A/N: Changed the name of the division Aoshi and Saitou work in…am going to change the info in previous stories as well, but after looking over WMM, MM, and this fic, there really aren't too many corrections to make…
Part 16: Disaster
Still New Year's Day…
When Aoshi got to his floor at the Naval Intelligence Operations building, he spotted Commander Saitou in the center, clipboard in hand, marking off several items. His commanding officer took in his appearance and raised an inquisitive brow.
"I thought for sure you'd arrive in uniform."
Aoshi said wryly, "Given the situation, I didn't think regulations mattered right now…"
"They don't." Saitou glanced at his core staff before turning to him. "I need you to enter our system and check to see if there are backup files in San Diego's regional division. Cross reference them, make sure that everything ever created here is also in San Diego. Should anything happen to our hard copies here, at least we know that we have backups." He handed him a piece of paper. "This is Lieutenant Kimberly Marshall, your contact in San Diego. Talk to her, she'll be helping you on the server."
Aoshi accepted the sheet of paper and turned.
"Shinomori."
He paused.
"You have forty-five minutes. After that, we head to the air field. Several choppers are waiting to take any remaining personnel and the commanding officers to the northern shore. By that time, all Honolulu residents should be well on their way to the north."
With a nod, Aoshi quickly headed to his office and settled at his desk to boot up his computer.
As one of the senior officers at NIO, he had access to a large amount of government information. It came with the job. He knew the routine. Anytime a job was done at Pearl Harbor, the findings were faxed to San Diego, the headquarters of the Pacific region. Upon receipt of the report, San Diego sent the report to Washington D.C. However, any reports that were still in the preliminary stage stayed at Pearl Harbor. And there were quite a few. As the commanding officer of Pearl Harbor's NIO, Commander Saitou was in charge of nearly the entire security of Pearl Harbor and any fleet passing nearby. Aoshi's division alone averaged sixty independent projects and evaluations in one year. His particular specialty, ammunition and weapons, was only just a small part of the picture.
Once logged on, he attached a headset to his phone, placed it over his head, positioned the microphone near his mouth, and dialed the number he was given.
"Lt. Kim Marshall."
Direct line. Makes this much easier. "Lieutenant Marshall, Commander Shinomori from NIO Hawaii."
"Quite a way to bring in the New Year, wouldn't you say, Commander?"
"That's one way to look at it," he admitted dryly.
"I'm sure you have a family who's worried, and I have a family who wants to celebrate, so let's get started…"
With ten minutes to spare, Aoshi had completed his task. Once he and the other naval personnel were at the flight line, he released a quiet breath of relief. The morning sky was a bright blue as the sun slowly moved over Oahu. One couldn't tell that disaster was approaching.
While Saitou was giving some last minute instructions to other personnel that didn't apply to him, Aoshi reached into his pants pocket to retrieve his cell phone. No reception. He shouldn't be surprised…he was in a government area. Some parts of the base received reception, others didn't.
"Commander!" the pilot emerged from the cockpit. "Our system seems to be malfunctioning…"
"What?" Saitou's eyes narrowed.
"I can't start the system, sir. We believe it might involve some cross wiring between the various instruments onboard…" the pilot gulped.
Saitou rolled his eyes and glanced at his junior officer.
Aoshi frowned slightly. "Those were just inspected a week ago…not only by Naval Security, but by the contractor themselves."
"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what happened…but we're making arrangements to leave Pearl Harbor by vehicle."
"What?!" Lieutenant Darren Kincaid, one of the junior officers in the same unit as Aoshi, came forward, disbelief in his eyes.
The pilot clearly did not want to be put under any more stress. "I'm sorry, sir, but-"
"Latest report tells us that the tsunami won't even hit Ewa Beach…" Kincaid practically shouted. "It could be here any minute and we wouldn't even know…and you're telling us that we're going to evacuate by jeeps?"
At that, Saitou extracted a cigarette from his pack and promptly lit it with his lighter. "Ah well…"
"How can you be so calm about all of this, sir?" Kincaid asked, his voice on the edge of panic.
Saitou shrugged. "You don't get to be in my position without facing your share of terrorists and natural disasters…"
~
"Glad you guys are here," Misao spoke up once Kenshin, Kaoru, and Megumi settled beside her and Okina at the evacuation center.
"How's Aoshi?" Kaoru asked.
"He called on his way to the base. We haven't heard from him since," Okina responded.
"Thanks…" Megumi bit her lip. She knew her significant other well enough to know that he'd do anything to survive. But hearing his voice would be comfort enough. Even for a few moments.
"The tsunami's supposed to hit Waikiki," Kaoru declared. "I hope everything's all right. With no contact from Sanosuke or Aoshi…who knows what could happen to them…"
Misao stopped munching on her potato chips.
"Tsunamis I heard can be up to five hundred miles per hour," Kaoru continued.
"Kaoru," Kenshin spoke up gently.
Immediately, she looked around to see Misao's look of worry, Megumi's sad eyes, and Okina's blank look.
She flushed. "I…I'm sorry. I…I didn't mean…"
"It's okay…" Misao squeaked.
Megumi put an arm around the younger woman, and Misao released a breath.
"Okay…let's think about something positive," Kaoru piped up. "Like the time Misao and Aoshi first moved here. You were a late bloomer, Misao. I remember when Aoshi struggled with that feminine napkin experience…"
…And her explanation took close to twenty minutes, which took their minds off the disaster and had them laughing.
"That boy certainly knows nothing about women…" Okina chuckled.
"Oh, I don't know…" Megumi winked. "I have no complaints…"
"No kidding…" Kaoru grinned. "So when did you first tell him that you loved him?"
Megumi's eyes rounded. "I never told you that story?"
"I'm kinda curious about this one…" Misao spoke up.
"Oh…" Megumi smiled fondly. "Well…It was in June…I had a bad head cold for a week…I could barely lift my head…"
"I remember that…" Misao thought aloud. "Almost every day, he went straight to your apartment after work…"
"That's right." Megumi folded her hands in her lap. "So when I told him, he thought I was delirious."
Okina gave a sound of disapproval. "That sounds like something he would think…"
"And the first time he told you?" Kaoru asked.
Megumi smiled mischievously. "Well…I'm not sure that's appropriate to tell…"
Kaoru's eyes widened. "Wait…never mind…"
Everyone's eyes shifted to Okina, who poked Megumi in the shoulder.
"I'd like to know," he announced.
"No, you don't," Misao cut in.
Megumi laughed. "Actually, it was during that tropical storm we had in July. I had gone to visit my father, and I was supposed to cook us dinner…I was about an hour late stuck in traffic thanks to an accident…my cell battery died…while he sat in my apartment wondering where I was…The instant I walked in he and I had a heated discussion about being safe on the road, carrying extra cell phone batteries…"
"You two were arguing?" Okina asked for clarification.
Megumi nodded. "Yes. It was the most ridiculous argument…He was angry because he thought I was senseless, I was angry at him for thinking that and because he was angry…and I think somewhere in the arguing…"
"It's not like you to be so careless," Aoshi said.
Megumi stared at him. "Don't talk to me in that tone."
"What are you talking about?"
Her fists clenched. Noticing the drenched state of her clothing, she turned on her heel to enter her bedroom.
"We're not done yet," Aoshi said flatly.
"I'm going to change my clothes, and I'm not asking for your permission to do so," she called out from behind her partially closed bedroom door. She changed into a satin knee-length robe and began to towel-dry her hair.
"Megumi, you're being-"
The door flew open. "Don't talk to me as if you can step all over me." She poked him in the chest.
His eyes narrowed to slits.
"And furthermore," she poked him again, "I had already explained to you-"
"Don't do that."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"There's no need to shout."
"I'm not shouting," she retorted, crossing her arms. "I'm-"
"-being difficult," he cut in. "If you would just-"
"I am not being difficult! As soon as I come in, you demand where I've been…wondering why I'm late…as if-"
"Who knows what could have happened-?"
"I'm capable of taking care of-"
"I know that," he interjected. "Your safety-"
"-should not even be an issue-"
"Stop interrupting me."
She gasped. "Oh, no you did not just say what I think you said." She shook her head. "What is wrong with you?! It's not like you to act so strangely about some-"
"I love you," he cut in, "so being concerned about what happens to you comes with that."
She stared at him in shocked silence.
He loved her? When? How long? Did he know earlier and was planning to tell her at another time? Did it really matter, anyway? Realizing that she was just staring, Megumi cleared her throat, fighting to keep the smile off her face. "Yes. Well…that's good to know. One-sided relationships can be so-"
She murmured a muffled sound of protest when his lips pressed against hers. Did he honestly think she was that easy? Hmph. She refused to give in so quickly, so she pushed against his chest with her fists when he pulled her against him. She had planned to resist for about another…ten seconds, but resistance died very quickly. And she couldn't seem to think straight anyway…all she could think about were his hands roaming down her back, shoulders, and neck, his firm mouth on hers. Just as she was about to respond, he pulled back slightly, scooping her in his arms and kissing her again as he moved in the direction she blindly recognized as her bedroom. Her breath caught in her throat when he lowered both of them to the bed. Never breaking contact, he began to undo the buttons of his shirt.
Six months of waiting for him had been worth every second.
It was after midnight when Megumi's eyes fluttered open. She lifted her head from where it rested on Aoshi's chest, letting her eyes focus in the darkness before meeting his gaze. Judging by the expression on his handsome features, he was tired, but happy. Same as herself.
"We really should argue more often…" she mused aloud, smiling as he rewarded her with an amused sound of approval that rumbled in his chest.
Shaking his head, Okina gestured for Megumi to continue, saying, "So then…after he said he loved you, what did you do?"
Megumi smiled in memory of the events of that night…and grinned. "I think we just stood there for a while. Then I told him that he's not supposed to say 'I love you' that way..."
~
Luckily for the Honolulu residents, only a portion of Waikiki was damaged. It was a significant damage, but it could be recovered. It had taken hours, but most of the southern shore residents were able to go back home.
It was nearly nine p.m. when Okina and Misao reached their home. No lights came from inside, causing an unsettling feeling to grow inside Misao.
The feeling intensified once they entered the pitch black house. Only the blinking red light of the answering machine greeted them. Misao flicked on a light switch while Okina played the message.
Beeep. "Hi…this message is for Misao Makimachi concerning her guardian…this is Nurse Ross from Pearl Harbor Medical Center. If you could please call the following number…"
Misao swallowed, grasping Okina's arm. She immediately noticed that Okina had gone very still.
"Jiya…"
He held up a hand to silence her and promptly called the number recited. When a voice answered, he immediately said, "This is Admiral Kashiwazaki, I'm calling regarding a message left for my granddaughter, Misao Makimachi…He what? You've already called…I…I see…When…?" He stiffened. "I'm on my way now…" He hung up and turned to a very pale Misao.
"Jiya…"
"Aoshi's in the hospital. An accident…happened…while he was trying to evacuate…"
Misao's eyes widened. "We can see him, right?"
"Yes."
Okina nearly broke the speed limit getting to the base. And he practically dragged Misao with him into the hospital. She could barely keep up with his strides. Okina wandered through the bottom floor of the hospital, until they reached the recovery department. The nurse at the desk gave him a polite smile.
"Hi, can I help you?"
"Commander Shinomori's room."
The nurse glanced at a list then gestured with her hand. "Room seven."
"Thanks," Misao called out as she and Okina headed in the direction she indicated.
Misao swallowed fiercely, recalling the last time Aoshi had been hospitalized. What could have happened? Was he all right? Being in recovery meant that he was okay, right? He was alive, according to Okina, but…
Misao took a deep breath, preparing herself as they entered Aoshi's room. He was asleep in bed, white bandages wrapped around his head. She knew that there were many types of brain damage when it came to head injuries. Which one did he have? Would he recover? What if he didn't? Misao stepped forward and reached out, squeezing Aoshi's hand.
"You worry too much, little one," Okina whispered.
She glanced up at him as he read her mind. He hugged her to his side.
Misao hugged him back before grasping Aoshi's hand again. As if her presence alone triggered a response from her guardian, Aoshi's eyes opened slowly, before focusing on her. He gave her a slight smile.
"Good morning," Okina greeted wryly.
"Is it?" Aoshi slowly turned his head to look outside the window.
"He's kidding," Misao grasped his hand. "How are you?"
"Very…tired…" Aoshi answered, glancing down at himself. He shifted his legs slightly before reaching up, his long fingers encountering bandages.
"I see you're awake, Commander," a voice spoke up. They all turned to see a man in scrubs and lab coat give them a friendly smile. "I'm Dr. Stanley…"
After they all shook hands, Misao couldn't contain herself any longer. "Is he all right?"
"Your father's fine…He had quite a hit to the head…" the doctor assured her as Aoshi remained quiet.
"What happened?" Okina asked.
"According to witnesses…he and other personnel were trying to evacuate this morning. During the rush…he was nearly run over by a jeep but in his haste to move aside, he banged his head in the process. By the time ambulance had arrived…the tsunami had hit Waikiki and stopped. He was taken to a hospital in the west before he was transferred here this afternoon once the hospital personnel and patients settled back in…" Dr. Stanley flipped the chart in his hand to another page.
"Evacuate from…a tsunami?" Aoshi inquired.
Misao and Okina glanced at him before each other.
"I don't…remember what happened…" Aoshi closed his eyes tightly, grasping his forehead with one hand.
Misao blinked. Aoshi couldn't remember what happened at all? Did he have amnesia?
The doctor spoke up. "Commander…you did receive a trauma to the head. We ran some tests, and the damage was fairly mild. In a situation like this, some forms of memory loss are fairly common. What-?"
The sound of hurried footsteps entered their ears and a weary but determined Megumi appeared in the doorway. At the sight of Aoshi sitting up and awake, she sagged in the doorway with relief.
"Thank goodness you're all right…" she breathed.
"What are you doing here?" Aoshi demanded.
A/N: Muhahahahaha!!!! And where is Sano during all of this? Does anyone care? Oh yeah, and thanks to Sherl for Megumi's last line in her flashback.
