Disclaimer: I do not own RK. It belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, SONY etc...
Loyalty of a Heart
By: Tiian
Chapter 6.
~ Day 8 ~
The clock was slowly ticking over the number eight and it was the only sound in the room. There were five men in the room, but only one of them had his face bare, the others had a cloth wrapped so that they would not be recognised. They were all but one still.
"They're late." Hoji muttered and looked at the clock. It was soon five over eight o'clock and not one had yet returned.
"What happened to the Owl squad?" He asked angrily, but there was a little bit of worry in his voice too. *It is not possible... They couldn't have been beaten... I told them to be alert and cautious!* He thought and anger twisted his face.
Suddenly the door was wrenched open, alerting everyone in the room. "Hoji-sama!" The masked man yelled as he entered the room.
Hoji turned to the door to look at the man standing there. "What is it?"
Then he saw another man entering the room after the masked one. He was bloody and beaten with stearin covering his hands and half of his body. Large nails were impaled through his hands and candles had been tightened to him that way.
Hoji knew him immediately.
"The owls failed?! Impossible!" Hoji couldn't help shouting. The man fell forward and lost his consciousness. It was then that Hoji noticed the writing on his back made by piercing his skin with something sharp.
-You can't beat us with this level of people-
There was no signature, but it was not hard to guess who had done this. Somehow the Oniwabanshu had managed to win and torture the men he had sent. He had no doubts about what had happened to the other people. This man was merely a messenger and thus left alive to tell his tale. The others...
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. While they were not at the level of Juppongatana, they had been very useful. Not that they had known much about anything, but they had been a useful tool anyways. Now he had a hard task of telling this to Shishio ahead of him.
He left the room and walked down the halls heading for Shishio's room. It was better to face this right away. If Shishio found out that he had hidden something like this from him, he would be even less pleased and that was not something Hoji wanted.
He opened the door after knocking so that they knew someone was going to enter the room. The room was largely left undecorated, the bed dominating most of the room. Beside it there was only one table and chairs. Yumi and Soujirou were playing shougi at the table. Shishio himself was sitting on the bed reading some documents.
"We failed the attack at the Aoiya. Not only were we unable to get the information we wanted, but also the Owls were killed except for one that worked as a messenger and returned here. I apologize. I underestimated their strength... As one of the Juppongatana, I will attack them myself---"
"Don't bother, because there are other ways to get the information." Shishio said calmly, his eyes never leaving the papers.
"But--" Hoji started, but stopped as Shishio's gaze fell on him.
"I suggest you don't bother them at the moment, unless you want to die as well." Shishio's voice was deadly serious and Hoji felt a fleeting need to run.
Behind him he heard Soujirou voicing his victory over Yumi, but his attention was too focused on Shishio for him to pay any attention to it. Shishio was probably right. If the Oniwabanshu was this powerful he alone couldn't do a thing.
"By the way..." Shishio started and Hoji found himself straightening as his full attention was on the other man. "Yes?"
Shishio stared at him calmly. "Do you believe in Hell?"
* * * * * * *
Tsunami opened her eyes slowly and took in a deep breath. She rolled over to her other side and yawned. She shut her eyes again, trying to catch sleep again but it seemed determined to evade her. Still, it was nice simply to lie down and stay relaxed. She smiled and snuggled deeper inside her covers.
"How long do you plan to stay asleep?"
Her eyes shot open and she sat up alerted by the voice. She hadn't sensed a thing and now someone was this close to her! Her hand quickly reached out and grasped the kunai hidden underneath her pillow while her eyes searched out the unknown person only to find her father standing at her door.
Her heart was racing in her chest, but now slowly returning to its normal pace. Her hold of the weapon loosened and she breathed out.
"You scared me." She said and placed the kunai back to its original place.
Ryoushin merely smiled and walked to sit on her bed with quiet steps. "A little scare now and then is only good for you. Keeps you alert."
Tsunami gave him a little smile. "I guess so, but..." She hit his arm with a little bit of her strength. Hard enough for him to feel her annoyance, yet light enough that he knew that she bore no grudge. "I still didn't like it."
Her father only continued smiling. "No one likes to be scared, but at some point everyone of us are afraid." There was a strange feeling mingling with his voice even though his smile remained the same. Tsunami smiled, deciding that perhaps it was better if she didn't ask him about it. About the times when he had been afraid. She was sure there had been times like that. The life of a ninja had been different during the war and before it. The danger had always been lurking in the shadows.
He finally sighed. "There is actually something I wanted to talk about." He said and then he smiled again, but it was not really a pleased or happy smile. "Though I think it is better to say that it is something I do not want to tell you, but you will be wanting to know. And perhaps it is better that you know."
Tsunami looked at him with a wondering look. He rarely approached her like this. "What?"
The smile dropped from his face and the look Tsunami had named his 'business'-look appeared. It was a face he used only when it was a matter of the clan or her safety. The look of her okashira.
"The Aoiya was attacked last night." He simply stated, but it was enough to widen Tsunami's blue eyes.
"What?!" She yelled and moved angrily more up in her bed. "Who?!"
Ryoushin shrugged. "As far as we know it were Shishio's men. There were at least four men attacking. The reason for this sudden action is not known. I think it was a try to get some information, but that is only my guess. With that kind of force there was no way they could have pulled off an assassination. Even they should know that much."
"Was anyone hurt?" She asked with a little bit of worry.
Ryoushin's lips were twitching as he was tempted to smile. She could be so obvious at times. "Only the attackers. From what was told to me..." He suddenly felt a little hesitation, but brushed it off as soon as it appeared. "I gather that at least three of the attackers were killed."
Tsunami froze, but forced her body to relax. This was predictable. They, as well as she, were ninjas. Killers, though no blood had yet touched her hands.
"Thank you for telling. After this I am sure they will tighten the security and be even more cautious and alert in case something strange happens. Or people they don't trust suddenly appear before them." She smiled, fighting the sense of alert that was inside of her. This would complicate things considerably.
Tsunami sighed and returned to her laying position. "Perhaps it is better for me to stay away from there for a while. I don't think they really trust me." She pouted a little.
Ryoushin nodded. "Just my thought."
Tsunami smiled. "So that is why you told me that."
Ryoushin laughed a little and Tsunami joined him. He rose from the bed. "I will now return to the business. Take good care of yourself and remember." He laid his hand upon her head and smiled gently. "Your safety is the most important thing to me. You are my precious daughter."
Tsunami felt her heart melt as her feelings of love and adoration attacked her in their full power. She smiled gently. "I love you, father." She said and he ruffled her hair a little. "And I love you."
He turned and walked to the door. "Try to get up some time today." He said with a smile and left the room. Tsunami laughed a little and snuggled back into her bedding.
Then she sighed.
There was no way she would be able to return to that comfortable way of being with the knowledge she had now.
The fact that people were killed didn't really bother her since she had been taught the way of the ninja since she was little. What bothered her that the people she had met at the Aoiya had done this. Although she knew they were ninja and had all probably killed before, the thought bothered her somehow. It was different to know and then to come to face the fact.
She closed her eyes and rolled over.
Her father had never allowed her to go on missions, since she was all he had left of his first wife, the woman she thought as her 'mother' even though she didn't even remember her. But Tsunami knew that his wife had been very, very important to him.
He rarely spoke of her, but when he did, there was tenderness in his voice she never heard otherwise. There was tenderness when he spoke to her as well, but it was different. He also loved his second wife and two sons, but Tsunami knew that Saikoubi remained as his one and true love. Love that would have lasted a lifetime given the chance.
She had seen the pictures of her too. There were few paintings Ryoushin had had made before she had died and he had shown them to her. She had been a beautiful woman. It was sad to think that someone had been able to kill something so beautiful.
While she in her mind thought Saikoubi as her mother, Shinchou was the one she called mother. She was the one that had raised her along with Ryoushin. But no matter what, Shichou had never really seen her as her daughter and Tsunami had known it all along. To her Chounan and Nozomi were more important.
But it wasn't so with her father. He held her as his perhaps the most precious family member and she had always known that. That was one of the reasons Shinchou had always been a little distant.
But now she had other things to think about, another interruption in her game.
If the people at the Aoiya were alert there was no way she would be able to gain their trust, not to mention Aoshi's. They would all be waiting for a new attack and it was never wise to approach people who thought of everyone as their enemy.
There was another reason as well.
If she would show herself at the Aoiya too often, soon she would have Shishio's men on her tails as well and that would lead them here. Now that was something she didn't want to cause. Her father had been adamant on them remaining impartial during all this.
It was really sad that she had chosen this time as her playtime, but she had not known about all this at the time. Shishio Makoto had really ruined her game, nothing was predictable anymore. Not even her own moves.
* * * * * * *
The walk down the mountain was quiet as both Kaoru and Yahiko were deep in their thoughts. They had found Kenshin now and knew what he was doing and where he was. But they hadn't had the time to talk about anything much. Now Kenshin would be training, returning only when he was ready. But were would he return to? Where was he staying?
Karen had told them about the Aoiya and that Kenshin had been staying there. Would he return there after he was finished? Were should they wait for him? There were many questions bothering Kaoru.
"Yahiko." Kaoru said finally breaking the silence.
"What?"
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "What do you think we should do now? It will take time before Kenshin to finishes his training and returns."
Yahiko was quiet for a moment, pondering about the matter. "What do you think?" He then said.
Kaoru sighed. "We didn't really get to talk to him, but he seemed to be staying at the inn we were at earlier, the Aoiya. Since we didn't get the change to tell him about Tae-san's sister, I think he will first go to the Aoiya."
Yahiko nodded. "Then perhaps since it is an inn, we should stay there. Do we have enough money?" He asked, fully well knowing that they were not rich. Sae-san was giving them a free stay in return for their help at the restaurant, but the Aoiya was an inn. They could not expect any favours from them.
Kaoru shrugged. "That depends on how much the rooms are there. We have some, but we have to return to Tokyo at some point so we must save money till then. I think we could at least ask them how much one room is."
Yahiko nodded. "Let's do so then."
And that was the end of the conversation. They walked trough the waking town towards the inn they had been at earlier. Both were tired and Kaoru yawned multiple times during the walk. The sun had risen already a while ago, but not too many were out. Some early sellers were already shouting their offers.
They walked pretty much straight to the Aoiya, getting confused by the streets only once. When they neared the place, they could see a woman sweeping the dust from the door. As they got closer, they could see that it was the same woman that had welcomed them yesterday when they had been asking about Kenshin. She had tried to hide the fact that he had been there before the older man had come.
"Good morning!" Kaoru said smiling cheerfully at the woman. She stopped her sweeping and smiled back with a small nod of her head.
"Good morning." Okon said. "Since you are smiling so brightly you must have found him." Her voice was a little bit teasing and Kaoru blushed a little, but her smile didn't waver one bit. She then bowed. "It is all thanks to you."
Okon shook her head. "Don't thank me, thank Okina."
Kaoru nodded. "That's right. Is he awake?"
Okon nodded. "Follow me." She said and left the broom leaning against the wall.
Again they entered the place. Now they had the first good look at the place. It was large, but very comfortable. More like a home than an inn. The floor was wooden and there was a space for people to eat at her right. There were also stairs to the next floor.
Okon led them trough the first room and straight to the stairs. The followed her without words, nodding to the other people they saw. From their clothes they could guess that they were the other workers they hadn't seen before.
The next floor was actually a long corridor with rooms left and right. From the lack of sounds, they could tell that either the customers were sleeping or there were none. Okon lead them into the end of the corridor, before she stopped to knock one of the doors.
There was a call from the inside and so Okon opened the door.
Kaoru and Yahiko followed inside and then came to a sudden stop as they saw not only the older man from yesterday, but also a young, tall man. He was staring them with cold eyes that did not welcome them or the interruption they were. Both him and Okina were sitting on pillows and were holding teacups in their hands.
"Ah, visitors! I think I remember you!" Okina said cheerfully and put his cup down. He then rose to greet them.
Kaoru bowed deep and Yahiko followed her example. "We wanted to thank you for your help yesterday."
Okina laughed. "Think nothing of it! Oh, I don't think you have met before." He said and turned to the other man. At some point he had risen as well and now they could see that he was incredibly tall man. Taller than Sanosuke they would bet. He was handsome, but Kaoru couldn't help but feel cold as those eyes stared at her. So cold and very uncomfortable.
"Aoshi, these are Kamiya Kaoru and Myojin Yahiko. The ones that came asking for Himura yesterday." Okina said cheerfully. The expression on the other man's face didn't change in the least.
"This is Shinomori Aoshi." Okina said pointing at the tall man.
Kaoru bowed again. "Pleased to meet you." She said, but the man didn't move or answer to her. Kaoru was beginning to get nervous and she could see that Yahiko was feeling the same.
Then the man suddenly spoke and his voice was so neutral that it sounded unreal. "Was that all?" It most definitely wasn't an invitation to stay. He seemed to want them out.
Kaoru pulled herself tall, as tall as she could, and smiled. "Actually there was something else as well."
The man didn't react at all, but now every pair of eyes was on her. Okina was looking a little bit encouraging as if urging her to talk.
"I was wondering what a room here would cost." She said and was startled to see a reaction from the tall man instead of the older man she had presented her question to.
"We are not open." He said and his eyes sharpened a little.
At this Okina laughed. How he could Kaoru couldn't understand. Especially after Aoshi turned his cold eyes on the other man.
"Now, now Aoshi. They are Himura's friends." Okina said with small but genuine smile.
"All the more reason." Aoshi muttered under his breath, but Okina's eyes sharpened.
"Aoshi." There was a warning tone in his voice. "If they wish to stay, they can stay here. I am sure they already know what is happening. Also as they are Himura's friends, they could be in danger. It is better if they are here."
Aoshi didn't say a word, but Okina didn't expect to hear any. He turned to Kaoru with a smile. "Of course you can stay here. Also, since you are Himura's friends, we won't take any kind of payment. What Himura is doing is enough."
Kaoru blinked, her eyes travelling from Aoshi's passive face to Okina's cheerful one. Obviously these were not normal people and even more obviously their opinion of Kenshin was very different. *"What Himura is doing is enough." Okina said. So they probably know everything that is going on. That means---* Her eyes stopped at Aoshi. *--that he is probably one the fighters the government has asked to fight Shishio.*
As she turned her eyes back on Okina, she noticed an expectant look on his face. There was a slight blush on her cheeks as she answered. "Thank you very much. We will get our things from our previous place and then return here."
She smiled and Okina laughed. "Good, good! I will accompany you. Kyoto is dangerous these days."
"Thank you." Kaoru said and they left to get their few possessions from the Shirobeko.
* * * * * * *
"I thank you for coming. I got worried when you didn't arrive when expected." The male voice echoed in the stairs as two pair of feet walked down the circular staircase.
"I ran into some unforeseen business." Another voice said just as they reached the door. The hinges made a small sound as the door was pushed open and then Saitou Hajime stepped trough the doorway to the jail-part of the Kyoto Police Headquarters.
"Where is the Shishio's man that was recently arrested?" He asked as his eyes took in everything on the room. The numerous jail-door and the stench of unwashed humans. There really wasn't anything much.
"He is at the end of the corridor." The police chief told him and Saitou set out to walk to the metal-door he could see straight ahead of him. Then he felt a tug in his sleeve and stopped.
"But before you go I have something to ask of you."
Saitou turned his attention on the man beside him.
"We arrested a man who was fighting downtown a week ago, but now he won't leave! Please, could you do something about it?" The chief explained and then third voice sounded in the corridor.
"Heh heh. Just as I expected!" The voice sounded triumphant.
Saitou turned around to look at the man in the cell behind him and wanted to sigh.
"Instead of blindly looking for Kenshin, I had myself arrested by the police in order to find you. This was the quickest and surest way to find Kenshin." The voice was filled with mirth.
"You again!" Saitou said, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, yeah! Sagara Sanosuke has arrived in Kyoto!"
* * * * * * *
Author:
There is something that has begun to bother me. Hoji (or Houji if you want) never fought during the series, but he WAS one of the Juppongatana and they all fight (count out Yumi). He suggested to Shishio that he would go to the Aoiya after the Owls failed. Then after the great Kyoto fire (failed) he would have fought if his hands were not in the shape they were. So basically, he is a fighter. But how, with what weapon?
Never mind. This is just something I have been wondering about.
Timing this chapter was really hard. I mean I had to check the manga many times over. I made the presumption that Kaoru and Yahiko are back from the mountain this day's morning since this is the day Misao returns and sees the end of Aoshi/Okina battle.
The end bit about Sanosuke and Saitou was merely so that people would be able to understand what is happening elsewhere. And because this was turning out to be a short chapter. ^^'
Now to the reviews.
JadeGoddess: If you read this again, you will notice that I have not once mentioned the name of the clan Tsunami belongs to. That is because I only recently decided it. It will be mentioned in the future, but I can tell at this point that it is a real clan, one of the oldest there is.
(And no. The clan isn't Ichikami-clan.)
Shiranai Seito: Thank you.
SoT'n'Kenshin: I am trying to avoid moving too fast. Was this update soon enough? Couldn't get ready sooner...
Lali: I think I sent you the answer in mail already. WoI3 comes when it is ready.
Loyalty of a Heart
By: Tiian
Chapter 6.
~ Day 8 ~
The clock was slowly ticking over the number eight and it was the only sound in the room. There were five men in the room, but only one of them had his face bare, the others had a cloth wrapped so that they would not be recognised. They were all but one still.
"They're late." Hoji muttered and looked at the clock. It was soon five over eight o'clock and not one had yet returned.
"What happened to the Owl squad?" He asked angrily, but there was a little bit of worry in his voice too. *It is not possible... They couldn't have been beaten... I told them to be alert and cautious!* He thought and anger twisted his face.
Suddenly the door was wrenched open, alerting everyone in the room. "Hoji-sama!" The masked man yelled as he entered the room.
Hoji turned to the door to look at the man standing there. "What is it?"
Then he saw another man entering the room after the masked one. He was bloody and beaten with stearin covering his hands and half of his body. Large nails were impaled through his hands and candles had been tightened to him that way.
Hoji knew him immediately.
"The owls failed?! Impossible!" Hoji couldn't help shouting. The man fell forward and lost his consciousness. It was then that Hoji noticed the writing on his back made by piercing his skin with something sharp.
-You can't beat us with this level of people-
There was no signature, but it was not hard to guess who had done this. Somehow the Oniwabanshu had managed to win and torture the men he had sent. He had no doubts about what had happened to the other people. This man was merely a messenger and thus left alive to tell his tale. The others...
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. While they were not at the level of Juppongatana, they had been very useful. Not that they had known much about anything, but they had been a useful tool anyways. Now he had a hard task of telling this to Shishio ahead of him.
He left the room and walked down the halls heading for Shishio's room. It was better to face this right away. If Shishio found out that he had hidden something like this from him, he would be even less pleased and that was not something Hoji wanted.
He opened the door after knocking so that they knew someone was going to enter the room. The room was largely left undecorated, the bed dominating most of the room. Beside it there was only one table and chairs. Yumi and Soujirou were playing shougi at the table. Shishio himself was sitting on the bed reading some documents.
"We failed the attack at the Aoiya. Not only were we unable to get the information we wanted, but also the Owls were killed except for one that worked as a messenger and returned here. I apologize. I underestimated their strength... As one of the Juppongatana, I will attack them myself---"
"Don't bother, because there are other ways to get the information." Shishio said calmly, his eyes never leaving the papers.
"But--" Hoji started, but stopped as Shishio's gaze fell on him.
"I suggest you don't bother them at the moment, unless you want to die as well." Shishio's voice was deadly serious and Hoji felt a fleeting need to run.
Behind him he heard Soujirou voicing his victory over Yumi, but his attention was too focused on Shishio for him to pay any attention to it. Shishio was probably right. If the Oniwabanshu was this powerful he alone couldn't do a thing.
"By the way..." Shishio started and Hoji found himself straightening as his full attention was on the other man. "Yes?"
Shishio stared at him calmly. "Do you believe in Hell?"
* * * * * * *
Tsunami opened her eyes slowly and took in a deep breath. She rolled over to her other side and yawned. She shut her eyes again, trying to catch sleep again but it seemed determined to evade her. Still, it was nice simply to lie down and stay relaxed. She smiled and snuggled deeper inside her covers.
"How long do you plan to stay asleep?"
Her eyes shot open and she sat up alerted by the voice. She hadn't sensed a thing and now someone was this close to her! Her hand quickly reached out and grasped the kunai hidden underneath her pillow while her eyes searched out the unknown person only to find her father standing at her door.
Her heart was racing in her chest, but now slowly returning to its normal pace. Her hold of the weapon loosened and she breathed out.
"You scared me." She said and placed the kunai back to its original place.
Ryoushin merely smiled and walked to sit on her bed with quiet steps. "A little scare now and then is only good for you. Keeps you alert."
Tsunami gave him a little smile. "I guess so, but..." She hit his arm with a little bit of her strength. Hard enough for him to feel her annoyance, yet light enough that he knew that she bore no grudge. "I still didn't like it."
Her father only continued smiling. "No one likes to be scared, but at some point everyone of us are afraid." There was a strange feeling mingling with his voice even though his smile remained the same. Tsunami smiled, deciding that perhaps it was better if she didn't ask him about it. About the times when he had been afraid. She was sure there had been times like that. The life of a ninja had been different during the war and before it. The danger had always been lurking in the shadows.
He finally sighed. "There is actually something I wanted to talk about." He said and then he smiled again, but it was not really a pleased or happy smile. "Though I think it is better to say that it is something I do not want to tell you, but you will be wanting to know. And perhaps it is better that you know."
Tsunami looked at him with a wondering look. He rarely approached her like this. "What?"
The smile dropped from his face and the look Tsunami had named his 'business'-look appeared. It was a face he used only when it was a matter of the clan or her safety. The look of her okashira.
"The Aoiya was attacked last night." He simply stated, but it was enough to widen Tsunami's blue eyes.
"What?!" She yelled and moved angrily more up in her bed. "Who?!"
Ryoushin shrugged. "As far as we know it were Shishio's men. There were at least four men attacking. The reason for this sudden action is not known. I think it was a try to get some information, but that is only my guess. With that kind of force there was no way they could have pulled off an assassination. Even they should know that much."
"Was anyone hurt?" She asked with a little bit of worry.
Ryoushin's lips were twitching as he was tempted to smile. She could be so obvious at times. "Only the attackers. From what was told to me..." He suddenly felt a little hesitation, but brushed it off as soon as it appeared. "I gather that at least three of the attackers were killed."
Tsunami froze, but forced her body to relax. This was predictable. They, as well as she, were ninjas. Killers, though no blood had yet touched her hands.
"Thank you for telling. After this I am sure they will tighten the security and be even more cautious and alert in case something strange happens. Or people they don't trust suddenly appear before them." She smiled, fighting the sense of alert that was inside of her. This would complicate things considerably.
Tsunami sighed and returned to her laying position. "Perhaps it is better for me to stay away from there for a while. I don't think they really trust me." She pouted a little.
Ryoushin nodded. "Just my thought."
Tsunami smiled. "So that is why you told me that."
Ryoushin laughed a little and Tsunami joined him. He rose from the bed. "I will now return to the business. Take good care of yourself and remember." He laid his hand upon her head and smiled gently. "Your safety is the most important thing to me. You are my precious daughter."
Tsunami felt her heart melt as her feelings of love and adoration attacked her in their full power. She smiled gently. "I love you, father." She said and he ruffled her hair a little. "And I love you."
He turned and walked to the door. "Try to get up some time today." He said with a smile and left the room. Tsunami laughed a little and snuggled back into her bedding.
Then she sighed.
There was no way she would be able to return to that comfortable way of being with the knowledge she had now.
The fact that people were killed didn't really bother her since she had been taught the way of the ninja since she was little. What bothered her that the people she had met at the Aoiya had done this. Although she knew they were ninja and had all probably killed before, the thought bothered her somehow. It was different to know and then to come to face the fact.
She closed her eyes and rolled over.
Her father had never allowed her to go on missions, since she was all he had left of his first wife, the woman she thought as her 'mother' even though she didn't even remember her. But Tsunami knew that his wife had been very, very important to him.
He rarely spoke of her, but when he did, there was tenderness in his voice she never heard otherwise. There was tenderness when he spoke to her as well, but it was different. He also loved his second wife and two sons, but Tsunami knew that Saikoubi remained as his one and true love. Love that would have lasted a lifetime given the chance.
She had seen the pictures of her too. There were few paintings Ryoushin had had made before she had died and he had shown them to her. She had been a beautiful woman. It was sad to think that someone had been able to kill something so beautiful.
While she in her mind thought Saikoubi as her mother, Shinchou was the one she called mother. She was the one that had raised her along with Ryoushin. But no matter what, Shichou had never really seen her as her daughter and Tsunami had known it all along. To her Chounan and Nozomi were more important.
But it wasn't so with her father. He held her as his perhaps the most precious family member and she had always known that. That was one of the reasons Shinchou had always been a little distant.
But now she had other things to think about, another interruption in her game.
If the people at the Aoiya were alert there was no way she would be able to gain their trust, not to mention Aoshi's. They would all be waiting for a new attack and it was never wise to approach people who thought of everyone as their enemy.
There was another reason as well.
If she would show herself at the Aoiya too often, soon she would have Shishio's men on her tails as well and that would lead them here. Now that was something she didn't want to cause. Her father had been adamant on them remaining impartial during all this.
It was really sad that she had chosen this time as her playtime, but she had not known about all this at the time. Shishio Makoto had really ruined her game, nothing was predictable anymore. Not even her own moves.
* * * * * * *
The walk down the mountain was quiet as both Kaoru and Yahiko were deep in their thoughts. They had found Kenshin now and knew what he was doing and where he was. But they hadn't had the time to talk about anything much. Now Kenshin would be training, returning only when he was ready. But were would he return to? Where was he staying?
Karen had told them about the Aoiya and that Kenshin had been staying there. Would he return there after he was finished? Were should they wait for him? There were many questions bothering Kaoru.
"Yahiko." Kaoru said finally breaking the silence.
"What?"
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "What do you think we should do now? It will take time before Kenshin to finishes his training and returns."
Yahiko was quiet for a moment, pondering about the matter. "What do you think?" He then said.
Kaoru sighed. "We didn't really get to talk to him, but he seemed to be staying at the inn we were at earlier, the Aoiya. Since we didn't get the change to tell him about Tae-san's sister, I think he will first go to the Aoiya."
Yahiko nodded. "Then perhaps since it is an inn, we should stay there. Do we have enough money?" He asked, fully well knowing that they were not rich. Sae-san was giving them a free stay in return for their help at the restaurant, but the Aoiya was an inn. They could not expect any favours from them.
Kaoru shrugged. "That depends on how much the rooms are there. We have some, but we have to return to Tokyo at some point so we must save money till then. I think we could at least ask them how much one room is."
Yahiko nodded. "Let's do so then."
And that was the end of the conversation. They walked trough the waking town towards the inn they had been at earlier. Both were tired and Kaoru yawned multiple times during the walk. The sun had risen already a while ago, but not too many were out. Some early sellers were already shouting their offers.
They walked pretty much straight to the Aoiya, getting confused by the streets only once. When they neared the place, they could see a woman sweeping the dust from the door. As they got closer, they could see that it was the same woman that had welcomed them yesterday when they had been asking about Kenshin. She had tried to hide the fact that he had been there before the older man had come.
"Good morning!" Kaoru said smiling cheerfully at the woman. She stopped her sweeping and smiled back with a small nod of her head.
"Good morning." Okon said. "Since you are smiling so brightly you must have found him." Her voice was a little bit teasing and Kaoru blushed a little, but her smile didn't waver one bit. She then bowed. "It is all thanks to you."
Okon shook her head. "Don't thank me, thank Okina."
Kaoru nodded. "That's right. Is he awake?"
Okon nodded. "Follow me." She said and left the broom leaning against the wall.
Again they entered the place. Now they had the first good look at the place. It was large, but very comfortable. More like a home than an inn. The floor was wooden and there was a space for people to eat at her right. There were also stairs to the next floor.
Okon led them trough the first room and straight to the stairs. The followed her without words, nodding to the other people they saw. From their clothes they could guess that they were the other workers they hadn't seen before.
The next floor was actually a long corridor with rooms left and right. From the lack of sounds, they could tell that either the customers were sleeping or there were none. Okon lead them into the end of the corridor, before she stopped to knock one of the doors.
There was a call from the inside and so Okon opened the door.
Kaoru and Yahiko followed inside and then came to a sudden stop as they saw not only the older man from yesterday, but also a young, tall man. He was staring them with cold eyes that did not welcome them or the interruption they were. Both him and Okina were sitting on pillows and were holding teacups in their hands.
"Ah, visitors! I think I remember you!" Okina said cheerfully and put his cup down. He then rose to greet them.
Kaoru bowed deep and Yahiko followed her example. "We wanted to thank you for your help yesterday."
Okina laughed. "Think nothing of it! Oh, I don't think you have met before." He said and turned to the other man. At some point he had risen as well and now they could see that he was incredibly tall man. Taller than Sanosuke they would bet. He was handsome, but Kaoru couldn't help but feel cold as those eyes stared at her. So cold and very uncomfortable.
"Aoshi, these are Kamiya Kaoru and Myojin Yahiko. The ones that came asking for Himura yesterday." Okina said cheerfully. The expression on the other man's face didn't change in the least.
"This is Shinomori Aoshi." Okina said pointing at the tall man.
Kaoru bowed again. "Pleased to meet you." She said, but the man didn't move or answer to her. Kaoru was beginning to get nervous and she could see that Yahiko was feeling the same.
Then the man suddenly spoke and his voice was so neutral that it sounded unreal. "Was that all?" It most definitely wasn't an invitation to stay. He seemed to want them out.
Kaoru pulled herself tall, as tall as she could, and smiled. "Actually there was something else as well."
The man didn't react at all, but now every pair of eyes was on her. Okina was looking a little bit encouraging as if urging her to talk.
"I was wondering what a room here would cost." She said and was startled to see a reaction from the tall man instead of the older man she had presented her question to.
"We are not open." He said and his eyes sharpened a little.
At this Okina laughed. How he could Kaoru couldn't understand. Especially after Aoshi turned his cold eyes on the other man.
"Now, now Aoshi. They are Himura's friends." Okina said with small but genuine smile.
"All the more reason." Aoshi muttered under his breath, but Okina's eyes sharpened.
"Aoshi." There was a warning tone in his voice. "If they wish to stay, they can stay here. I am sure they already know what is happening. Also as they are Himura's friends, they could be in danger. It is better if they are here."
Aoshi didn't say a word, but Okina didn't expect to hear any. He turned to Kaoru with a smile. "Of course you can stay here. Also, since you are Himura's friends, we won't take any kind of payment. What Himura is doing is enough."
Kaoru blinked, her eyes travelling from Aoshi's passive face to Okina's cheerful one. Obviously these were not normal people and even more obviously their opinion of Kenshin was very different. *"What Himura is doing is enough." Okina said. So they probably know everything that is going on. That means---* Her eyes stopped at Aoshi. *--that he is probably one the fighters the government has asked to fight Shishio.*
As she turned her eyes back on Okina, she noticed an expectant look on his face. There was a slight blush on her cheeks as she answered. "Thank you very much. We will get our things from our previous place and then return here."
She smiled and Okina laughed. "Good, good! I will accompany you. Kyoto is dangerous these days."
"Thank you." Kaoru said and they left to get their few possessions from the Shirobeko.
* * * * * * *
"I thank you for coming. I got worried when you didn't arrive when expected." The male voice echoed in the stairs as two pair of feet walked down the circular staircase.
"I ran into some unforeseen business." Another voice said just as they reached the door. The hinges made a small sound as the door was pushed open and then Saitou Hajime stepped trough the doorway to the jail-part of the Kyoto Police Headquarters.
"Where is the Shishio's man that was recently arrested?" He asked as his eyes took in everything on the room. The numerous jail-door and the stench of unwashed humans. There really wasn't anything much.
"He is at the end of the corridor." The police chief told him and Saitou set out to walk to the metal-door he could see straight ahead of him. Then he felt a tug in his sleeve and stopped.
"But before you go I have something to ask of you."
Saitou turned his attention on the man beside him.
"We arrested a man who was fighting downtown a week ago, but now he won't leave! Please, could you do something about it?" The chief explained and then third voice sounded in the corridor.
"Heh heh. Just as I expected!" The voice sounded triumphant.
Saitou turned around to look at the man in the cell behind him and wanted to sigh.
"Instead of blindly looking for Kenshin, I had myself arrested by the police in order to find you. This was the quickest and surest way to find Kenshin." The voice was filled with mirth.
"You again!" Saitou said, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, yeah! Sagara Sanosuke has arrived in Kyoto!"
* * * * * * *
Author:
There is something that has begun to bother me. Hoji (or Houji if you want) never fought during the series, but he WAS one of the Juppongatana and they all fight (count out Yumi). He suggested to Shishio that he would go to the Aoiya after the Owls failed. Then after the great Kyoto fire (failed) he would have fought if his hands were not in the shape they were. So basically, he is a fighter. But how, with what weapon?
Never mind. This is just something I have been wondering about.
Timing this chapter was really hard. I mean I had to check the manga many times over. I made the presumption that Kaoru and Yahiko are back from the mountain this day's morning since this is the day Misao returns and sees the end of Aoshi/Okina battle.
The end bit about Sanosuke and Saitou was merely so that people would be able to understand what is happening elsewhere. And because this was turning out to be a short chapter. ^^'
Now to the reviews.
JadeGoddess: If you read this again, you will notice that I have not once mentioned the name of the clan Tsunami belongs to. That is because I only recently decided it. It will be mentioned in the future, but I can tell at this point that it is a real clan, one of the oldest there is.
(And no. The clan isn't Ichikami-clan.)
Shiranai Seito: Thank you.
SoT'n'Kenshin: I am trying to avoid moving too fast. Was this update soon enough? Couldn't get ready sooner...
Lali: I think I sent you the answer in mail already. WoI3 comes when it is ready.