Serendipity n :
The gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.
*`~
"I wan to come…I want to come! I can be helpful! You might need me…"
"Iie, Misha-kun…Battle is no place for you."
"But…But…"
"Wait here. I'll be back soon."
"Hai…"
Sighing, Kataomoi Misharei flopped down on the pile of cushions on the floor. That conversation kept playing through his mind; taunting him, tormenting him. I wouldn't be any help anyway. I would only be in the way. I don't even want to go, but I do want to be there…
He brushed a lock of his deep brown hair. It was forever falling in his eyes, clouding his vision with those natural black cherry highlights. Why am I so weak? Why can't I fight? Maybe then…
He rolled over on his stomach and looked around the room. Everything seemed so cheery; so bright and welcoming. "Misha-kun." He said the nickname aloud to himself. Misha-kun. He hated it. "So he's older than me. So what? This is agony…" Groaning, he ran his hand through his hair, pulling chunks of it loose from the stubby little ponytail.
He hugged a pillow. "Let him come home safely…" He muttered, "Even if he won't ever…Let him come home. I need him…"
He rose to his feet, the pillow still clutched in his arms. His feet were bare, his yukata falling loosely from his shoulders. His hair was then casually rumpled; he looked as if he had just woken up.
Down the hall…His footsteps echoed off the wood floor, a steady pat-pat. He was going to the one place he didn't want to go.
Knocking lightly, he slid open the shôji. "Ano…Shishio-sama…?" His russet eyes narrowed down even as he said the name, his throat constricted and he felt a burning hatred overwhelm him. I despise you…
"Misharei." The crispy hitokiri looked up, his eyes glowing scarlet. Misharei was the same age as his right hand man, Seta Sojiro, but more different the two couldn't have been.
Shishio Makoto was smart. He could easily sense the animosity radiating from the boy as he stood there in the doorway, one hand raised to the doorframe. The Ôgama Unpannin was such a pretty boy; his burgundy hair falling lightly into those mournful brown eyes. He wore a light blue yukata, fastened at the waist, and occasionally a celadon haori. Beautiful, yes. Strong, no. He put up with the scrawny, weak boy for one reason and one reason alone.
It pleased Kamatari and he would rather not see Kamatari angry.
As much as the cross-dresser made what was left of his skin crawl, Shishio did need as many loyal supporters as he could get. And Honjou Kamatari was by far his biggest fan. If he killed Misharei to prove his point that the weak don't survive -if he even sent the teenager away- Kamatari would pitch a fit.
What was going through that man's mind when he brought the boy here? Shishio inhaled deeply on his pipe, blowing smoke through his nose. Then again, what ever goes through that wretched man's mind?
"When will the rest of the Juppon Gatana be back, Shishio-sama?" Misha forced himself to ask as politely as possible.
One of Shishio's eyebrows went up. By saying this, the boy was implying that he himself was a member of the Juppon Gatana. This simply wasn't so. What had Kamatari been telling him? "I don't know." He paused, "So why don't you just go back to Kamatari's room and wait?" Just like you always do, you love-sick dog…
A frown crossed Misharei's face, causing his features to darken considerably. He could be polite if he wanted to. In some ways, he and Sojiro were very similar. But in others…Any one could read the Unpannin like a book.
"Aren't you worried, Shishio-sama? Battôsai and his companions will be here soon and they come with the intent to defeat you."
"You truly are a fool, Kid. Battôsai has become weak in these past ten years. Using a sword that doesn't kill…there's no strength in that. I could destroy my predecessor with one hand." He dismissed the teenager with the wave of a hand.
If Battôsai is so "weak," then what am I? Misharei stared at Shishio for a moment before he turned and glided back out of the room. I think I'll go for a walk…He wandered aimlessly back down the hall to Kamatari's room to find his haori.
How did I wind up here? He pulled the pale green jacket on over his yukata. It was so long ago…When he found me alone and frightened in the snow. I was younger then, still just a child. I was hungry, I was cold and I was utterly alone. He gave me something to eat; gave me this haori…He fingered the fabric. I've had it ever since. And as I grew…as I changed…I am a different person. Stronger now.
But not strong enough.
He started out down the hall, but then turned and went back in the other direction. Sojiro…Sojiro would be fighting soon. Was his sword sharp enough? He didn't want the other boy to get hurt. Sojiro has shown him nothing but kindness all those years.
"Sojiro?" He looked into the spacious room where the Tenken awaited his approaching battle with Himura the Battôsai. The strongest of the Juppon Gatana, it was sometimes hard to believe he and Sojiro were the same age.
"Ara? Oi, Misha-kun." Sojiro smiled cheerily, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm going out." The soft-spoken boy studied his companion. While Sojiro was no less pretty than he, appearances were not to be deceiving. Dark-haired, dark-eyed and constantly smiling, the boy was a ruthless killer. "But I wanted to make sure your sword was ready for the fight."
"Hai…It's nice and sharp from last time you took care of it." He lightly touched the sheath of the sword, the smile never fading from his lips, "Doesn't it make Kamatari-san angry that you do this for me?"
"Iie…He likes you fine." A sly smile crossed his face, "It's Yumi-san that he detests."
"You seem very happy about this."
"I am. Yumi-san is what keeps him from Shishio-sama. I am very glad they hate each other so." A sudden chill ran down his spine and he wrapped the haori tighter around his shoulders. "I'm going now. Be careful, Sojiro."
"Don't worry about me. I did break Himura-san's last sakabatô, don't forget. It all comes down to the simple fact that I am strong and Himura-san has become weak. This is the truth."
"If you say so." He is weak as I am…He just hides his weakness with that sword I so carefully shine. I can tell…He's not so happy as he seems. He's frightened. "Sayonara, Sojiro. Ganbatte!"
"Arigato and ja ne, Misha-kun!"
Misha-kun. Again with that nickname. He scowled as he left the room. I'm older than him! His birthday is in September…mine is in February. Yet he still calls me Misha-kun, simply because I'm shorter and smaller than him.
Maybe I can just go see how Kamatari-sama is doing in battle…Just a look…I've never seen him fight before…Practice, yes. Fight, no. I know where Shishio sent them…The Aoiya. Those ninjas run the place…I hope they aren't dangerous. But I really want to see him fight. I do spend all that time repairing his scythe for him.
This decision made, he padded out of the building, never wishing to return.
*`~
Please don't be too mean to me! *cowers* This is my first attempt at anything remotely shonen ai. I love Kamatari and wanted to do a serious fic with him in it, but it would seem wrong to make him get together with a girl. That would be too OOC for me.