Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me. Therefore, it is not mine. Well, duh.
Yup, you heard right, folks. It's THE FIGHT. Joy.
Eh . . . I've been reading too much of the Korean version of the Rurouni Kenshin manga . . .
I'm too used to Misao going, "Aoshi-niim!" instead of, "Aoshi-sama!" or even, "Lord Aoshi!"
Whatever.
Oh, and thanks to jesphoenix05 for the tips.
And to Mia, the Princess of Eternity, I made that little quiz/poll thing myself. I did base it on a Quizilla quiz, though.
So . . . This, and two more chapters to go. That's how I planned it. Something may come up, but I'll finish this, and start:
Dun duh duh DUH!!:
Betting: Is EVIL 2!
That's right, folks. I'm making a sequel! I'm also likely to make a trilogy! Then a spoof that isn't as good (just like the Karate Kid series! XD)!
Seriously, have a look:
Betting: is EVIL – The original. As in, the one you're reading now.
Betting: is EVIL 2: Visit to Tokyo. The name implies what's going to happen. I might change the title a bit though.
Betting: is EVIL 3: (SORT OF A SPOILER) - ::evil cackles::
Betting: is STILL EVIL: Right, the spoof that no one likes that comes with a trilogy. The spoofy part? There's not going to be any bet as far as I'm currently concerned. Just more of torturing Aoshi.
I'll give spoilers, er . . . SNEAK PEEKS at the bottom of where I SHOULD be headed.
XXXXX
Hiko couldn't stop thinking about the way Aoshi's eyes had looked yesterday. Full of anger . . . hatred . . . Hiko considered that maybe he had gone to far this time. He shook his head, and took another drink of sake. No, that was the reaction that Hiko wanted. And yet . . . Hiko had not been expecting . . .
He admitted, Aoshi had more 'problems' than he originally thought. Hiko just wanted to make sure Aoshi got over being such a freaking loner. He hadn't anticipated well, this. The sword master looked over to where the sun was just peaking over the horizon.
'Shinomori just can't let go of the past, can he?'
He sighed, finished his sake, and went inside. Misao was still sleeping. Hiko decided to let her. He looked through several shelves and drawers before he found what he was looking for. No, it wasn't Misao's kunai. They were hidden in –
Misao made a muffled noise. Hiko looked over to Misao and she had a stupid grin on her face. "Eh heh heh heh. Aoshi-sama . . ."
Hiko was . . . unsure of how to feel. Disturbed at the thought of what Misao said being a bit . . . OR depressed at Misao. She dreamed so fondly of Aoshi so easily. Even after the 'incident'.
Hiko and Misao picked up the pieces of pottery and left. When they got back, Misao went back to painting, just like that.
Aoshi spent the night in the forest.
Hiko placed the wooden box down. Maybe a little too hard because Misao woke up.
"Eh . . . What're you doing?" she asked. She looked down at the box. "Wazzat?"
Hiko scooted the box toward her. Misao opened the lid. Her eyes bulged, almost Kenshin style.
"You have TEA!?" she screamed.
X
Aoshi stirred. Awake now, he opened his eyes. Of course, he knew where he was. He also knew why he was here. Why had he woken up you ask?
He heard the word: Tea.
Yep. That's why Aoshi had woken up.
'But that sounded like Misao . . .'
And that must mean . . .
Wow.
I mean, WOW.
Well, now that Aoshi was awake, he might as well go and get tea, right?
No. Not even tea would cause Aoshi to step ten meters close to him.
So, Aoshi meditated. He did . . . er, meditation stuff for about an hour or two. Or three. Aoshi never kept track of the time.
When it got dark, he went home. Usually.
"Aoshi-sama! I have breakfast!"
Aoshi flinched. Why would Misao want to see him? Didn't he scare the crap out of her last night? Because of the – er, nevermind. Aoshi was still trying to convince himself that he wasn't supposed to go "shura mode" again.
"You'll never guess what! Can you believe that old fart actually has tea?" Misao walked to where Aoshi sat with a tray with bread and tea on it.
Whoo – hoo. Let's give a round of applause for the best breakfast in the world.
"Really," Aoshi 'asked'.
"Uh-huh!" Aoshi heard Misao placed the tray down. "So . . . I'll come back later to pick the tray back up." Then Misao left, leaving Aoshi alone with his 'breakfast'.
It was starting to feel like he was back at the temple.
Uh-huh.
Aoshi was still in thought. He hadn't realized that he was supposed to be eating breakfast until he heard leaves cracking next to him. He looked to his left. Kenshin probably would've oroed.
This is your chance!
'You again?'
Yeah. Now, you can kill it!
'Why?'
What? You're the same sissy as before!
' . . . Even if it's something so . . . miniscule, I shouldn't kill it.'
Wimp. I bet Battousai would kill it.
'Maybe. Maybe not.'
Just kill the thing!
'Persistent, aren't you?'
You bet I am!
'Fine. Give me five good reasons why I should kill it.'
One, because I said so –
'I said GOOD reasons.'
. . . Okay then. One. You didn't kill the other one –
'What does that have to do with anything?'
That's not the point!
'Exactly.'
Would you rather see Hiko and Misao eat it?
'. . . I don't want to kill it . . .'
How about you dig a hole, put it in the hole, and then watch it slowly lose its life . . .
'O.O'
Whoa. You can do that?
'. . . You're really weird.'
Then what do you want to do?
'I'll leave it alone. As long as it doesn't eat my food.'
Too late?
'What?'
Aoshi looked to where his 'breakfast' was. The tea was left untouched, but a small, cute, fuzzy rabbit was munching on HIS bread. It was a medium sized loaf, but it was big enough. The rabbit had barely started eating the tip of the bread.
Aoshi picked up the bread. The bunny clenched on to its new found breakfast, only holding on by its teeth. Aoshi tried to shake it off, but the thing kept holding on.
The hole idea's still open said Aoshi's . . . er . . . person guy thing.
'NO,' Aoshi responded. He shook harder and the bunny eventually was forced to let go. Aoshi ripped off the piece that the bunny was eating and tossed it to the ground. The bunny ate the small piece and then looked back at Aoshi expectantly.
Aoshi realized that the bunny thought that he was feeding it.
Kuso.
Just do what you did to the fish . . . Take your kodachi and BAM. There's your lunch!
Aoshi ripped another piece off – a bigger one – and tossed it into the woods. Deep, deep into the woods.
The bunny ran after it. Aoshi waited for a minute before deciding that the bunny was out of his hair. He finished his bread and tea and went back to meditation. Misao came back later to pick up the tray.
"I hope the tea was good, Aoshi-sama," Misao said with a smile.
"Aa," Aoshi responded.
"Sorry if the bread was a bit stale, Hiko said that it was pretty ol . . ." Misao suddenly stopped. Aoshi opened his eyes and looked at Misao. Her attention was fixed on something opposite of them. Aoshi followed Misao's gaze.
'Don't oro. Don't oro. Don't oro . . .'
The bunny was back.
Misao squealed in delight. "Kawaaaaiiiiiiii!!!!!"
'REALLY don't oro . . .'
Misao ran over and hugged the bunny. "It's so cute! Wait 'til I take it back home! Do you think Jiya'll say yes? Wait, of course he will!" She nuzzled her face against its. "What should I name him?"
Him? How did Misao know it was a him? . . . Never mind.
"Oh! I know . . . I'll name him . . . Um . . . Um . . ."
Aoshi sat there watching this. He wasn't sure of what to think of the situation.
"Maybe . . ."
Aoshi stared. Then he stared some more.
"Oh! Wait . . . no . . . Uh . . ."
Aoshi wondered if he should leave and try to get drunk again.
"I got it!!! His name will be . . . Neko-chan!"
Now, Aoshi desperately wanted to laugh. "Misao . . . That isn't a cat."
Misao hugged Neko. "I know, Aoshi-sama. But that's why it's so funny!"
Aoshi stared.
Misao stood and grabbed the tree with Neko still in her arms. "Come on, Neko-chan. Let's go see if that sake hermit has some carrots."
Misao started to leave when she turned around to face Aoshi. "Aoshi-sama, do you think Jiya will let me keep him?"
". . . I don't know."
Misao tilted her head. "Aoshi-sama, did you ever have a pet?"
"No."
"Oh . . ."
Misao turned back and left. Aoshi sighed. Okina. Aoshi wondered if HE ever had a pet.
Eh, probably not. Speaking of Okina . . . how old was he?
Stupid question.
Aoshi couldn't believe it. He had thought he killed Okina . . . Aoshi hadn't really noticed until Hiko left that night.
Tea and dinner finished, Aoshi laid himself down on the bench, looking up at the stars, holding his forehead. He felt tired. No one would care if he dozed off, right?
"Aoshi."
Aoshi froze. That voice . . . He sat up, and stared at Okina. He was covered in bandages, head to toe. Aoshi was speechless. What was he supposed to say? 'Oh, do you want an apology for me almost killing you now?' Pfft. As if.
"Have you eaten?" Okina asked. Aoshi nodded. He looked away. He couldn't stand to look . . . "Aoshi."
No . . . Not now . . .
"Misao . . . She's very happy that you've returned."
"Was she really?" Was. Not is.
"If you're saying that she can't forgive you for what you've done, then I've wasted a good number of years of my life training a foolish boy," Okina said sternly. He walked over and sat on the bench next to Aoshi. They sat in silence, neither saying a word.
"What . . . happened here?" Aoshi asked. He couldn't withhold his curiosity on why the Aoiya was half in shambles. Okina chuckled.
"A story for another time," he said. "You'd have no idea," he added wryly.
"The other four?"
"Hm . . . What do you think?"
". . . I threatened their lives . . ."
Okina suddenly swung his cane at Aoshi.
"What . . . What was that for?" Aoshi asked, holding the back of his head. Okina smiled again.
"Once again, what do you think? Really, I wanted to see if you would react the same way you did when you were a boy. It seems I was right." Okina stood up and began to head in. "If you're tired, you should come inside."
Come inside? Where everyone else was? No. Aoshi didn't want to have to face them. He couldn't.
Right. The CANE. Stupid thing. Aoshi brought his hand to the back of his head, half expecting a bump of some sort to be there.
Aoshi started to bang his head on his desk. Wake up, read, eat, study, train, study again, then more reading, and THEN sleep. Life was boring. Especially when Makimachi-san made Aoshi do those pointless meditating exercises.
WHAP! Aoshi grasped the back of his head. "What was THAT for!?"
Okina lowered the shinai. "I'm sorry. I thought that was what you were doing. Banging your head until an answer came, right?"
Aoshi grumbled a "no".
Okina sighed. "You're seven years old, Aoshi. You need to focus on your studies as well as your training in martial arts."
"I know . . ."
"Well then, what are you waiting for? Or do I need to use the shinai?"
"NO! I mean . . . No, sir."
"Stupid thing . . ." Aoshi muttered. He continued his meditation for another few hours before returning to Hiko's hut.
When Aoshi arrived, he found Hiko eyeing the close that Misao bought for him the other day.
"Don't you have anything better to where?" Hiko asked when he sensed Aoshi's presence.
No. I don't. All I have is a meditation robe and a shinobi uniform. And THAT THING, but Aoshi wasn't intending on wearing that again.
And why was that? Why was it that those were the only two things Aoshi ever really wore? Blame it on Kenshin. He ruined Aoshi's other shirt with his ougi. It wasn't cheap either. That shirt was probably one of the most expensive things that Aoshi owned, aside from his trench coat and probably his kodachis.
Aoshi ignored Hiko and kept walking.
"You live in the past too much."
He just won't quit, will he?
Aoshi turned around.
"You know, Shinomori . . . I never really thought you would snap like you did yesterday."
Snap? SNAP!?
"Are you done? I'm really sick of you and your cheap comments on how you think I should run my life."
Hiko sighed. "Fine, fine. I'm done. If you don't want to face the truth . . ."
"I. Don't. Care."
"Alright. If you want to be a stubborn – Listen. All I'm saying is that if you want a fair fight with me, you can have it."
"Follow me."
Hiko guided Aoshi to the cliff by the waterfall. Hiko took his place closer to the edge.
"Well?" he asked.
"I never agreed to this. Besides, you're unarmed."
"Do you really think it matters? I could still beat you."
". . . That's what Battou . . . Himura said."
"What? Are you comparing me with my baka deshi?"
"You compared me with him, didn't you?"
Hiko sighed. "True. Fine." The older man drew his sword out of a wooden sheath. He took a stance.
Aoshi paused, but then held his kodachis in front of him, both still in the sheath.
Hiko charged forward. Aoshi pulled both kodachis out of his sheath and kicked it forward. Hiko disappeared, dodging the sheath, and reappeared high above Aoshi.
'Ryu Tsui Sen (spelling?)' Aoshi thought. He knew its power when Kenshin hit him with it. And with Hiko's size the effect would probably be increased. Aoshi didn't have a choice though. He'd have to block it. He crossed his kodachis.
'I have an idea.'
As Hiko swung down, Aoshi crossed his kodachis in a scissor like motion.
A vertical Gokou Juuji.
The forces canceled each other out. Hiko jumped over Aoshi and swung diagonally.
Aoshi jumped back. Their positions were now reversed, with Aoshi standing closer the edge. Was Hiko trying something?
Aoshi charged. This worked against Kenshin, if Aoshi was lucky, it'd work against Hiko. His left arm shot forward, thrusting his kodachi.
Hiko blocked the thrust to the side, sidestepped, and punched Aoshi in the stomach. Then he grabbed Aoshi's still forward (left) arm and threw him over. Aoshi landed on his back, but was smart enough to keep his head up; preventing his skull from breaking if it had hit the rock ground.
He coughed, forcing himself to get back up. He ran and let on a onslaught of random attacks, Hiko seemed to block them with ease.
Aoshi then side kicked him, Hiko fell back a few steps, but before he could fully recover, Aoshi threw his kodachis at him.
"Kodachi Nitouryuu, Onmyou Hasshi!"
Hiko raised his sword, and then he narrowed his eyes. He twisted, evading both of the kodachis. They imbedded themselves in a tree.
"A clever technique. Hiding one kodachi behind the other. However, it's quite flawed. If you dodge one you automatically evade the other. And now, because you threw your weapons at me, you're unarmed. What now?" Hiko asked.
"Do you do these things for fun?"
"If you're talking about evaluating other fighting styles and pointing out their weakness to the user, then yes," Hiko replied.
Aoshi scowled and fell into a fighting stance.
"Kempo," Hiko said. "I'm not too surprised. It's natural for a warrior such as you to know multiple fighting styles. All right, then. However . . . The only way to win is to get your swords. And the only way to get your swords is to get through me."
Aoshi disappeared, presumably moving to his right.
"You're fast," Hiko said simply. He turned to his left . . .
No one there. Hiko looked around him and saw multiple images of Aoshi.
"This is known as the Ryuusui no Ugoki. Let's see if you can perceive this . . . Just as everything else . . ."
Hiko slowly stepped toward the tree with the kodachis in it. Aoshi was most likely going to go for those.
Then . . . Well, it happened so fast. Hiko felt something grab his wrist. His sword was twisted out of his hands. Out of instinct, Hiko dashed to the tree and pulled the kodachis out.
So now, Aoshi had Hiko's sword, and Hiko had Aoshi's kodachis. The two inspected their weapons.
Then they tossed them back to each other.
"Let's not go there," Hiko said. Aoshi nodded in agreement. "Now..." Hiko placed his sword's edge into the ground. He suddenly lifted the sword up. A streak of earth rose up from the ground (Do Ryu Sen?). Aoshi jumped up, landing in one of the tree branches. "You look surprised. My baka deshi never showed you that technique?"
Aoshi frowned. "No."
Hiko almost sighed. This was going nowhere. It was time to get annoying.
"That's too bad. Like I was saying . . . What do you have planned for the next five years?" Aoshi remained silent. "What? Don't tell me you're going to meditate for the rest of your life. You're not helping anyone by moping over the past. You're only hurting yourself."
Hiko waited for Aoshi's heated reply.
". . . If you're going to fight, then fight. Don't waste my time by trying to toy with me." Aoshi jumped down from the tree branch. He looked up, glaring at Hiko.
'There we go,' Hiko thought. Aoshi attacked with tactic, trying to hit from two opposite targets so it was harder for Hiko to block. Somehow, Hiko managed.
"You're getting angry," Hiko said. "You should know; The Hiten Mitserugiryuu was designed to read off opponents' emotions. Right now, yours seems to be anger, the easiest to read."
Aoshi attacked again and again, each torrent of steel more fierce with each passing second.
"In you're current condition, you couldn't even hope to beat me," Hiko continued.
"Shut up!" Aoshi shouted. He slashed with his right arm. Hiko easily blocked it, and then pushed the end of his sword's hilt into Aoshi's throat. Aoshi was knocked back; he dropped one of his kodachis to hold his neck. In rage, Aoshi chucked the kodachi still in his right hand at Hiko.
Hiko caught the hilt of the kodachi effortlessly. They glared at each other.
"You . . ." Aoshi slowly rose, picking up his second kodachi, still holding his neck. It ached, just like when Kenshin hit it back then . . . Aoshi shook his head, getting rid of any memories attempting to distract him. Hiko tossed Aoshi's kodachi back.
"Me what?" Hiko asked.
"I . . ." Evidently, Aoshi was having some trouble speaking. "I . . . despise you . . . Hiko Seijurou . . . I hate you and everything you are . . ."
"Tell me something I don't know," Hiko said.
Aoshi gripped his kodachis tighter. He took a step forward. Hiko held out his hand.
"What?" Aoshi asked.
Hiko lowered his hand. "Tell me, Shinomori. Is this similar to how you felt yesterday? When Misao saw you? You know what she saw. You can't possibly deny it."
This made Aoshi stop dead in his tracks. "What would you know about that?"
Hiko shrugged. "The old man from the Aoiya told me."
"Well? Are you going to make that girl suffer for your cheap sense of pride?"
"Will you abandon this girl for the sake of your pride? Will you hide behind the title of the strongest and run to your death!? What happened to your strength of spirit?? Try to recall the pride that you used to have! You let time stop after the Kanryu estate, but you've got to let it start again! Before it's too late! You've got to wake up!!"
Aoshi tried to shake the memory away. His head was throbbing for some odd reason. He suddenly felt light headed. He dropped his kodachi (again) and took an involuntary step forward, grasping his head.
Did . . . Aoshi not really . . . No. Time started again. After Kenshin knocked some sense into him. Time restarted for Aoshi . . . didn't it?
Did Aoshi not really wake up? Was he still asleep? Deluding himself with yet another lie? This time it being that he could not be forgiven?
He felt so dizzy. He tried to shake it off. Nope, no dice.
Aoshi fell to his knees. Why was he so freaking tired!? He started to rise. He felt like screaming. That might help the pain go away.
Yeah right. Shinomori Aoshi does not scream. Take that Seta Soujiro.
Aoshi picked up his kodachi. His head still hurt, but that wasn't going to stop him. He needed a plan. Aoshi automatically threw out another Onmyou Hasshi. He could always go and hit Hiko with his best technique.
Hmm . . . Maybe later.
Hiko watched Aoshi. Poor guy? Nah. Hiko was never one to sympathize. Aoshi once again took the offensive. This time, Aoshi took a different approach, rather then using power or too much strategy, he used speed. He jumped over Hiko, landing behind him.
Hiko turned to face Aoshi, but Aoshi moved behind Hiko again.
"Oniwabanshiki Kodachi Nitouryuu: Gokou Juuji!"
Yes, cheap. Attacking when Hiko had his back turned . . . But Aoshi didn't care. He swung.
Hiko vanished; Aoshi stumbled forward, off balance.
"Such an underhanded move. You surprise me," Hiko said from Aoshi's right.
"I don't care. I was trying to defeat you. An opponent won't care how they died after they're dead," Aoshi said. He noticed their fight was falling more into the forest.
Aoshi walked in the direction of the waterfall. Hiko might be trying to lure him to . . . Misao? Maybe. Either way, Aoshi wasn't going to let that happen.
"Hmph," Hiko followed Aoshi. "What kind of pride deprived attitude is that?"
"Would you just shut up already!? Who are you to tell me how to live? You have no idea what I've been through!" Aoshi shouted. He hadn't meant to say that, but it just . . . came out.
Hiko closed his eyes. "You may be right. I probably don't know what you've been through. However, I'm just doing any man's duty on telling you that you can't keep living like this. You know that you can't keep going on like this. You'll be crushed by your inner guilt and the rest of the feelings that you keep inside of you."
Hiko expected another "shut up". It never came. Suddenly, Hiko felt a hard impact on his face.
Aoshi just punched him.
He hit him again and again. Eventually, Aoshi grabbed Hiko's wrist and forced him to let go of his sword. He kicked Hiko back.
"You're unarmed. Good. It'll be easier to kill you now."
X
"Do you like your carrots, Neko-chan?" Misao asked her bunny.
It didn't reply. Misao sighed.
"I wish I could talk to animals," Misao said dreamily.
In the back of her mind, she heard Hiko make some lame comment.
Where was Hiko anyway? He left her alone after . . . well . . .
"What is THAT!?"
"Neko-chan!"
"
Right . . .
Misao put Neko in his/her makeshift cage, and she went outside. She looked around.
No one.
"Hey! Anyone here?" Misao called.
Yay. Now she had to look around for Hiko.
Wait . . . If Hiko was gone again . . . but yesterday . . .
Misao hesitated. What if they were fighting again? What if Aoshi . . .? No. Misao didn't want to have to see that again.
However, if they were fighting, it was all the more reason for Misao to find them. She ran off. She ran to the clearing that Aoshi was meditating in last.
Once again, no one.
"No no no no . . ." Misao muttered. She ran again.
X
Hiko was getting tired. Dodging sword slashes repeatedly was beginning to ware him down.
Aoshi swung low; Hiko jumped and kicked Aoshi's head. Aoshi staggered sideways, recovered, and spun around clockwise, slightly cutting Hiko's side.
They both jumped back, Hiko held his side and Aoshi was grasping the left side of his head where he was kicked.
"Heh, I was beginning to forget was it felt like to be cut," Hiko remarked.
"Well then," said Aoshi. "I'll make sure you don't ever forget again. Make it easier on yourself and die quietly."
"I'll pass," Hiko responded.
Aoshi fell in to the Ryuusui no Okugi, surrounding Hiko. He slashed diagonally down right. It was impossible for Hiko to dodge. He was force to catch the blade with his right hand.
'What!?'
Aoshi pulled out a kodachi from behind his back.
'He must've been hiding it . . .'
Aoshi stabbed forward.
"No!! Aoshi-sama!!!"
Aoshi froze, millimeters from impaling Hiko.
"Don't kill him . . ."
Aoshi didn't move; he couldn't. He moved his eyes to look at Misao.
"Aoshi-sama . . ."
X
Hiko finished applying a bandage to his side and drank some sake. He watched as Misao stepped out of the hut with an empty tray.
She plopped down next to Hiko and snatched his sake bottle. She poured a cup and guzzled it. She paused halfway from pouring another cup. Misao tossed the cup and started to chug from the bottle.
"Is he still like that?" Hiko asked. Misao drunkenly nodded.
"He's not even gonna eat."
"Would he eat anyway?" Hiko asked.
Misao forced a smile. "I guess not. But still . . . it's so . . ."
"Utterly depressing?"
"Uh-huh."
Hiko let out a long sigh. Suddenly, Misao shot up.
"That's it!" she yelled. "I'm going in there and giving him a piece of my mind!" She marched to the hut, sake bottle in hand.
"Aoshi-sama! Stop moping and . . ." The fierce determination Misao had disappeared. She couldn't do anything about this. Sanoske might've socked him, but Misao couldn't do that.
Aoshi was leaning against the wall holding his kodachis; he didn't move. (If you want a better description, think of Kenshin after Kaoru "died".)
"Aoshi-sama . . ." Misao walked over to Aoshi. "Please eat. You must be tired."
"I'm going back outside. I don't want to see any food uneaten by the time I come back." Misao turned and went back outside, closing the door as quietly as possible.
"
"Okashira . . . You know what day it is."
"
"It's Misao-chan's birthday."
"
"Okashira . . ."
"She's 11 now."
"Yes . . ."
"I wonder . . . I wonder what she looks like now."
"True. By now, she's probably grown into a fine young lady . . ."
"Aa."
". . . You miss her."
"All of us do, Hanya."
"Ha . . . Yes."
Aoshi rested against a tree.
"Are you tired?" Hannya asked.
"Just . . . worn," Aoshi answered.
"You should rest Okashira," Hannya advised.
"Just a little longer . . ."
Hannya laughed.
"What is it?"
"That sounded like something Misao would say," Hannya remarked.
"Perhaps."
"Hey! Beshimi! You just took my fish!"
"Huh? No I didn't!"
"Yes you did! I saw you!"
"Hyottoko, what are you talking about?? I didn't take your stupid fish!"
"Then what's that behind you?"
"What's what?"
"That . . . See!? You have my fish!"
"Oh . . . uh . . . Haha, I wonder how that got there . . ."
"Give it back!"
"Make me!"
"Why I ought to . . . Shikijo, make him give my fish back! I'm still hungry!"
"What? Don't get me involved!"
"Hey . . . ! Hannyaaaaaaa . . ."
"Get it back yourself."
"Like he could catch me!" Beshimi hopped on a tree branch. Hyottoko stood up.
"Give me my fish!"
The two started chasing each other around.
Part of Aoshi wished Misao was with them. He knew she'd be laughing.
X
"Jiya . . . you pervert . . ." Misao muttered. She swung the sake bottle around, seemingly to whack Okina.
Hiko sighed. He might as well take the girl in. He picked her up and began to take her inside. Misao stirred.
"Owie . . . oh . . ." She jerked and stared at Hiko. "LET GO OFF ME!!!" She whacked Hiko with the sake bottle still in her hand.
"Ow! Hey, I was just trying to . . ."
"I don't care! Put me down!"
Hiko dropped her.
"Ah! Ow! Why'd you drop me!?"
"You TOLD me too, itachi!"
"Hiko."
"Huh?" Misao and Hiko both looked over to the doorway, where Aoshi stood.
"A . . . Aoshi-sama," Misao studdered.
"What do you want?" Hiko asked. He snatched the sake bottle from Misao.
". . . We never finished our fight."
"Sou da . . ."
X
"And then he said, 'Hey, leave that bucket alone!' Isn't that FUNNY!?"
"Hilarious," Hiko replied. He looked at Aoshi drinking tea. "I think I've finally got it."
"Got what?" Misao asked.
Hiko smirked. "Why Shinomori couldn't get drunk the other night."
Misao tilted her head. "Huh? Aoshi-sama never drank any sake . . ."
The other two ignored her.
"And why couldn't I?" Aoshi asked. He drank more tea.
"You took such small intakes. What you need to do . . . is just chug one bottle."
Aoshi gave him a look. "No."
"What now?? Just drink some sake. It'll help that headache."
"How will drinking sake help get rid of my headache? I'll just get another one in the morning."
Hiko shrugged. "You're headache will most likely last for tomorrow anyway."
"You're so loud . . ."
"Sake."
"Whatever . . . As long as it makes you stop talking . . ."
"Yay! Aoshi-sama's gonna drink sake!" Misao cheered. Mind you that she was still drunk.
Hiko handed Aoshi a sake bottle. "No tiny sips. Drink it as if your life depended on it."
"Right . . . sure . . ."
At first, Aoshi had to pause because of the taste.
"Keep going," Hiko said.
Aoshi drank some more sake.
"Is the pain gone?" Hiko asked.
"Yes . . . I feel lightheaded now . . ."
"Go inside. I don't want to see you pass out."
"I'll go with you Aoshi-sama."
Aoshi and Misao went inside. Hiko smirked. He felt the bandage covering the cut on the right side of his neck.
One out of six slashes. That was all the damage Aoshi could do before Hiko unleashed a Kuzuryuusen. He held back of course; he had to. He also had to flip the blade like when he fought Fuji.
Hiko didn't hold back as much when he hit Aoshi's head though, explaining his headache. He tightened his cloak around him. It was a cold night.
He grinned. He remembered how Aoshi reacted when Misao was next to him. How would the ice block react if he woke up in the same blanket?
He sat watching the fire before putting it out and stepping inside, ready to begin his plot.
However, Misao already snuggled next to Aoshi. She shivered a bit, and subconsciously pulled the blanket around her.
Misao had fulfilled Hiko's plan for him.
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This is officially the longest time I took to update. I had some trouble writing this chapter (especially the fight scene) and school's starting to really give out homework. T.T Next chapter will be more normal.
Hopefully.
SNEAK PEEK AT THE REST OF THE BETTING: IS EVIL SERIES! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED IN ANY WAY, QUICKLY SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN!!!
Note that the plots (or titles) of the stories may change once they actually come out. I can't guarantee that these will stay the same.
Betting: is EVIL 2: Visit to Tokyo – As the name implies, and as you'll find out in the final chapter, Misao and Aoshi get an invitation to come visit the Kamiya Dojo in Tokyo. I haven't REALLY decided on what the actual bet will be, but it'll probably have something to do with sake.
Betting: is EVIL 2: Return of Hiko - ::cackles again:: Yes, poor Aoshi will have to face the wrath of the sake hermit again . . . in his own home! That's right; another undecided bet will cause Okon to bring Hiko down from the mountain to live at the Aoiya for a week! The horror!
Betting: is STILL EVIL – The spoof. No bet. But because Aoshi is TECHNICALLY still unpunished for all of his crimes he did, he is forced to work for . . . Saito Hajime. For a whole week. That's right! Partnering with Chou, wearing a blue police officer uniform, girls swooning over the handsome man in the blue uniform, and taking orders from the willow head, himself! The ULTIMATE TOURTURE! No, not Aoshi. YOU. YOU because it's the last one, therefore you'll have to wait for THIS one the longest! ::cackles again::
Readers: O.O Okay . . .
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Okay, spoiler over. I bet the people who did read are going all: "Oh, I wish I hadn't read that!"
I'm kidding. I've had too much sugar. A WEE bit too many Jolly Ranchers. XD