Chapter 4: A Long Day A Head.
The soft sound of birds chirping filled her ears as the sun rose. Alexia allowed her eyes to flutter open and look around the room. Nothing had changed. She was still in Japan, still 1800 Japan. A heavy sigh rolled off her pink lips as she rose, grabbing the kimono that Misao and the other girls of the Oniwabanshuu had given her. Sliding on the finishing touches of the obi she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The dark blue kimono with a few cranes flying from the right corner to the left shoulder really brought out her shinning emerald eyes that so many adored.
Today, her, Misao, and Sir Okina would be taking a trip to a near by store to get her some kimono's. She hated that she had no money and that they were doing so much for when they didn't even know as to why she was here. The only one who knew her story was Aoshi. Not even the kind, father-like Hiko knew her story. She frowned at the thought of keeping a secret from them but it was only because she didn't want mass pity from everyone. She didn't want them to think she was weak.
A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts and made her smile once again. A frown just wouldn't do. It would only make things worse.
She bowed as she opened the door to come face to face with the young man from last night, Aoshi Shinomori. She was speechless for some reason. For some reason her thoughts and voice betrayed her and robed her of her speech, but she dare not show it on her face.
Aoshi inwardly smirked. The girl was full of surprises and the moment of speechlessness was one of them. He cleared his throat to gain her attention away from thoughts of last night's happenings in order to alert her about breakfast. "Breakfast is ready." He stated rather boredly before leaving the girl to her own inner thoughts and cursing for her weakness in his presences.
She quickly slapped herself on the side of the head once Aoshi was around the corner and out of sight. A soft "kuso" escaping her lips before departing from the quest room and heading toward the kitchen.
Misao ran toward Alexia who was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, smiling happily the whole time. "The kimono looks absolutely beautiful on you!" she half yelled upon reaching the girl and grabbing on to her arm, dragging her to the empty sitting pillow at the table. Misao dropped down onto the pillow beside Alexia and smiled. "Thank you very much everyone for everything." Alexia said after taking a bite of the wonderful breakfast cooked for her.
Misao frowned slightly, "You, Hiko-sama and Aoshi-sama will be leaving us after lunch. It's a two day trip to Tokyo by horse." She said, her head bowed downward at the thought of the bright and cheerful woman leaving them so soon. Misao had grown attached to the young pregnant girl as everyone did and was sad to see her leave so soon.
A gentle hand was placed upon her shoulder and Misao raised her head to look at Alexia's smiling face, "Don't worry Misao-san, I'll come back and visit you all and repay you all for your kindness and generosity." She said with the same smile that resembled the Rurouni's way of smiling.
Misao nodded and smiled once again. This girl reminded her too much of Himura. The distant sadness etched in her eyes and the Rurouni smile she always wore. The way she seemed a bit clumsy in her step when you could tell she was actually a true samurai master at heart. Had the girl suffered the same pain as Himura had so many years ago? Is that why she had stumbled upon them without speaking of her past and keeping things to herself? Either way was fine. The girl was harmless to them and seemed to care very much from them anyways.
Breakfast based with uneventful happenings. A bit of conversation was held between the females of the household while the males ate in mostly silence. Sir Okina or Hiko or the two other males of the Oniwabanshuu would step in for the defense of males when the girls joked about how rude or useless they were. To Alexia, it seemed like a new family that she could learn to love and protect. A family that would always be there. True only a day or so had passed but that's how welcoming this small group of people were. And then it hit her. She had heard all this talk about her leaving to Tokyo but she didn't know why. She saw it was unfit to talk to Aoshi or Hiko about it at the table so she decided to wait until after breakfast and shopping, a small reason for conversation on the long trip ahead.
Misao rushed through the small store, holding onto Alexia's hand and pointing at so many different kimonos that the poor English girl couldn't keep up. Sir Okina followed, smiling at the two young girls and thinking about the trip Aoshi, Hiko and Alexia had after lunch.
He had observed Aoshi and Alexia last night. He had watched as Aoshi unknowingly let his stone-like-guard down and let emotions take part in his actions of sympathy for the girl. The last time Aoshi had shown emotion was when he was 15 years old and had been given the title of Leader. This girl had only been here for about a day and she was already changing everyone, like an angel who had fallen from heaven, using her bright light to cast away the darkness even though sadness was all she felt.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Misao pulled gently on his shelve, pointing at Alexia who held a deep blue kimono with a large gray crane in the right corner and pink sakura petals falling across it from the right shoulder.
He smiled and nodded, "Please. Pick out all you need. Perhaps a Gi and Hakama and another kimono?" he suggested, picking out a Gi and Hakama for her while she glanced around at the other kimonos. Finally Misao had helped him pick out a black Gi and white Hakama, in which Alexia agreed was just her style. Alexia had found another kimono, black with white outlined flowers across the bottom, while Misao and Sir Okina got her Tabi socks, fighting sandals and kimono sandals. Oh, and not to forget a silver obi for the black kimono and a pink and gray obi for the crane kimono.
After paying, having the kimonos wrapped in brown paper for the trip and the other accessories placed in a bag, and many times of thanking from Alexia, they were off, back to the house for lunch and more packing.
Upon arriving to the house, they met Aoshi and Hiko who were hurriedly packing the three horses for the two-day trip ahead.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright? You're ankles okay for the trip right?" Misao questioned Alexia as the girl placed her ebon cargo pants and dirty green Gi in the pack on the horse's saddle. "I'm fine. Really Misao-san. My ankle is 10 times betters today." Alexia glanced down at her white Hakama and black Gi. This outfit was something she had been use to wearing in her time, after all, she was a 2nd Dan and she did help teach classes, but to wear it in this time just seemed even more right. She smiled lightly as she pressed the outfit to her to make sure it looked okay and neat.
Sighing lightly she felt somewhat... ... naked? With out her Katana she felt no need to wear the outfit of the samurai. That wouldn't do. But were could you find a sword for free? A soft tug on her arm brought her from her thoughts to her wish come true again.
Misao smiled as she placed the Katana in Alexia's hands. Misao wasn't one for swords and she had had this thing for a long time, never using it or touching it. It just sadly sat in her room in the corner waiting for an owner and Alexia was the perfect person to fulfill such a role.
She knew that Alexia was a very skilled swordswoman, but she lacked the sword at the moment.
Alexia's jaw dropped slightly as she starred at the beautiful Katana in her hand. Its ebon sheath so beautiful and shinning in the midday sun light. The leather bond handle new and untouched. "Mis...Misao-san, I can't take this. Its yours." Alexia just barely mumbled as she tried to pull her eyes away from it. "Naw, I'm no good with a sword and besides, you can't keep Hiko-sama out of trouble if you don't have the weapon you have mastered." Misao said before giving the girl a hug and waiting for a reply.
Alexia smiled, beaming brightly upon the girl. Misao was indeed a mysterious girl who was like a younger sister to her. She reminded Alexia of her little sister back in her time. The little sister that had urgered her to go to Japan because fate was calling, the little sister she would never see again.
"No need to cry. Just get yourself fixed up and tell Himura I said hello as well as rooster head and Yahiko-chan and Mrs. Kaoru too." Misao said as Alexia got onto the horse, glancing to Hiko and Aoshi who were already ready to go. The both nodded and Alexia returned the gesture before turning back to Misao.
"Who is 'Rooster head' and Yahiko? Himura? Kaoru?" but before she could get an answer Misao had slapped the horses back leg and the animal was catching up to the two male companions quickly, leaving behind a smiling and waving Oniwabanshuu.
"Please heal him Alexia. Please." Was the last thing Misao said before retreating back inside.
I'm having a bit of a writer's block on what should happen on the trip to Tokyo. Should it pass rather quickly and get straight to her unknowingly meeting up with a member of the Kenshin-shuu or what? Give me some thoughts please. .
B8
Hope you'll enjoyed yet another chapter.
B8