Welcome to the next chapter! Before you go on reading this, I must warn you that I have no idea how one buys sake.
Having been warned, I now invite you to read on.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. In a perfect world I would, but I live in the real world…and sadly I ain't got no money…so, it's utterly useless to sue me…but for good measure: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, but Nobuhiro Watsuki and a bunch of other people do…
And on to stranger things…
Promises from the Past Shopkeepers and GionThe next day, Sayuri and Kenshin were on their way to the market.
Sano had still been sleeping when they had departed from the Aoyia, hence he wasn't with them. Yahiko was learning some tricks from the members of the Oniwabanshuu and declined the invitation. Kaoru had opted to stay at the house, since she still had to have that talk with Misao. Besides, she was still feeling too giddy and oddly vulnerable to face Kenshin…
Kenshin had to got o the market to buy some sake for his master, remembering Hiko's words that the next time he'd visit his shishou he'd better bring some sake. Sayuri had gone with him since she had to visit somebody in Gion, as per instructions of her mother.
They had been walking through the busy streets of Kyoto, when Kenshin suddenly stopped in front of a small shop.
"This is where the finest sake in Kyoto is sold," Kenshin said to Sayuri.
They both stepped inside, and a shopkeeper greeted them.
"What can I do for you today, sir?" the man asked, giving Kenshin the once over.
Taking in his much-mended magenta gi, the shopkeeper assumed that this wasn't a customer who could afford the best.
He indicated a shelf filled with sake pitchers, "Here sir, this is some of our more popular selection."
Kenshin looked at the label and knew that it was sake of the cheaper variety.
In a soft voice, he said to the shopkeeper, "We are actually looking for some tokkyu sake, kind sir."
Looking at Kenshin again, the shopkeeper still didn't think that this man could afford special class sake.
Again, he indicate the same shelf, "But this sake is also very good," then he took a bottle from the shelf. He handed a choko to Kenshin and made a motion to indicate that he'd pour Kenshin some of the sake.
Good manners made Kenshin hold his cup up to the pitcher, and the shopkeeper poured. Then Kenshin sipped the sake until his cup was empty.
He bowed towards the shopkeeper and said in his rurouni voice, "That was very good sake, kind sir."
The shopkeeper beamed, relieved that he was able to convince his customer of that. He was about to get another bottle fro Kenshin's purchase when the red-haired man spoke again.
"But we're still looking for some tokkyu sake, kind sir."
Sayuri, who was standing behind Kenshin, tried very hard to cover her grin. The shopkeeper was acting like a pompous ass, but Kenshin didn't let himself be intimidated by that.
Said shopkeeper was getting irritated by Kenshin's request and said in a less accommodating voice, "But sir, this sake is just as good as the our tokkyu sake…"
"Really? Then may I have a taste of your tokkyu sake, to verify if your statement is true?" Kenshin asked mildly.
The shopkeeper looked at Kenshin, then at Sayuri. He saw her grinning at him and he knew that he had been bested.
Unable to refuse Kenshin's request, not if he wanted to look like an ogre, he took a bottle from another shelf and was about to pour some of its contents into Kenshin's choko.
But Kenshin withdrew his cup, and said, "I'd prefer a new cup, if you don't mind, good sir."
"Why?" the shopkeeper ungraciously asked.
In his mild and rurouni like voice, Kenshin explained, "The taste of the previous sake has soaked into this cup. In order for me to judge the other sake as objectively as possible, I must have a new, unused cup."
The shopkeeper looked like he'd gladly strangle the red-haired man. But nevertheless he procured a new choko for Kenshin.
The rurouni held his new cup to the pitcher. The shopkeeper poured. Kenshin sipped, then he closed his eyes. For a second or two, the shopkeeper looked at him anxiously.
Then Kenshin opened his eyes and looked at the shopkeeper earnestly, "Kind man, this sake is much better than the previous one…"
The shopkeeper had known that, but he felt that his customer couldn't afford as much of the tokkyu sake than that of the third class sake. He'd rather sell several bottles of ni-kyu sake than only one bottle of special class sake.
So in his most cajoling tone, he said, "Perhaps it is, but if you buy this sake" he indicate the third class kind, "you'll get more of it…"
For the first time, Sayuri spoke.
In outraged tones she said, "Good man! Are you implying that this man cannot afford your tokkyu sake?"
For the first time, the shopkeeper took a better notice of Sayuri. Although she was dressed more modestly today, the aura of wealth still clung to her. This was a customer he had to coddle, the shopkeeper concluded.
Passing Kenshin and stepping up to her, he said in his most ingratiating tone, "Of course not, madam, of course not…But madam has been waiting a while now, hasn't she? Why don't madam come up to the front and have a seat so she can sample some of our finest sake…"
The shopkeeper indicated a low table and waited fro Sayuri to make a move towards it.
But the woman looked at him regally and said, "Actually, I'm with him," then she stepped up to Kenshin and put her arm through his.
The shopkeepers jaw dropped open in surprise. He looked from Kenshin to Sayuri. The two were together? That was inconceivable!
Then Sayuri said to Kenshin, "Anata, if this man won't sell you any of his tokkyu sake, why don't we go to another shop…. I'm sure they'd be more accommodating there…"
Kenshin blushed slightly at Sayuri's words but as he glanced at her, he saw her winking at him. He looked at the shopkeeper, who was looking like a beached fish. He decided that maybe this little game wasn't so bad after all.
Patting her hand in the most solicitous manner, Kenshin said to Sayuri, "You're right dear. Maybe we should go to another shop for some sake…"
Kenshin's words startled the shopkeeper into action. No way was he losing his customers! Especially customers who had money! Apparently, he had been mistaken earlier when he had thought Kenshin as somebody who couldn't afford his best sake. Perhaps, appearances were deceiving…
Smiling ingratiatingly, he stepped forward and said, " Ah sir, I never refused to sell you my sake…perhaps you truly should buy our special class rice wine…"
He smiled at the two desperately, hoping they'd reconsider.
Sayuri regally gave the man the once over, and she could see him squirming. Serves him right! Feeling satisfied she turned to Kenshin.
"Anata, maybe we should buy your sake from this shop…this shop, that shop, they're all the same…" she said in a bored, aristocratic voice.
Hearing her words, the shopkeeper bristled and hastily said, "But madam, this shop sells the finest sake in all of Kyoto, if not all of Japan!"
Sayuri rolled her eyes, "Whatever!"
The shopkeeper looked like he was about to argue further, but Kenshin interceded, "Kind man, we've been wasting enough of your and our time. Why don't you sell us six bottles of your finest sake?"
Knowing that a sale was a sale and not arguing with that, the shopkeeper hastily got six bottles from the shelf with the tokkyu sake and placed it in a wooden box.
Kenshin looked at the man inquiringly and the shopkeeper named the total for their purchase. Kenshin took out some money and paid the man the sum.
The shopkeeper took the money, then inquired, "Do you want this delivered to anywhere?"
Sayuri said in her aristocratic voice again, "Yes, we would like this to be delivered to the Aoyia."
The man gulped, "The Aoyia?" The shopkeeper knew that the Aoyia was the home of the Oniwbanshuu, a much respected and feared group.
When Sayuri nodded, the man hastily assured, "Of course, the Aoyia. It'll be there, at one in the afternoon today."
Kenshin smiled his rurouni smiled, "Thank you kind sir…"
The shopkeeper bowed, "No, no…Thank you for purchasing sake from me."
Sayuri inclined her head regally and Kenshin smiled. Then they turned and left the shop.
Out on the streets, Sayuri let go of Kenshin's arm and started to giggle.
"That was fun!" Sayuri said, between giggles.
"Sayuri-dono was being naughty for playing with the shopkeeper," Kenshin said, although he did feel like grinning as well. It had been fun watching the shopkeeper's reactions.
"He was a pompous ass of a man!" she exclaimed.
"It wasn't his fault," Kenshin said serenely.
Sayuri snorted, "He still didn't have the right to act so snobbish…"
Kenshin just smiled in reply and they continued walking in silence.
When they were about to turn a corner, Kenshin mildly said to Sayuri, "Sessha wants to thank Sayuri-dono for giving him the money to pay for the sake."
Sayuri glanced at him. "Idiot, " she muttered, albeit affectionately.
***
They had arrived in Gion. Although it was still early, they could see several geishas and maikos walking on the streets.
Sayuri openly admired the beautiful kimonos the women were wearing.
She whispered to Kenshin, "You know, I once told my grandfather I wanted to become a geisha. He was so horrified by that idea, since geishas usually didn't marry. He wanted me to get married so that I could carry on the bloodline…"
Kenshin glanced at the woman, then remembered something that had been bothering him a long time ago.
"Sayuri-dono, can I ask you a question?"
Sayuri looked at him smiling, "Sure."
"I once saw your mother wear the costume of a geisha but she wasn't wearing any make-up…do you know why?"
Sayuri looked ahead and kept her silence for a few seconds.
Then she asked in a serious voice, "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes," Kenshin answered. He really did want to know. The answer to that question had bothered him a long time ago, since he had thought it odd that she had her face bare when every other geisha with her had her face painted.
In that same voice, Sayuri continued, "Then I will tell you…you see my mother was…" Kenshin looked at her waiting for the answer, "…allergic to that stuff."
"Oro?" Kenshin managed. That was it?
Sayuri smiled at him sheepishly, "Stupid huh? You thought it was something dark and mysterious?"
When Kenshin nodded, Sayuri chuckled, "Well it isn't. My mother was allergic to the make-up. If she put it on, her face would swell up and she'd look like a red blowfish…everybody says that a geishas painted face adds to her allure and mystery but leaving her face bare gave my mother her allure and mystery…besides she wasn't really a geisha, although she had trained in the arts as the geishas do…"
So after all this time, the mystery had a very simple explanation. Kenshin shook his head. Life could sure be strange sometimes…
They reached the end of the street, and Sayuri stopped in front of a large wooden gate. She knocked on it.
After a minute, a young girl opened it and inquired, "What is your business here?"
"I am Mikage Sayuri, and I'm here to see Mameiko-san," Sayuri said.
The girl gave her and Kenshin the once over, then said, "I'll go see if Mama-san will receive visitors."
Then she closed the gate and left Sayuri and Kenshin standing outside.
After what seemed like a while, the gate opened again, this time wider and the same girl beckoned them inside, "Mama-san will see you, follow me, I'll lead you to her."
Then the girl turned to somebody behind them, "Ueta-san! You're finally here! Minako-san has been waiting for you for hours!"
The man asked in hushed tones, "Is she in a fit?"
The girl rolled her eyes, "In a royal fit! Hurry up or she'll do something really extreme like break all the vases…like the last time…"
The dresser hurriedly went inside the house, inclining his head briefly at Kenshin and Sayuri.
The girl turned her attention to Kenshin and Sayuri again and said in confidential tones, "I pity poor Ueta-san, he has to put up with the vile tempered Minako-san…but the best geisha in Gion has to be dressed by the best dresser in Gion, as she always says. And Ueta-san is the best. I hope he doesn't quit one of these days…then Minako-san will be in a more terrible fit…"
Kenshin and Sayuri just smiled vaguely, and the girl motioned them to follow. From somewhere upstairs of the house, they could hear a woman shrieking, "You incompetent fool! I don't know why I put up with you…"
They were led to a parlor and instructed to wait for Mameiko-san.
A few minutes later, an elegant woman dressed in a vividly colored Kimono walked in.
Taking one look at Sayuri, she said in melodious tones, "Truly Ran reincarnated…"
Taking it as a compliment, Sayuri smiled, "Thank you…you must be Mameiko-san."
The woman nodded regally, "And you must be Ran's little lily…"
Sayuri blushed, "She called me that?"
Mameiko smiled, "Yes…she often referred to you that way…even in her last letter."
"You have received her letter, then?" Sayuri asked. A few days before she died, Ran had sent a letter to Mameiko.
Mameiko nodded, "Hai…did she go peacefully?"
"Yes, she did," Sayuri said somberly.
"I'm glad…she deserved to have some peace in the end…" Mameiko said just as somberly, then her gaze shifted to Sayuri's companion.
Her eyes widened as she said, "I know you…"
Kenshin was familiar with that reaction, since he had been notorious here in Kyoto. But he still felt uncomfortable when people recognized him.
"You're Ran's friend, Himura Kenshin…" Mameiko continued.
Not the Hitokiri Battousai? All Kenshin could say was, "Oro?"
Mameiko smiled, "Of course I also know who you were…"
So much for that. His past would always be something to burden him.
"But those were the days when men and women fought for what they believed in…let us not dwell on our troubled pasts but let us live for the future," Mameiko said in her melodious, graceful voice.
Kenshin smiled at her gratefully, thanking her for her acceptance.
"Perhaps we should move on to other topics…" Mameiko tactfully suggested.
"Perhaps we should, Mameiko-san…there is something my mother wanted you to have," Sayuri took out a box from the basket that she had been carrying. She handed the box over to the other woman who accepted it with a curious smile.
"What is in it?" the older woman asked.
Sayuri smiled, "Why don't you open it and find out for yourself…"
Mameiko opened the box and upon seeing what was inside she looked up and smiled at Sayuri. She took the object out and held it up to look at it more closely.
Kenshin smiled as well when he saw what had been in the box.
It was a small figure of a Maneki Neko. This replica was made out of white porcelain and had an enchanting feline face painted on it. Its right paw was raised in its traditional 'beckoning' position. The charm of the small porcelain cat certainly brought a smile on the face.
Mameiko looked at it in delight and said to the two other people, "I can't believe that Ran remembered how much I love these…this will make a delightful addition to my collection. I just wish I could thank Ran in person…" she ended wistfully.
"Believe me, your delight in this humble gift is thanks enough," Sayuri assured.
Mameiko carefully put the figurine back in its box, "But don't tell me, that you've come all the way to Kyoto just to bring me this…"
Sayuri smiled, "Don't worry, Mameiko-san…I have other business here in Kyoto."
Mameiko looked at Kenshin thoughtfully for a second, "How did the two of you meet?"
Sayuri glanced at Kenshin for a second, then proceeded to tell Mameiko the abbreviated story.
"And he came to Kyoto with you because…" Mameiko prompted Sayuri as the younger woman was finishing her story.
"We are here to see my shishou," Kenshin said helpfully.
Something akin to alarm crossed Mameiko's face as she glanced at Sayuri for a second, "You're here to see Hiko Seijurou?"
"You know him?" Sayuri asked, wondering how she did. Kenshin wondered the same thing.
Seeing their expressions, Mameiko shrugged elegantly, "I used to be a geisha…a woman in my profession tends to know a lot of things…and a lot of people…"
"So you know him personally?" Sayuri asked curiously.
Mameiko shook her head, "No, not personally…but I've seen him and heard a lot about him…so why are you here to see him?"
Mameiko was looking at Sayuri strangely, Kenshin noted. Why? he wondered.
Sayuri smiled vaguely, "I can't tell you exactly why… only that my grandfather asked me to see him…"
That same alarmed look crossed Mameiko's face, "Your grandfather sent you?"
"Yes…why, is there a problem?" Sayuri wanted to know, she noted that Mameiko seemed to be alarmed about something.
Did she have an idea of why she was here to see Kenshin's master? Impossible.
Kenshin wondered what Mameiko knew that made her so alarmed by the news. Did she know something that he didn't? Well, most probably… but what?
But Mameiko schooled her features into nonchalance, and said, "No, none at all…I just was surprised by the news, that's all."
Then she talked about something else, and the subject was dropped.
But Kenshin still wanted to find out what Mameiko knew about his master and Sayuri's grandfather. He was curious to find out what Sayuri's business with Hiko was…
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
***
Meanwhile at the Aoyia, Kaoru was looking for Misao for that heart to heart chat.
She'd been looking for her for about fifteen minutes now, and there was still no sign of where she was. She'd asked Okina, the others and Yahiko even, but nobody could say where she was.
Kaoru was now outside the training hall, the only place where she hadn't searched. That was because she didn't want to disturb Aoshi during his meditation. But maybe Misao was with him…
She was about to take a peek inside, when the door opened and Aoshi stepped out.
Startled and embarrassed in the bargain, Kaoru was about to turn and make a quick escape, when Aoshi, who had noticed her, called her.
"Did you want to practice in the hall, Kaoru-san?" he asked in his normal monotone voice.
What wasn't normal was the length of his question. Kaoru studied him, trying to figure him out. Finally noticing that he was looking at her expectantly, she remembered that he asked her a question.
"Ah, no, I didn't want a practice…" she hastily replied.
Astonishingly, Aoshi's left eyebrow went up, "Oh?…So you wanted to see me?"
Is this guy serious? Kaoru asked herself, then gave herself a mental smack on the forehead. Of course this guy was serious, wasn't that what he always was?
But she replied nicely, "Not really, Aoshi…I was actually looking for Misao…I thought maybe she was with you."
Aoshi looked around and inside the training hall, and seriously said, "Well, as you can see, she's not with me."
Kaoru barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes and instead asked, "Have you seen her? Or do you know where she is?"
Aoshi frowned for a second, "Actually, I saw her this morning, leaving the Aoyia…she seemed to be in a hurry…but I haven't seen her since…"
It isn't likely that you've seen anybody ever since you stepped into this hall this morning… were Kaoru's thoughts.
Aloud she said to Aoshi, "Well, I guess she really isn't here…I'll wait till she returns, then. Thanks anyway." She turned to go back into the main house, when Aoshi cleared his throat as if to get her attention.
Looking back at him over her shoulder, she asked, "Is there something you wanted?"
Looking startled and somehow panicked, Aoshi shook his head hastily, "Ah, no, no, no, no."
Kaoru mouthed 'Okay' and was about resume walking when she heard Aoshi clear his throat again. She turned her head to look at him again, but Aoshi shook his head to indicate that he didn't want anything from Kaoru. She half glared at him.
Then resuming her way to the main house, she took a couple of steps, when Aoshi cleared his throat again.
This time she turned and walked up to Aoshi until she was standing right in front of him.
Looking up at his face she growled out, "What?"
Aoshi almost looked flustered and hastily assured, "Nothing, Kaoru-san, I don't want anything."
She looked at him suspiciously, "Are you sure?"
Aoshi nodded, "Yes, I am…"
"Are you really sure?" she asked again.
Aoshi nodded more vigorously, "Hai, hai, I'm very sure…"
"Really, really sure?" Kaoru wanted to know.
"Yes, really, really sure," he assured her.
Satisfied, Kaoru was about to turn, when Aoshi said in a timid voice, "Actually, there is something I wanted to talk about with you…"
Groaning in exasperation, Kaoru looked up back at him, "What's that?"
When Aoshi looked like he wasn't about to start talking for a while, Kaoru said to him in a growl, "Spit it out, Ice Man, I haven't got all day!"
Looking at Kaoru, Aoshi finally understood the respect Kenshin had for this woman.
In rushed tones he said, "It's about Misao. I want to talk to you about her."
Aoshi wanted to talk about Misao with her? Kaoru looked at him thoughtfully, "About what?"
Aoshi frowned slightly, "Well, about the way she'd been acting lately…she's been acting real strange…"
Kaoru looked at him in disbelief. He though Misao was acting strange? Boy, I wonder what his reaction would be if he finds out that Misao has been thinking the same exact thing about him…
Aloud, she asked him, "Misao's been acting strange?" when Aoshi nodded she continued, "Strange, how?"
Aoshi looked around then said in his usual monotone voice, "Why don't we go inside the hall? I think it'll be easier to talk in there…"
He motioned for Kaoru to precede him. Once inside, they seated themselves, and Kaoru looked at Aoshi expectantly.
Aoshi looked like he was preoccupied by his thoughts, and was looking straight ahead with a vague look in his eyes,
Kaoru waited for the man to start, but five minutes had passed and Aoshi still had that vague look in his eyes.
Impatient and wanting to get on with the conversation, Kaoru snapped her fingers twice in front of Aoshi.
Aoshi blinked, and as if coming out of a trance he looked at Kaoru confused.
"You wanted to talk to me about Misao, right?" Kaoru asked.
Aoshi nodded, "Hai, that I did," then he frowned slightly and asked, "Did I just talk like Kenshin?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes, exasperated and a little bit tired of Aoshi's strange behavior. The man had some nerve accusing Misao of acting strange.
In order to get the conversation rolling, Kaoru asked her previous still unanswered question, "How is Misao acting strange?"
"Ah, that's what I wanted to talk about with you," Aoshi said seriously.
Mentally, Kaoru was strangling Aoshi, aloud she asked mildly, "And what is the answer to my question?"
When that same vague looked came into Aoshi's eyes, Kaoru snapped, "Look, buster, I haven't got all day. Either you start talking or I'm leaving!"
Startled, Aoshi looked at Kaoru, then said timidly, "I was just organizing my thoughts…"
"You've been organizing your thoughts for almost two years now, it's time to move on. So, are you telling me or not, how you think Misao's acting strange?"
Aoshi looked at her for a second, then took a deep breath and in a woosh said, "Misao's been wearing kimonos and styling her hair differently. And she's been leaving the Aoyia every morning for nobody knows where and she usually comes home late in the afternoon."
Kaoru arched her eyebrows, "That's how Misao's been acting strange?"
"Yes," Aoshi said in his usual monotone voice.
Frowning slightly, Kaoru asked him, "How is Misao wearing a kimono and styling her hair differently acting strange?"
"Because she usually preferred to go about in her ninja gear and that cute pigtail," Aoshi answered.
Cute pigtail? Kaoru looked at Aoshi questioningly, "So, now she likes to wear kimonos, big deal."
"But she used to grumble about how difficult it was to move in a kimono!" Aoshi argued.
That was true, Kaoru had to concede that point. Even at the train station and yesterday, she had heard Misao grumble about how constricting kimonos were.
But in defense of the absent woman, Kaoru said, "Look Aoshi, Misao is a female and females sometimes like to dress in feminine things…"
Aoshi looked like he was thinking that over a bit. Then he nodded at something he probably had concluded in his mind. Kaoru sighed.
Then Aoshi looked at her and said, "But what about her disappearance from the Aoyia every morning? She hasn't told anybody where she's going and every time somebody asks her about it, she immediately changes the subject…"
Well, that was strange, but Kaoru tried to give some possible explanations for that, "Well, maybe she's out visiting a sick friend or something…"
"But why would she not tell us that or try to avoid a discussion about that? The way she's acting means that she's trying to hide something…" Aoshi reasoned logically.
Kaoru had to agree with him on that. What was Misao hiding? She hoped it wasn't something bad…
Aloud she suggested to Aoshi, "If it really troubles you, why don't you talk to her about it? Maybe if just the two of you talked, she'd tell you…"
Aoshi frowned, "I don't think that's possible…"
"Why not?" Kaoru asked.
"Well, that's another strange thing. Lately, she's become a bit reserved around me…" Aoshi confided.
"Reserved? How?" Kaoru asked. Reserved was the one thing you wouldn't say about Misao when she was around Aoshi.
"Well, she used to chatter about anything and everything when she was around me but lately she's been more subdued…more…more…" Aoshi searched for the appropriate word.
"Ladylike?" Kaoru suggested, for she knew what was the root of Misao's attitude change.
Aoshi nodded thoughtfully, "I guess that is the word for it."
Perhaps if she'd give the man some clue on why Misao's been different, Aoshi might feel less confused and maybe do something about it.
So she asked the man, "When did it all start?"
Aoshi looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, "Actually, a couple of weeks ago, when Hiroko-chan came for a visit…"
Okay, we're on the right track here Kaoru thought as she looked at Aoshi expectantly, willing the man to make the connection.
But apparently, it was all lost on Aoshi as he said in somewhat confused tones, "I don't see how that could affect Misao's behavior."
Kaoru couldn't suppress a groan and Aoshi looked at her, "What? What? What?"
"Just think about it," she suggested.
He did. For five minutes.
The he turned to Kaoru as if a light came on, "You mean to say that…What do you mean to say?"
Kaoru groaned again, cursing the obtuseness of men in general, but said to Aoshi, "Why don't you talk to Misao? A little conversation can go a long way, you know…"
He looked at Kaoru skeptically, "Do you think so?"
"Well, yeah. Hasn't our conversation shed some light on some things?" Kaoru said to him.
"I guess so," Aoshi conceded.
Kaoru beamed at him, "Then think about what you could learn if you talked to Misao directly!"
"Do you really think that's the best way?" Aoshi asked skeptically again.
Kaoru nodded, "Yes. A sincere and honest conversation is always the best way to get things clear. Trust me."
Aoshi looked at her for a second, "Have you and Kenshin had a sincere and honest conversation about your feelings for each other?"
Flustered by the totally unexpected and unrelated question, Kaoru blushed, "I don't think that's relevant in this discussion…"
"Perhaps you should have that sincere and honest conversation. It's the best way to get things clear," Aoshi said while looking at her intently.
Feeling more and more disconcerted by the turn of conversation, Kaoru hastily got up and said, "Well, I guess this ends our little discussion…"
She was hastily making her way to the door, when Aoshi said, "Don't worry, it'll happen. He loves you, you love him. It'll happen."
Kaoru had stopped and now was looking over her shoulder at Aoshi, "Go talk to Misao, Aoshi."
Then she stepped out of the hall.
Looking at nothing in particular, Aoshi whispered, "Maybe I will…"
***
Kenshin and Sayuri were walking back to the Aoyia after eating lunch with Mameiko. They were passing through a quiet neighborhood and both were lost in their own thoughts.
Sayuri had been subdued ever since they left Mameiko's okiya and Kenshin had been wondering why. There was an aura of melancholy and something else about her, which worried Kenshin a bit. Was it because of their visit to Mameiko or the coming visit to Hiko? In fact, Sayuri always projected that aura when her business with Hiko was mentioned. Why was that?
Kenshin was still musing about that, when Sayuri broke the silence with, "Kenshin, do you fear death?"
Startled by the sudden question, he glanced at Sayuri and said, "Doesn't everyone, Sayuri-dono?"
Sayuri looked like she was thinking that over for a moment, then said, "Perhaps…" and lapsed into silence again.
And Kenshin? Kenshin was now more worried than before.
***
Early the next day, Aoshi was making his way to the training hall.
Since it was still early, the sky still had that violent tinge that it got before the sun rose fully. Aoshi paused for a moment, inhaling the freshness of the new day. Then her resumed his walk to the training hall.
As he got closer, something odd struck him. It couldn't be, he thought to himself. But as he slid open the door, he saw that he wasn't mistaken.
Somebody was already in there, meditating.
Dressed in a dark gi and hakama with a sword at the side on the floor, the figure seemed to be deep in mediation. Loathing to disturb the figure, Aoshi was about to slid the door close and leave, when the figure turned and looked at him enigmatically.
Unsure what to do, Aoshi said, "Ohayou, Sayuri-san."
To be continued…
___
That's the end of this chapter. It's not the best, but when you're suffering from a congested nose and writer's block, I think the chapter turned out pretty decent…
Sorry that it took so long, though.
Thank you to all my lovely readers and reviewers…Fireruby, GoldAngel2, Houndingwolf, Kaoru-chan21, CEEGEE…
I sincerely hope that Santa received my letter about that spiffy convertible…
Oh, and don't forget to review! Thank you!
Maybe, the reviews will help me get over my colds…there's only so much chicken soup a girl can slurp!