Hello readers. I hope you are not mad at me for taking quite a while to update this story. I know this chapter is short but with school and all I hardly have time to write. Well hope you enjoy and I should have the next chapter out very soon. As you know Nicky9 no longer writes, but this chapter is originally her plan. As for those of you who don't know me, my name is Deseray. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or even flames, please leave them in your review. Bye for now!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin series. I wish I did but I don't.
First Step
Chapter Eleven
The next week everything went normal for Misao, besides the lecture she received from her employer Kenshin for dropping Tsubame late to school. She never wanted to go through that again, after all he was generous to have her in his home working as his employee. Yet there were many times she wondered what life would have been like if she didn't work for her employer. Maybe she would have been married to a nice guy and had his children. Maybe she could have been a successful worker, working in some prestigious firm, but she couldn't go on with her dreams. No she couldn't. She made a promise a long time ago, to her dear friend, and there was no way she was going to back up on that promise now. The money she needed to find Kaoru, was something she was working for. It wasn't easy being like the only maid in a big home, being well trusted to watch after a kid, and look after her friends as well. At times just thinking how many responsibilities she had made her feel more like a slave then a domestic. She wished she could have been like Megumi. Megumi came and went as she pleased. Her profession alone kept her busy. While Misao was looking after the house and the people who lived under it, Megumi was at the hospital working to save people's lives, and then when she came home, she had a husband who looked after her. No one really looked after Misao. She hardly had time to look after herself. What she needed the most was a vacation, however that would never come.
Misao picked up the last of the clothes from the Dry Cleaners. She made sure the workers inside the Dry Cleaners did a good job on Kenshin's suit, after all he paid a great sum amount of money to make sure his suits were all in top shape. As she walked into the Himura's residence she saw a stranger leaning against the gates as if waiting for her.
"Sir is there anything I could do for you?" asked Misao quietly. She walked the remaining distance between her and the stranger.
The stranger looked up at her, hearing her question. "Yes, actually there is a way you could help me. I'm looking for Enishi Yukishiro. He said to look for him at this residence, however I see there is no one available at this time."
"You're looking for the right person, but he's not available right now. He had some meeting to attend to," Misao replied looking at the stranger carefully. She took in his appearance rather slowly. He wore a black sweater, partly covered by an expensive leather jacket. He wore blue faded jeans, and black timberland boots. From his posture and clothing he wore alone, Misao knew she never met this guy before. "What is your relation to Enishi?"
"Oh I'm sorry for my rudeness. How could I be so improper not to introduce myself to a young beautiful woman like you? The name is Soujiro Seta, I'm Enishi's best friend."
Misao formed a perfect O on her lips, as her emerald eyes sparkled with recognition. She couldn't believe that Soujiro Seta was standing before her. Just a week ago, Enishi mentioned to her that he invited his best friend who was standing before her and his fiancé. "I see. Just a week ago, Enishi mentioned he was inviting you to the party we're having based on a special event."
"Well I see I wouldn't have to give you anymore information since Enishi did speak about me. If you do see him, please tell him I came by to request him something rather important." Misao saw Soujiro turned his back. He was so proper, yet in his sky blue, she saw different emotions. Most of the time she spent talking with him just now, she saw amusement flickered in his eyes. It intrigued her how he can be a lady's man. His fiancé better keep a close watch on him when it came to women flocking around him.
Before she could fully turn around to open the front gates of the Kamiya's residence, she saw a huge black limo pulled up in the drive through. Automatically she recognized both Enishi and Kenshin were home.
"Sir!" she called as loudly as she could. She hoped he heard her, but never did she realize that he would be coming out the limo with both Enishi and Kenshin. Her cheeks flushed, her body filled with warmth of embarrassment. Three shadows loomed over making her feel very vulnerable. She could feel the weight of their stares. They probably wondered why she looked so red for no reason, or over a stupid thing. Slowly she took deep breath to calm her over working system. Slowly her emerald eyes rose to meet the eyes of all three men who were staring at her so calmly.
"Enishi, Mr. Seta came here earlier looking for you. I'm glad he found you," she said, surprised that her tone came out low and husky. She saw how the men's appearance changed so fast around her. Just as quickly as she said those words, she came up with something else. "I …I have to go inside, for there are things that I urgently must do."
"Not so fast Misao. I wanted you to come inside with us. The business Soujiro and I have to deal with has a personal job for you as well," Enishi stated before Misao could leave. She cursed at herself mentally for making a big fool out herself, but outside she remained calm and followed all three men inside the house like she was their slave who was auctioned to them for the very first time.
Once inside the Himura's residence, Misao waited patiently for her orders. The three men talked to each other, while they left her wondering what was going on. Everything was like a mystery to her. What did they need her for? All she ever did was look after the house, and the people living within it.
"Misao, where did you leave the guest list for the party?" asked Kenshin who glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Um, Um, it's in your office like you ordered me to put there last week," answered Misao nervously. She looked down at her hands, watching her fingers twitched every now and then. "Would like me to get it for you?"
"Yes Misao I really would appreciate that."
"Yes sir." After fetching the guest list like Kenshin asked, she returned to the men, who were apparently lost in conversation about she had no idea what. "Here, what you requested." She handed him the guest list and moved aside for the men to focus on their own business.
"So you would like me to add you fiancé's brother to coming to this party. Well that would be nice. The more people the merrier it is," said Kenshin with a pleasant smile. Misao saw how intense his amber eyes were, like if he noticed something was up right then and there. She moved her gaze from him to the other stranger who appeared earlier in front on the Himura's residence. He looked the same as ever. His eyes were childish like, filled with innocence. A pleasant smile was plastered on his face. To Misao he didn't look dangerous. To her, he looked more like a gentleman who probably had many women in his company.
"Yes sir. She would like that very much, after all her brother is very interested in business. He does own a business of his own, in which I assist him in," replied Soujiro. He gaze never strayed from Kenshin's gaze.
"Which business is that may I ask?"
"The business he owns is a dojo that teaches the ideal, a sword is to protect, not to take one's life. The dojo is called Bright White Wave. It's no very far from where you live. It does very well in teaching students self respect, defending themselves, etc."
"What style do you teach?"
"The style I teach to my students are rather complicated. For beginners, they are taught the style of the Kamiya Kasshine. For intermediate level, they are taught the advanced level of the style Kamiya Kasshine, and for the advanced level, they are taught tenken. However not many students make it to the advanced level, for it's really hard to get there."
Misao gasped in shock. Those names, they sounded so familiar. A few years back before Tomoe passed away, she told her to look for names. Even though Misao did not have access to the computer Tomoe talked about a long time ago, she knew she found what she was looking for, however, the main question was, what was the relation between Soujiro and Kaoru?
"Very interesting Mr. Seta. I do look forward to visiting this place one day. I have a daughter who is very gifted with many talents. But one talent I would like her to concentrate from most is her sword skills. She knows her basics, but her spirit to fight is not so strong," replied Kenshin with a soft tone.
"Yeah and talking about that Yumi's son, Yahiko is taking his sword's lessons form the dojo. He's doing very well in knowing his moves," said Enishi.
"Well, I should look forward to seeing this school. I will come after Thanksgiving break. I hope to see you then," replied Kenshin making his final statement.
"Of course, please do come. I would appreciate that very much," Soujiro said sounding immensely pleased.
"Great. Could you please state your fiancé's brother name." Enishi took a pen from his vest pocket and was ready to add a new name to the guest list in his hands.
"Yes, his name is Aoshi Dreamer." Misao gasped one last time, but this time it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Aoshi waited in silence in the bar. People weren't around him, for his aura scared them away from him. He did not like when people interfered with him, especially with women. They jaded him, none ever got to him… except for the exception of one. Remembering back in the days of his old neighborhood, he use to watch from his window a young girl waiting for his sister every morning. He wanted to know her, he so badly wanted to talk to her, but he couldn't. His life alone was filled with many enemies who used his sister, Kaoru, to get back at him. He couldn't allow one girl who intrigued him to get involved in his problems. After leaving his old neighborhood he made a promise to block out whatever feelings he had for that girl, and not get himself involve in relationships since his life was hard enough to handle with already.
Just as his he was about to re-position himself on his seat, he saw Soujiro entered the bar. From the seriousness on Soujiro face, which awkwardly shocked him, told him he got the job done. The first step of their mission was done. All it took now was one of Kaoru's clever ideas to get their most important mission done.