to change. "Perhaps not the station we're thinking of. Saitou must want the man moved somewhere else."
"Saitou?" Sano frowned. "What does that wolf have planned now?"
"Heh." The broomhead grinned. "You were always pretty good at reading other people, Himura. I'm in charge of transferring some people to Kyoto. Guess Anji happens to be one of them, and the other is your mysterious guest."
"Kyoto?" Sano considered the destination and its distance. "Kyoto is far. What's in Kyoto?"
"What is not in Kyoto is important." Kenshin spoke up when Cho simply shrugged.
"Someone?" Kaoru asked.
"-or something." Sano shook his head. "So what is it? A person? The government? What?"
"He didn't say." Cho grew impatient. "And time's a wastin.' There was a fire early this morning at some house. Kind of made the boss mad.'"
Sano's eyes widened.
Kenshin's face grew grim. "There must be a great deal of trouble about the recent arrests that Saitou would ask Cho to undertake this trip. It seems that fires take a while to cool."
A certain look of worry passed over Kaoru's face as she realized her husband wasn't just referring to their guest. Sanosuke was already a step ahead of her. He narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to Cho. "There's one other thing you didn't say. And that is there is more than one witness."
"Megumi-dono." Kenshin's face was stern. "What of her?"
"I'm not here for her." Cho waved his hand.
"Why you insolent-" Sano rethought the issue of knocking the punk's head into the ground. If the broomhead lost a few teeth, no one would really miss them all that much.
Kenshin on the other hand simply issued the younger man a challenge. "And yet we can not turn over this witness to you without thinking about the other! We do not mean to create trouble, but we will not allow someone who pays so little attention to the welfare of one to be entrusted with yet another life. We handed her to you this morning trusting you would watch her!"
"Ah geez." Cho scratched his head. "It's not like I didn't say I didn't care. She just happened to be taken off my hands."
"Off your hands?" Kaoru gasped. "What do you mean?"
"The boss said it was no longer my concern once she got to the station. I just had to make sure to get her statement and then the rest would be left up to him."
"But why?-" Kaoru looked to Kenshin for some kind of explanation. "We should have been told this-"
Kenshin considered this for a moment. "If this is Saitou's plan, then we will have to trust he did not want us to know for that would pose greater danger either to her or to us. This would be the first place someone would look for Megumi or inquire of her whereabouts." He shook his head. "We have no other choice. We must believe in him, that we must." He turned a thoughtful expression towards his friend, who already knew that for himself. "Right, Sano?"
Sano kicked a small rock near him. "I suppose." The very way things continued to unfold did not please him. Saitou wasn't a particularly easy person to understand. However, Kenshin did understand him and accepted this turn of events. And he knew Saitou well enough to say that the trust that was required to sit here and do nothing was entirely warranted. "Not that I like going along with a plan we don't completely understand or know of."
"Well this part of it is pretty much clear." Cho continued impatiently. "The monk and the drug dealer inside come with me."
Kaoru shook her head. "I'm afraid that he won't like a boat or train all that much."
"-Nor would that be wise," Kenshin spoke up. "There are so many people about-"
"Bah!" Cho grinned. "Who said we'd be taking a boat or train? Anji here knows his way around the old roads. People don't really go all that much those ways anymore. I have a cart too for the first part of the ride. The guy can lie down in the back-"
"-What about the yakuza?" Sano spoke up, already seeing a problem here. "Those small towns are little traps, just crawling with dirtbags where you police are less likely to be. You can't drive and fight you know."
"Anji is pretty handy in a fight-"
Anji who had been largely silent during this whole conversation, looked slightly perturbed now. "I have not fought in five years. I do not intend to start while still serving my sentence."
Cho gave an exasperated sigh. "Then *you* watch the patient and I'll take on any punks along the way."
Sano frowned as he noted that the discussion was still going absolutely nowhere. "Then *I'll* come."
"What?!" Cho looked at him suspiciously.
"I'll tag along and watch your back. Anji can guide."
"Wait a minute," Cho started sputtering, but Kenshin and Kaoru were already smiling and moving back towards the house, as if the matter were settled. "Wait a minute , wait minute. What's all this about? All of sudden you want to go?"
"Well, it would make more sense, wouldn't it?" Sano glared back. "If Saitou won't let us do anything more for Megumi, then at least I could help her by keeping this guy here safe. I don't care if you get beaten to a pulp by some local jerks, but I'm not going to let a witness get bullied or killed here."
"It is a sensible proposal, Cho." Anji spoke up.
"But-"
"I know the patient too." Sano stuck his hands in his pocket. "I'm the one who got him help. He'll be easier to keep quiet. Otherwise you're asking the man to go off into the forest with two strangers."
After a moment Anji added, "We will be able to go further in our journey with more men."
Cho scowled. Now that it was two against one, he was pretty much forced to agree. "Fine, fine. Whatever. If Sagara can go, can we stop arguing over this already and get ready to go? We want to move while . . ." His words trailed off as he realized that everyone was already moving. Anji was following Kenshin and Kaoru towards wherever the witness was in order to help prepare the man, and Sano had slinked away towards some of the back rooms where his younger brother and some of the out of town dojo students resided.
In his irritation, Cho opened both his eyes. "Stupid boss," Cho muttered to no one in particular. "--Sending me here so I can get bossed around by a monk and a gangster. When I see him again, I'm going to whack him a few times with my sword." He paused for a moment before correcting himself. "Make that with all my swords!"
Somewhere else in Japan, a man suddenly sneezed.
~ ~
Aoshi stayed near the long stairs that led up to the home of Madame Kata, but just out of sight.
Night had fallen, and it was his intention to ferret out an enemy.
Somewhere behind him both Okina and Shoji lingered in the shadows. Only in the case of trouble would they reveal their presence. Only that is if Aoshi chose to execute a high-pitched whistle that would summon them to him with their blades or knives in hand.
It was an oddly quiet evening at Madame Kata's residence. Just a half hour earlier, the young girls that lived there had all gone off noisily and cheerfully towards town. He suspected that they were gone for a time, as the gate had been drawn shut and latched.
Locks, latches, bars. These were no obstacle for any respectable ninja. Gates were easily cleared and places of hiding easily found. He chose to hide in a tree, in order to watch the activity in the house below.
One of the doors slid quietly open and a person walked out slowly and patiently. He watched as the Madame walked to the well and pulled out a small amount of water.
She paused as she arrived halfway between the well and her porch and looked around. After a moment, Aoshi was aware that she was looking at the tree.
He knew he couldn't be seen, and yet, she was somehow aware he was there.
"I'm about to have some tea." She turned away and continued towards the house. "If you wish, you can join me instead of standing up there and spying."
Her knowledge of his presence was unanticipated. And now there was no reason to hide. He leapt down quietly, and moved towards the house. Knowing that Okina and Shoji had likely witnessed this exchange and were alarmed about the change in plans, he made sure to look up once and touch the back of his neck, before touching the sheath on his back that held both of his kodachis. They would understand the signal. He had his weapons at hand, and would be alert. In the meantime, they would wait.
"So you've come back, have you, friend of Zanza?" She took the water and poured some of it into another pot, which he guessed held hot water. It's rather late and my girls are not here at the moment. I sent them out to go run some last minute errands. "
Both knew that he wasn't there for a social call. "Where is he?" Aoshi demanded.
"He?" Madame Kata paused as she poured out the cooled tea into several cups that she had placed on a small table.
"Shimada."
"Shimada?"
He noticed that she had filled three cups. "That name is not a popular one, I'm afraid."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "It is a name which you also once had."
"That was a long time ago," her eyes were hidden to him now. "And it's a story that may be too hard for you, an orphan, to understand."
"He has wronged very many people," Aoshi pressed .
"Yes, he has, Aoshi Shinomori. Including you and your own."
Somehow, it did not surprise him now that she knew his name. She who had been able to sense him from the moment he was at her gate was no ordinary woman.
"It surprises you little that I know who you are now, but the truth is that I knew from the moment you first walked into my home who you were. I kept company with many great men of Edo, and made it a point to know about others. You were a protégé of sorts who many knew of, Captain of the Edo Castle Guard."
He bowed, acknowledging that former title.
"I make it my business to know many things, Shinomori."
"And you knew much more, Madame, the day we came here to see you."
"I told you the truth, in the way I saw fit. You were not exactly truthful yourself-" She took a sip of her tea.
When he said nothing, she looked at him carefully. "You are truly a man as difficult to read as the stories say. Yet- I can see now you are even more intrigued and perhaps angry. Will you not have some tea?"
He took one cup of tea, but did not drink it. "Knowing who I am, and my grievance against that man, you evade me still. He's your son--"
"Son!??!?" At this, she began to laugh heartily. "I am not that old. He is my brother-my fallen brother -- so to speak."
"Your brother called for an attack on my home," Aoshi made himself clear. "And more grievous, he was allied with someone who kidnapped and tortured someone valuable to me."
"I am aware of that now," she said somewhat mysteriously. "Although I did not know of it all that well before. My brother was here, in fact, not all that long ago. But he has left Tokyo."
"My information says he is here."
"You misunderstand." Her eyes took on an amused cast. "But I expect that. Search every room if you must. Then we shall talk further." She turned back to preparing the tea, and ignored him as he rose and moved towards one of the doors in the back of the room.
As he continued down the hallway, he let his senses judge her words. His hearing, while not as good as Shoji's, was good enough to detect sounds that might give away the presence of other persons. And Shinomori Aoshi, former Okashira of the Oniwaban, knew after only a few steps that Madame Kata was lying.
At the end of a hallway, he found a sliding door slightly ajar. The room beyond was dark, but he could hear within it the faint sound of breathing. He moved quickly and quietly inside, ready to strike if necessary.
However, a half-second later, he was glad that he had not.
"Kata-san?" A young woman sat up on her blanket and rubbed her eyes. Her voice was tired, but familiar. "Is it time?"
Madame appeared from nowhere, gliding gracefully and effortlessly past him, with a small candle in hand to provide a little light in the dark room. "Not quite yet, my dear. But soon -- now that this young man has come." As she held her candle out slightly towards the 'young man', illuminating his face, it was the young woman's turn to be surprised.
"Aoshi?" Megumi clutched her light yukata around her, concerned for appearance of modesty.
He moved quickly, placing himself between her and the other woman. "You said you wanted to strike a deal. Is this the deal, Madame? Megumi Takani for something else?"
"Aoshi!" Megumi stood up angrily, forgetting for a moment her earlier embarrassment. "How dare you speak that way to Kata-san! I'm not a prisoner!"
Still facing Madame Kata so he could observe her, he raised his arm to keep Megumi back. "You are supposed to be with the police. And yet you are here at the home of the sister of one of the men who worked for your captor?"
"I know who she is!" Megumi pushed his arm aside. "She's told me all she knew . . . and also that she was already acquainted with both you and Sano!"
As he looked at her, he realized that somehow Madame Kata had already earned Megumi's trust. Was it because of the relationship between Kata and Sagara? Or out of some passionate need to trust a woman who also had a fallen brother, but one still alive and, therefore, redeemable?
In this strange conversation, it was Madame Kata who restored calm. "She came willingly, because it was in her best interest. Had she stayed where she was, she would have been transferred into another facility in Tokyo from where she would have then disappeared to parts unknown."
"Kata-san came for me with one of her girls earlier today. I exchanged clothing with the girl, and was told that I was to be moved."
"And you did not question this?" Aoshi's face was stern. "After all that has happened."
"I did. But when Cho came back in and pretended not to notice the change I knew then, that this was one of *his* plans."
Her tone of voice held a certain, almost unwilling respect as she referred to the man whose mind had foreseen many things. Aoshi briefly considered this and forgave Megumi her trusting act.
"Inspector Goro was the name he gave," Madame Kata nodded.
"Why?" Aoshi's face was still wary. "Why are you involved now? And how much did you know before? Did you know where Megumi was?"
She shook her head. "When you and Zanza came to me, I knew that you had business with my brother. He had shown up just before, a bit out of sorts. He told me he had made enemies and had to quit Kyoto. I offered to hide him but he refused, saying he would go back to his sponsors. As for the part about the geisha -- that was a place that he and others like him liked to visit. The missing girl I did hear rumors about from my girls. I gave you what information I could - without necessarily pointing to him or hurting him. But I had no idea of who Megumi-san was or that she was involved with my brother's clients - not until that inspector came to see me."
He narrowed his eyes. "And why would you do this?"
"The Inspector knew who I was." She shook her head. "He just barely missed my brother, and pressed me for information. I was so unwilling to help then - unlike now." She paused. "As we speak, my brother is being transferred to a prison in a safer place away from here, where there are too many watchful eyes and corrupt men who have influence over the fate of those in jail. That is the favor given by Inspector Goro. I return the favor by helping Megumi-san also leave Tokyo. That is the agreement "
Aoshi listened carefully to the infection and tone of her voice. The woman's words were tinged with truth. He could not detect any further deception on her part. "What plan does he have in mind?"
She looked at Megumi and then turned to him. "You. You're the plan."
"Aoshi?" He felt Megumi's eyes turn upon him.
Madame Kata repeated herself. "Shinomori's presence here was part of the Inspector's plan. At least, that is the logical conclusion to be made. That you were told that my brother was here must be his doing, to draw you out here."
"But what is the plan?" Megumi looked back and forth between the two of them.
He glanced at Megumi. "He knows me well enough to know that I would take you where it is easiest to protect you. I have no intent on holing up somewhere in hiding. Rather, I would return to Kyoto and defend our position from there. That is," he paused, considering what she had done and said earlier that day, "-if you're willing to come with me to Kyoto."
"And why would I not be?"
He did not mention one reason, but another. "You were rather willing to go to prison, among other things."
"To face the truth - but I won't argue with the inspector if he disagrees."
"Then we leave now." He looked at her. "It'll take us a few days-"
"You can't leave now," Madame Kata frowned. "It is one thing for a ninja to be able to move and leave here unnoticed, but what about her?"
"Then what do you propose instead? How will she be able to leave without being seen?"
Madame Kata thought for a moment and then went over to a cabinet on the far side of the room and withdrew something from it. She gave them both a wry smile as she handed a bundle of white clothing to Megumi.
Megumi looked at it somewhat confused and then laughed.
Aoshi turned, slightly puzzled.
Megumi's eyes glittered slightly as she began unfolding the clothing. "You're to meet a girl tomorrow at a nearby temple or shrine for a marriage ceremony." She took the white hood in her hands and placed it over her head. "Another one of the Madame's girls getting married is no big deal in this neighborhood. I'll be able to walk down those stairs tomorrow in plain view."
"My girls would be able to move her quickly into a carriage from here, and to wherever you think best." Madame Kata nodded.
He considered the idea, outlandish as it was. He touched the hood on Megumi's head and carefully adjusted it, ignoring the slight color that rose in her cheeks. Her face painted and obscured by the hood, she could easily pass as just another bride from this household. "There is a temple near the castle that will do. Are you familiar with it?"
"Of course," Madame nodded. "It is a marvelous place, absolutely appropriate for one of 'my girls.' "
"Have her there after sunrise. I will make the preparations."
Megumi glanced at both of them, the doubt evident in her eyes. "Is it really possible that we'll make it? That this will work?"
They both looked at her, assuring her silently that it could before they continued their discussion.
"Madame Kata, prepare her well. If I may ask you to also help her pack a few things for the journey, I will compensate you for your time and trouble."
"-None is necessary. My girls can provide Megumi-san with all the things she needs. As I said - the debt is owed all to your inspector comrade."
"If you will not accept that type of compensation, I will send some men with you after the ceremony for your protection. I was able to easily infiltrate this place. It will not do to leave you alone. Tonight, with your permission I will also leave one of my men to watch-if there is any trouble, he'll know how to reach me."
"Understood and appreciated." Madame Kata moved to withdraw. "I have much to do for tomorrow then. I trust you will show yourself out, Shinomori?"
He nodded and then as she disappeared, drew the door shut for some privacy. He turned back to the woman who he had unwittingly come here to retrieve. "Megumi."
He looked at her carefully to gauge her feelings. The hood she had put on her head was gone; it had been placed carefully aside so that it would not be wrinkled. "I apologize. This is not the way I had planned to return to Kyoto."
"I know." She turned away, although he wasn't sure why. "It's only a ceremony after all. And I know Madame Kata will do a good job on making sure that I can't be recognized." She rambled on somewhat absentmindedly. "Madame Kata is quite good at disguises. You should have seen the girl who took my place in the cell. When she had finished with the both of us, you would have not known that a switch had taken place--"
He cut off her off gently. "She is an excellent woman. But while I do not think she will play a trick, you must be careful. I must leave to make preparations for what is to come next, but you will not be alone here. I'll have someone stay and keep a close eye on you. But tomorrow, when you leave, you must look up at the tree by the gate and talk about the trees in Kyoto."
"Why?" Megumi turned her head to give him a curious look.
"My men will know that it is you they are following and watching -- in the case there are any other last minute switches."
"Aoshi," her eyes became troubled at the insinuation of yet another possible twist in their plans.
"You must take this-" he placed something in her hand.
Megumi looked up at him, startled.
"It's a knife-"
"I know that," her voice sounded irritated, but her eyes flickered with some strange memory.
He shook his head. "To protect yourself. Not for any other reason." He forced her hand to close around it. "Do you understand?"
She hesitated only slightly, but it was enough to tell him that she did understand. "Do you believe I'll need to use it?"
He looked outside for a moment, recalling that somewhere in the past, they had a conversation like this.
"No." He did not turn away from her now as he did then. "I do not. I believe in all possibilities, except in failure. I will take you safely to Kyoto. "
At his words, the last remnant of fear disappeared then from her face. He watched as the knife disappeared in the fold of her clothing and saw strength return to her eyes. "Aoshi-"
"Yes?" His hand was already moving the door aside.
"Don't be late tomorrow."
He raised his eyebrow. "Late?"
"I might not wait." She turned away, but not before he could see the hint of a sly smile on her face.
.
.
As he emerged and leaped back up into the trees, his two shadows made themselves known.
"Well?" Okina's eyes reflected his concern. "It took you long enough."
"Shimada isn't here. But Megumi is."
"Megumi?" The two other men exchanged a glance.
"Shoji," Aoshi spoke quietly to the other man. "I'll need you to stay here to keep an eye on the house." He handed the younger man some small flares. "If something happens, use these. I will find you an additional pair of eyes before morning comes. You will follow the bride that emerges from the house. She will look up at the tree by the gate and speak of Kyoto. That is how you shall know that it is Megumi."
"Bride?" Okina's eyes had already grown large at the sound of that word. But with the mention of Megumi's name, they had grown even larger.
"Okina." Aoshi was not to be so easily sidetracked . "There are Oniwaban here in Tokyo still. Shirotome can help you track them or lead you to others who can assist us now. Shoji will need backup here and I will need you to send a message to our former clan to be watchful."
"What?!" Okina looked confused. "Some of them are in Kyoto--"
"And some are not," Aoshi finished.
"What should I say to them?"
"Nothing yet." Aoshi thought carefully. "Just that this is a time of need. That will be enough. Then return to Shirotome. I will join you at his hotel in the morning."
"What should I tell Shirotome?"
"Tell him that there has been a change of plans. Ask him for a carriage to be ready before dawn and see if he can find a kimono that will fit me."
"A kimono?!"
"Yes. One that is suitable enough for a wedding."
Aoshi left quickly, all too aware that if it weren't for Shoji at that very moment, Okina would have fallen clumsily, but happily out of a tree.
As he made his way back down the hilly side of the Kata estate, he regretted that he did not explain the matter more carefully to Okina. But there was no adequate way of explaining this to Okina such that he would not misconstrue what was about to happen. And he didn't have time to try - he needed to revisit places and persons of the past tonight in order to prepare for tomorrow and the journey.
Okina and Shirotome were entitled to think as they pleased. He would ease their confusion later. But not now.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
A/N: oh yeah. Contests. See my profile for the link to the page that has contests where you can win rk stuff.
A warning note regarding Japanese marriages. A religious ceremony does not mean the a wedding is official. Papers and documents are what I read made marriages really legal and official. So don't freak out people. Even though I guess it's kind of romantic, despite it being a ruse.
Will it be a rollicking journey to Kyoto full of danger ? Or just a contemplative one? A long one? A short one? And with Okina thinking weird things and smiling goofy smiles? I don't know. Bah!
To my reviewers: Offline emails, fanarts, arguments and impassioned pleas for pairings. Wow. And thanks.
Darkchild , plumwarrior37, Junyortrakr, Lady Tskuya, Candace , Trupana- I appreciate hearing from you all.
animefreak5483: You may not like this part, but Megumi would never just blow Sano off. Sano and Megumi are both heading towards Kyoto and so inevitably those two will meet again.
Cookie: Did you mean "note of support" or "not support" to Aoshi? Big difference between the two.
CherieDizon: the review thing is a quirk of ff.net that was supposedly fixed. What you do is just go back and hit "review" again. It works for me on all the fics I review. ^_- Regarding cutoff point for shippers. Uhhh. I stopped asking for people to vote a long time ago. It was becoming so one-sided it was ridiculous. At this point, just enjoy the ride.
Heaven-Dragoon: I don't care about your English! I am glad to see that you can enjoy the fic and am tickled by your review! Thanks!
iAteTheLotus: Cho and Megumi. Well, why not? Heh.
Shimizu Hitomi: An evil or devious person is much more readily amused by one's own writing. The thought of "what can I do to my characters today" is a driving force behind this fic.
Mij: ^_^ You are right on the ball almost all the time. Scary how you read minds. And I don't know if it's Nenji or Neji. Someone else want to clarify? I'll go back and fix it the next time around.
Jieli: I didn't want to go into the Megumi learning the ways of the Oniwaban. Not that I'm opposed to it, but it's something that other authors have chosen for her and developed very well. I leave that to them. (And it seems to be a fanon concept that not only would Megumi wear Okon's type of uniform, but look even better than Okon in it. I agree, but that's besides the point.) But wait, Megumi has Aoshi's knife now. So that's something ^_^
Leila: :-p
