The Forgotten Era
Disclaimer: Stay away from meeee!!!! *goes into a dark corner…*
MC (MysticChaos): Okay…
DH (DarkHand): ….That disclaimer needs help….
S4R (ShinHwa4Real): Maybe it was just scared that it was fired from his PREVIOUS job that he doesn't want it to happen again.
MC: Oh you mean….my Forbidden Skies story?
DH: Yeah.
MC: Oh…anyway….HOW COME NONE OF YOU REVIEWERS EVEN SELECTED ONE GUY TO PAIR UP WITH SAEKO?!
MCC (MysticChaos's Conscious): Maybe they didn't want a pairing.
MC: -_- Shut up you.
S4R: Should we go over the pairings again?
MC: -_- Go ahead…it's not like ANY of the reviewers are going to say anything about it.
DH: Ok… *whispers to ShinHwa4Real* She's scary when she's angry….
S4R: Yes-
MCC: AHHHHHHHHHHH~!!! YOU'RE SO CRUEL, MYSTICCHAOS! YOU'RE FEEDING SICK THOUGHTS INTO ME~!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!
MC: Heh, heh, heh… *evil grin*
DH and S4R: 0_0;;;
DH: Um…ah…well, they are Sanosuke, Soujirou…
S4R: …Or, Hiko and Aoshi.
MCC: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!
MC: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!!!!
S4R: Uh….
DH: ON WITH THE STORY!
S4R: And write in what pairing you want if you know what's good for you!
MCC: SAVE ME~!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 5: Home
Saeko, "the woman" as we called her before, was casually reading a map under a shady tree. "Where is that damn city?…" Saeko swore, taking off her hat and wiping her brow. Today was unusually hot for a spring day. Then, she found a course to go on, folding her map, and set on her trail again.
"Hello." an elderly man said, watching Saeko pick out an apple from the man's cart. "Where are you setting off to, milady?"
Saeko rolled the apple around to see if it had any defects.
"To find my brother." she simply.
The old man nodded and smiled. "I hope you find him. Godspeed."
Saeko paid for the apple and smiled at the man under her hat, "Thank you. I will." Suddenly she disappeared, shocking the man thoroughly.
Saeko stopped running and chewed her apple thoughtfully. 'I wonder if Niitsu is still there…' she thought. Smiling at her own foolishness, Saeko spit the apple seeds into the forest and put the core of the apple into the ground so it would decompose faster. Getting up, she cleaned off her knees and looked around. She could tell she was close by to Kyoto, her destination. The air smelled like smoke and the road was becoming more softer and battered, as if it was used before many times. Taking in a deep breath, she walked forward, but was stopped when a growl was heard. Turning around, she saw four wolves, no doubt that they were exiled from their pack. Saeko frowned. Then she smiled her chilling smile. Converting a nursery poem to her own taste, she unsheathed her sword as the first wolf jumped at her.
"This little wolf went to the market,"
Saeko pulled her sword sideways, pushing off the jumping wolf into the trees…
"This little wolf stayed home,"
She stabbed the wolf right in the middle of its chest…
"This little wolf had a bit of meat,"
Saeko dodged backwards, making a wolf fly past her and bite into its own comrade's skin by mistake, killed by the bitten wolf…
"And this little pig went wee, wee, wee,"
The manslayer struck down, but the remaining wolf ran out of the way, only part of his tail cut off…
"All the way home."
The tailless wolf ran off, yipping in terror, in the distance.
Saeko took out her handkerchief and wiped her sword, walking away from the blood and gore, her katana dripping with red liquid.
By nightfall, Saeko had reached Kyoto, a bit hungry and legs sore from running too long. Panting slightly, Saeko sat down on a bench and watched people walk or run past her. Suddenly, a child fell down on the ground while she was chasing after a friend…and started to cry. Saeko stared at the little girl for awhile. Then looked around if anyone was going to help her. No one even stopped. Frowning, Saeko stood up and strode toward the child soundlessly.
The little girl was wailing loudly by the time Saeko reached her. Groaning, Saeko picked the girl up, who immediately stopped crying. Saeko kneeled in front of the sniffling girl and said sternly, but softly, "Do not run so recklessly like that. You will hurt yourself." The girl nodded furiously. "Now, go home. It isn't safe for you to run around in the night."
The child smiled at the woman and ran off, disappearing into the crowd. Saeko shook her head and smiled. Even if she was a manslayer, she loved children and would never kill them. It's complicated, really. Saeko shrugged without a care and continued through the busy city.
Soon, Saeko stopped. 'This was the exact spot in when my life changed so abruptly.' she thought. Shaking her head, she walked slowly forward, marveling in how much has changed.
At the same time, a familiar cop, Saito, was patrolling the streets, antenna-like hair in front of his eyes. Then he stopped. He smelled a scent of blood that reminded him when he was a Shinsengumi leader, at this exact place. Turning his eyes slightly sideways, he saw a woman looking around her in wonder. She was the exact same person that he had met years ago. Saito narrowed his golden eyes and watched the woman carefully. She looked so familiar…
Saeko shuddered slightly. She felt cold eyes staring at her. She did not like it. Turning around, she glared right back at cop.
They both took a step back, shocked at how much they resembled each other.
'It cannot be…' they both thought. Then Saeko sharply turned around and ran off. "Stop!" Saito shouted, but it was too late. She had already vanished into the busy city.
Saeko panted heavily, looking at the city behind her. "Who…who is he?!" Saeko whispered. Then she sat onto the ground, confused and frustrated for a reason that she did not know. Shaking her head, tossing out her troubled thoughts, Saeko looked up. She saw a small hut that was puffing out smoke. Suddenly, Saeko smiled, her face glowing. Scrambling to her feet, she ran toward the hut, face full of happiness.
Hiko was sipping his rice wine, watching his pottery dry in the oven. Sighing softly, he shrugged, stretching his tired shoulders. It was so boring…if only his stupid student was here…or even if Saeko was arguing with him about his drinking habits. Hiko smiled at this thought. He'll never get tired of that fuming face whenever Hiko kept his cool after her loud ranting. Closing his eyes, he tried to forget Saeko's face since he knew they would not meet again…
A twig snapped behind Hiko.
Hiko opened his eyes and growled impatiently, "I will sell the pottery in the morning. Not in the night. Come back later."
The person behind him snorted and a recognizable voice said, "Only in the morning? Wow, you must be getting old now, Niitsu."
Hiko's eyes widened in surprise. Only one person knew that name. Hiko stood up and faced a black-haired woman with golden eyes. "Hello…master." Saeko waved.
Hiko smiled and pointed into the hut, "It's about time you came back. Now cook up some dinner." Then he sat back down, as if Saeko didn't leave years ago.
Saeko stared at Hiko. Then she grinned. She knew it was his way of saying, "Welcome back." Shrugging, Saeko washed her hands in the cold stream nearby, rolled up her sleeves and set to work. Soon, the hut smelled of delicious food that only a manslayer could make.
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MC: At least someone gave their idea about the pairing for Saeko. -_-
MCC: X_X
S4R: And who said it?
MC: My friend, the Anime Super Computer.
DH: That's his name? -_-;;;
MC: His code name stupid.
S4R: Well, what is it?
MC: He votes Soujiro.
DH and S4R: SOUJIRO?!
MC: Yeah. He said it'll be funny.
DH: Reasonable enough,
S4R: Yeah…well…let's answer the reviews!
MC: For DarkHand27= Yes, thanks for reviewing and yes, I understand the moo part….
DH: ^_^ oh, ok,
S4R: In case if you didn't know, DarkHand27 is DarkHand.
MC: I think that's pretty obvious….
DH: For candy-animelover600= WHO YOU CALLING IDIOT, IDIOT?! AND HELPING WITH WHAT?! I OUGHT A-
MC: She's telling this to me, DarkHand… -_-;;;
DH: Oh…Ok. ^_^
MC: Well, Okay…I accept that I can be a bit dense at times, and sorry for hacking into your Xanga (I WAS BORED!!!!) but what did you help me with? That I don't understand….
S4R: For the next one is Dark Dragon34= Oh, you are very welcome! I thank YOU for reviewing!
MC: Did you know that those three are the only ones reviewing?
Everyone: *nod*
MC: THEN REVIEW DAMN YOUUUUU!!!!!!
S4R: And don't forget to vote on which man (Hiko, Aoshi, Soujiro, or Sanosuke) will be Saeko's pairing!!!!
DH: And give us cookies!!!!
MC: Cookies…?
DH: Oh…to be more precise, COOKIES FOR MEEEEE!!!!
S4R and MC: -_-;;;
MCC: X_X