There was a light breeze blowing through Kyoto, but the sun was shinning splendidly. It was warm out, but the scrawny boy was still wrapped tightly in his haori. He wandered down the street, lost deep in thought.
It was some odd twist of fate that brought us together…It was…I wasn't even looking and I found happiness with him. How strange an idea…Happiness with another man. But I suppose you can't help who you love. He sighed heavily, as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders. And yet…
So long ago…How many years was it? Seven? Maybe. I don't quite recall. But that day…
~Flashback~
"Oi, little boy…Wake up!"
"Nani?" Misharei woke up to some one lightly shaking him by the shoulder. He felt numb and empty. Hunger gnawed at his stomach and he shivered involuntarily. Huddled under a ratty blanket, he was freezing; the tips of his fingers almost purple with cold. I'm so tired…But some one is talking to me…It would be rude if I ignored…He looked up, his vision slightly blurred by his fatigue…her.
"Okite kudasai…You can't stay here in the snow."
He felt a gentle hand on his head, smoothing back his thin hair. He rubbed his eyes, his fingers stiff as he curled them into a fist. Looking up again, his bleary eyes came to rest on the smiling face of a young woman. She was dressed warmly, carrying a pack and also what appeared to be a very big scythe. "I have nowhere to go, Josei-san." His teeth chattered as he spoke; he was so cold.
"Little boy," He felt himself lifted from the snow. He was annoyed that she was calling him that. He wasn't little! Eleven years old…Just because he was tiny. Just because he had no home and hardly anything to eat. Every one thought he was little.
"I'm n-not…little…" He stumbled over the words, feeling slightly warmer then.
"Nor am I a woman."
"Nani??" He looked up again, pushing his hair from his eyes. Had he heard correctly? Or was he just so disorientated…?
"Don't worry. I'll take you some place warm and give you some new clothes and something to eat. Then you can tell me why you're out in the snow all alone. How's that sound?"
He nodded wearily, too tired to disagree. He had his dignity, but if he remained outdoors any longer, he would freeze to death.
"Don't go back to sleep, little boy. You're near frozen and might not wake up." The same gentle hand patted his cheek softly. His eyes were closing again, his energy waning. He was so tired.
The next several hours were a blur…He was in and out of consciousness for a while, his memories hazy and jumbled. There was a point where he felt very warm and thought perhaps he had died.
But live he did, proving for the only time in his life that he wasn't as weak as he appeared. By the next morning, his face was pink and his eyes clear and bright. He woke up dressed in a pristine white yukata, tucked under several blankets.
"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
He looked up, getting a good look at the man who had saved him. Short, dark hair that flipped out on the bottom, wide brown eyes. He was still amazed that this was a man rather than a woman, but he had saved Misharei's life and the boy was grateful. "Much better. Domo arigato."
"Not a problem. Now, what's your name and why were you all alone out there?"
"My name is Kataomoi Misharei. I'm eleven years old. And I was all alone because Okasan and Otosan are dead. They died last year and I had nowhere to go. They were very sick…" He said seriously, "I'm lucky I didn't die."
"That's so sad! You must have been terribly lonesome. You can stay with me if you want. I am Honjou Kamatari, member of the Juppon Gatana and loyal follower of Shishio Makoto. I'll take you to Shishio-sama. He'll find a job for you to do."
"You would do that for me?" Misha blinked his eyes in disbelief. Often people sent him away, told him he was a good-for-nothing beggar. No one had been kind to him in the year since his parents died and he had survived on his wits alone.
"Hai. You seem like a very nice boy. It would be terrible of me to leave you on your own in the middle of the winter."
"Can…" He began, but then stopped in mid-sentence, his face turning very red. He suddenly felt very shy. This man had saved his life. "Can I stay with you? I'll do anything you ask; anything at all," He paused, smiling shyly, "Because I owe you my live."
Kamatari's smile softened. "Hai. I'll teach you to take care of my scythe for me. I'll teach you to sharpen the blade and mend the nicks. You'll be my own little scythe bearer, Misha-kun."
"Arigato!" A grin spread across the boy's face. His velvety eyes lit up and he pounced on the young man, laughing.
"Nani? What are you so excited about, Misha-kun?" He brushed back the boy's hair, their eyes meeting. They had the same chocolate brown eyes; they sparkled the same way when they were happy.
"I'm happy, Kamatari-sama." He explained gleefully, "And I haven't been happy in a very long time."
~End Flashback~
I was such a baby back then…But I miss the way he hugged me. When I used to feel scared and he would comfort me. Everything frightened me. I remember…the time I was sick…when he held me in his lap. I asked him if he would ever leave me like my mama and papa and he said no.
A wan smile crossed his face. I loved him like both a mama and a papa back then. If only I'd known…
He stopped abruptly. What had once been the Aoiya was now a pile of rubble. His eyes widened. What happened? What happened?! Where's Kamatari-sama?? Wind rustled his bangs over his forehead and he shivered. He wanted to find out what happened, but all he could do was stand there, petrified with fear. Is he okay? Where is he?!
"Oi, what are you doing here?"
Startled from his troubled thoughts, he looked up. A girl wearing a peculiar outfit with a long braid was standing before him, her hands on her hips. "Ano…Um…I…" He stammered, unsure what to say.
Misao frowned. This boy was obviously not some poor orphan or beggar. He was dressed in fine clothes, even if the haori was a little worn looking. He was clean and neatly groomed, his hair falling lightly around his pale face. "Spit it out already!"
"Gomen…" He bowed slightly, "Are you…a part of the Oniwabanshu?"
"A part of it? I'm the Okashira! Who are you?"
"Ah…Well, Miss, I'm sort of a part of the Juppon Gatana…So we're sort of enemies." He scratched his head, causing a lock of hair to slide loose from the short ponytail. "I'd rather not be any one's enemy," He continued, seeing the look on her face, "I don't like war. I have no intention of doing any fighting and, anyway, I'm not strong enough to. I just came looking for Kamatari-sama."
Misao gulped. He's looking for the freak?? What's he gonna do when he finds out I knocked him out? He looks okay…But he could be like the smiling kid that Himura fought…Sojiro. He looked so cheerful and then…Bam! He broke the sakabatô. I had better be careful… "He's…umm…Out of commission."
"What did you do to him?" Misharei's eyes widened, all of their usual weariness leaving them. He looked very startled, but those eyes were full of anguish. Is he DEAD? His face went even more pale than usual. What will I do without him?
"Iie…No one died." Misao frowned slightly, "He thought he failed Shishio and wanted to kill himself…I stopped him. I don't get all that garbage about loving Shishio," She shrugged, "But I do know what it's like to be in love…I think it would be more disappointing to kill yourself over it than anything. Oops…Shouldn't have said that, should I?"
"Ne…" A queer smile crossed the boy's face, "Battôsai will get rid of Shishio. If you saved Kamatari-sama's life, I am grateful. Can I see him please?"
What is this boy? Misao's expression was one of disbelief. She was stunned speechless and it took a lot to stop the itachi from speaking. A member of the Juppon Gatana readily admitted to thinking Shishio would lose to Kenshin? Was the world going crazy?
"Ah…Miss?" A frown lit the Unpannin's face, "Genki desu?"
"Gomen…I was a little surprised that you'd say something like that about Shishio. C'mon this way." She beckoned him to follow her and he trotted along behind her, his yukata flapping around his ankles as he walked.