Disclaimer: I do not own RK. It belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, SONY etc...
Loyalty of a Heart
By: Tiian
Author:
Again there is a huge skip in time caused by the fact that in manga too these days (9-14) were ignored. I have no intentions of trying to make up something for them to do. This is far easier.
Chapter 7.
~ Day 15 ~
The days had passed slowly after Ryoushin had told her to stay home, away from the Aoiya. After suffering few days of boredom, she had decided that considering all that was going on, it would do only good to train. And train she had, waking early and doing all sorts of practises all day long.
It had also helped her to escape from the draining thoughts she kept having. She knew that father had noticed and worried about her. Very little escaped his trained eyes. He had tried to get her to talk, but for the first time in her life, she didn't tell him. She wasn't really worried about him being angry or disappointed. She just felt that she didn't want to tell him.
She didn't really know what was happening to her and so she didn't know how to tell him. These new feelings she kept having were distracting at the best.
She sighed and rubbed the last drops of water from her long hair. The bath had done her good and now she was feeling quite good. She had agreed to go to the town with her mother for once. Actually her father had told her to go, because the times were dangerous and while they had their guards, he would feel better if she went too. She walked to her bed and sighed at the sight of the clothes Shinchou had picked for her.
The kimono on the bed was one of the most expensive ones she had. It was also impossible to do anything in that kind of clothing. If her father expected her to protect Shinchou and the kids, he should have told Shinchou to pick her different clothes.
The sudden sound from the door alerted her instantly and she turned to watch. The door opened up to reveal Shinchou's smiling face. "Karen. I thought I would come and help you get dressed."
Tsunami smiled back and bowed her head a little. "Thank you."
Shinchou was a beautiful woman, everyone could tell that with a mere glance at her. When Tsunami looked at her, she couldn't help but wonder if her father had picked her because she resembled Saikoubi. Green eyes and black hair, petite body though Saikoubi's had been stronger. Both very beautiful women on the outside, and very different from the inside. Not that she could judge since she had no memories of Saikoubi, but her father had told her enough for her to form her opinions.
Again as she looked Shinchou in the eyes, she couldn't help but feel like an outsider. It was always like this with her. Chounan was old enough to mimic his mother and the look in his eyes was the same even though he called her his sister. Nozomi was still too little, but Tsunami knew he would end up looking at her the same way, like she was a friend, not a family member. She had learned to accept it, as she had accepted many things in the past. This was not her family, but the father of this family was her father too. And the only person to love her with all his heart was he.
Shinchou spoke to her friendly while helping her getting dressed, but every word she said was almost immediately forgotten. They flowed inside and outside her brains and she didn't bother to make an effort to remember.
"All done!" Shinchou said with satisfaction as the last fold was neatly twisted in her hands. She smiled at Tsunami and she forced her lips to curve a little.
"Now all you need is a little bit of makeup."
Tsunami sighed and was about to sit down when Shinchou yelped. "No! You can't sit, you will ruin my work!" The frustration in her voice was clear and this time Tsunami almost smirked out of mirth. Shinchou was so exact when it came to clothes and makeup.
Sighing Tsunami stood and allowed her 'mother' to apply some makeup on her skin. She didn't really care for such useless decorations, but had learned not to complain. Fighting with Shinchou never ended well, no matter how much father tried to support her. She also had a tendency to bear grudges.
"All right, now the hair." Shinchou said and was already releasing her long black hair from a braid when Tsunami noticed. She looked at Shinchou annoyance ruling her face. "I want it braided." She said and Shinchou looked at her surprised at her sudden founding of voice. Then she smiled and finished her work. Her hair was now free and it fell far past her back trying to reach her legs.
"As you wish." Shinchou said and braided her hair after combing it clear of all tangles. But instead of braiding it like Tsunami always did, Shinchou added few ribbons inside the braid. Tsunami sighed, but didn't say anything. It was just like Shinchou to agree to something and then do it on her own way, no matter what anyone else wanted.
"Now we are all done." Shinchou said with a smile of satisfaction.
Sometimes she wondered if Saikoubi had been just as much like Shinchou in manners as in looks. Some said yes and some had said no. She never asked her father more than he had already told. The matter didn't interest her enough to find out and she knew her father would be saddened my having to remember his love.
"I am going to get ready now." Shinchou said and walked to the door with a smile. Then she stopped to raise a finger at Tsunami as a warning gesture. "You better not mess my work." And she was gone.
Tsunami sighed.
* * * * * * *
"That was a long time ago..." Hiko said ending his recollection of the past, the day he had met his stupid pupil in the field of red blood and cold air of the night. It indeed was a long ago. At the time he had had no idea what kind of stupid pupil he had chosen.
"Oi! How long are you gonna sleep?" He asked annoyed. Kenshin was lying on the ground breathing heavily, just as he had for the past ten minutes. This was getting really annoying. "You have rested enough, wake up!" He yelled, but Kenshin didn't move an inch expect for the breathing.
Then a thought struck him and he almost smiled.
"Well, if you're not going to wake up, then I guess I'll have to keep thinking of old times. Like the last time you wet your bed, the autumn you were seven."
Kenshin sat up immediately.
"Or the time you were so hungry you ate those toadstools and almost died..."
"Master!" Kenshin yelled, his face red with embarrassment and annoyance. "Bringing up all those shameful things I'd forgotten! You must be pure evil." Kenshin said with conviction.
"What are you talking about? I have been training a whole week with my stupid pupil who left me after a fight. You couldn't ask for a better master!" Hiko said with a smile. At least he had gotten his student to stop sleeping or pretending to sleep.
Then he sighed. "This is getting redundant." He lifted his katana and took a good hold of it. "If you are unable to get a hit next time around, I will not teach you the techniques."
Kenshin was suddenly very wake and ready, staring at him with sharp eyes.
"The thirteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurugi school, Hiko Seijurou. He is sneaky, he hates people and as someone who knows my past, he is a million times nastier than Saitou." Kenshin said out loud voicing his thoughts and Hiko felt his anger gathering.
"Even if you think things like that you shouldn't say them out loud." He said a bit angrily. His words didn't really bother him, but his lack of tact did. Still, Kenshin's eyes were serious and calculating so he knew that that was not what his stupid pupil was thinking anymore.
"Here I come." Kenshin said.
"Oh." The sound had barely left his mouth as he noticed that Kenshin had jumped. It was to be expected and so Hiko jumped straight after him. Seeing his pupil getting ready to attack, he knew immediately what was coming. After all he had thought the boy everything he knew about the art so predicting his moves was easy.
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu - Ryuu Tsui Sen had always been one of Kenshin's favourite techniques. Hiko prepared to take the hit with Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu - Ryuu Shou Sen. Their katana's clashed.
* * * * * * *
It was getting hot and no matter what she did, the sweat refused to stay away. Lifting her small handkerchief to her face she tried to sweep it off. Without harming the makeup of course. For the fifteenth time she cursed Shinchou for dressing her up like this when she herself chose much lighter and comfortable clothing.
Nozomi was clinging to Shinchou's arm looking around as if he had never seen anything before. His brown eyes were looking around never paying more attention to one thing than to another. Sometimes he almost left to look at something, but when his hold of Shinchou was gone, he run straight back to her and she smiled at the boy with a smile she never gave to Tsunami.
She didn't really need or want Shinchou's attention, but she couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy at Nozomi for having a caring mother.
Chounan was already old enough the separate from her mother and he stopped often to look at interesting things. Unlike with Nozomi, he was very sure of what he did like and what he didn't. Tsunami soon noticed that taking care of Chounan was her job. The boy was stubborn as hell and when he locked his interest on something, trying to talk him into walking away was pretty much impossible. But Tsunami couldn't help but like the boy.
He wasn't very tall yet, but neither was she. He had his mother's bright green eyes and full lips. But there was nothing womanly on his features. He had his father's nose and shape of face, his straight shiny black hair was long enough to reach just slightly under his ears. There were clear hints of future beauty.
But what Tsunami liked the most about the boy was his stubborn nature. He could be obedient when necessary, but when he decided something he kept to it. For example if he refused to eat something, nothing made him eat it. Shinchou had tried to force him into eating by telling that he wouldn't get anything else to eat. Chounan had merely looked at her and removed himself from the table. He spent the entire day without eating before their father gave him something in the evening. When the same repeated the next day, Shinchou decided that he didn't have to eat it and never offered it again. At the time Tsunami had had a feeling that if their father had told the boy to eat, he would have.
The boy was curious about everything and after getting an answer to one of his questions, he had the next one ready. When there was something he was interested in, he was asking about it all the time and when he didn't get answers, he got frustrated. Because Ryoushin knew much more than Shinchou, Chounan had the habit it following his father rather than his mother.
When Tsunami looked around she saw the boy from her thoughts standing before a small table filled with different jewellery. When she got closer, she noticed that some were shaped like knives and throwing weapons. Of course these could do no harm being merely small copies, but she didn't like seeing Chounan near them. He had the habit of talking when he was excited and she worried what might spill out of his mouth.
"Karen oneechan!" The boy yelled and run to her with a bright smile that could challenge the sun. "Come!" He said next and his eyes were practically shining with excitement. Tsunami smiled and allowed Chounan to drag her to the table. She gave a small smile to the young girl sitting on the other side of the table.
"Look, look!" Chounan yelled and pointed at one of the necklaces. Tsunami turned her eyes to the object he was so eager to show her and she was immediately alarmed. The necklace was made of silver or something very much like it. She didn't know who had made it or how and didn't even care. What worried her was the fact that a kunai was used as a model for the jewel. It was well done, she couldn't deny it, but that was exactly what worried her.
"Isn't that---" Chounan continued speaking while his finger clearly pointed at the necklace. The seller was leaning over to see what he was showing and Tsunami picked it up quickly. As the thing Chounan had been looking at was taken away, he immediately stopped talking. Tsunami almost sighed in relief.
"Yes, it is." She gave the boy a smile and he smirked.
"I knew it!" He said with glee and run after his mother, probably to tell her about this. Tsunami laid the jewellery back on the table and smiled trying to look apologetic. "I am sorry for the trouble."
The girl smiled back at her. "Sure. Interested in anything yourself?" She continued.
To be polite Tsunami looked at what the table had to offer before shaking his head. "Not really my style." She said finally and without waiting for an answer she turned and walked after Chounan. He was talking to his mother and they were all waiting for her. Chounan was talking to her and describing the necklace in detail.
When Tsunami was pretty close, Shinchou turned to her. "No problems?" She said with a smile, but Tsunami knew what she meant and shook her head. Shinchou accepted that and turned back to Chounan.
"Hungry?" She asked and Chounan nodded.
"Food." Nozomi said staring at his mother with wide innocent eyes. Tsunami couldn't help, but think that that innocence would disappear much too soon. The life of a ninja was never easy, but it was the life that they would live.
"Then let's go and see the place your father has been talking about." Shinchou said and the boys nodded enthusiastically. Tsunami smiled at this and followed Shinchou again as she led the way. Her eyes were still darting around and looking for any signs of danger. Kyoto had became much more dangerous now that Shishio Makoto was here. She saw a flick of a shadow that disappeared a second later and smiled a little. She wouldn't be alone if there was an attack.
Pretty soon Tsunami noticed something very disturbing. They were headed near the Aoiya. Her father had yet to lift the ban of going close to that place and the closer they got, the more nervous she became.
"Mother." She said and walked to Shinchou's side. The word tasted strange in her mouth, but it was the only word she could use before Nozomi and Chounan.
Shinchou turned her head to her. "Yes?"
"Where are we going?" Tsunami asked trying to hide her concern.
Shinchou smiled. "Ryoushin has been talking about this place so I thought I would try it out."
It was funny how she always called Ryoushin 'father' when she talked to Nozomi and Chounan, but never when she talked to her. It was always Ryoushin as if he wasn't her father too. It always made her angry, though she did understand her possessiveness. On certain level.
"The place serves also as an inn and I believe it is called 'Aoiya'."
Shinchou said it so very carelessly. Tsunami stopped on her tracks as her worst thoughts were realised. Shinchou was taking them to the Aoiya, the enemy's base. She grimaced.
"I don't think that is wise." She said seriously. Shinchou had stopped as well and was now staring at Tsunami with a slightly angered face.
"And why is that?" Shinchou bit out. She hated it when Tsunami tried to tell her not to do something. She had long ago already stated that she would not take orders from her in any form. "We are already almost there."
Tsunami walked to her and whispered very quietly. "That is the base of Oniwabanshu, our enemy. Also, father has clearly told me to stay away from there. Did he tell you to come and eat here? Did he even hint?"
The anger faded from Shinchou's face and it relaxed, but Tsunami didn't have that luxury. Shinchou never listened to her and hardly ever did as she suggested. "Mother." She said quietly, but loud enough for Shinchou to hear her with her normal ears. As she had captured Shinchou's eyes, she directed her look to Nozomi and Chounan. That seemed to be just the thing as worry rose to Shinchou's eyes.
"All right then." She said with reluctance. "I have heard that Shirobeko is a good place too. We will go there then." She said and turned swiftly around. Tsunami could almost sigh in relief as they turned around to head back to the restaurant she had already visited earlier. While she knew that there was some connection to Aoiya there too, she doubted it was a direct one. Besides at the moment almost any place was better than the Aoiya.
Relief and relaxation had already taken over her when she heard something. Someone was calling her name, her normal name. She turned around and while it was none of the Oniwabanshu, it was one of the other people she really didn't want to see.
Kamiya Kaoru.
She was rushing towards them and Tsunami knew she had to act fast. No connection could be allowed between her and her family. She turned to Shinchou and waved her hand as a sign to go. "Go. Now." She mouthed and Shinchou seemed to get the message, even though she clearly wasn't happy about it. She left taking Nozomi and Chounan with her.
Now Kaoru had already reached her and she turned to look at the other woman. She was smiling at her brightly though she seemed a little bit wary. Tsunami smiled at the woman and nodded by bending her neck briefly.
"Karen-san. I thought it was you." Kaoru said and Tsunami nodded again.
"Kamiya Kaoru, right?" It was more like a statement than a question, but Kaoru nodded anyways. "That's me!" She said cheerfully and Tsunami felt her smile growing more genuine.
When Kaoru didn't seem to be continuing, Tsunami thought is better to speak. "Did you have something to say?"
Kaoru laughed a little. "I wanted to thank you for your help." The gratitude was so clear in her eyes that Tsunami felt actually a little bad. Had she ever looked at anyone like that?
"So you were successful?" Tsunami said and trying to convince herself that she didn't really want to speak with the other woman, but was collecting information. Knowing about Battousai might prove out to be useful.
Kaoru nodded. "We found him." The happiness was practically shining in her and Tsunami found herself happy that Kaoru had succeeded. She had never seen anyone who was always so happy and cheerful before and found it infectious. It really bothered her.
Hiding her emotions carefully she nodded. "That is good." She said with a genuine smile of happiness. "Was there something else?" She asked and turned to show that she was leaving if that was it.
Kaoru was hesitating, her inner conflict was easy to see on her face, before she finally seemed to gather enough courage to speak. Still her every move was hesitating. "I was wondering, how did you know who he is?"
Tsunami looked at Kaoru with a wondering face, but inside her mask she stiffened. She knew exactly what Kaoru was hinting at and had absolutely no will to discuss the matter with Kaoru. While it didn't look like she was directly connected to the Oniwabanshu, through Battousai such connection was possible. And so she had to be very careful with her words. While she thought things through her head, Kaoru had continued to explain clearly thinking that she had not understood what Kaoru was after.
"I mean, you knew about his... other name, right?"
Tsunami bit her lip for a second before releasing it after remembering how many times her father and Fumio had warned her about it. She nodded slowly to Kaoru and she seemed happy that her message had reached her.
"How did you know?" Kaoru continued, getting more and more brave by every moment. While Tsunami had no intentions of telling her the truth, she had to say something.
"He is pretty... infamous here in Kyoto. His legend is still very much alive in here and the way you presented him in your picture and text was exactly like in the stories still told. I have heard the stories as well and after a moment could make the connection." She explained.
Kaoru nodded thoughtfully and Tsunami sighed mentally. She had bought it. *Thank Kami-sama.*
"You weren't afraid?" Kaoru said suddenly and Tsunami blinked.
"Afraid? Of what?" She asked not making the connection.
Kaoru seemed surprised. "Of him, of course." She said as if stating the obvious and obvious it had been. Tsunami had the graces to look a little embarrassed. She shook her head.
"No. You see, I didn't make the connection immediately. Besides, when I met him he ripped a sleeve off of my kimono because he stumbled and his stutters didn't really make me frightened." She smiled at the memory. "It really wasn't my impression of the demon I had heard stories about. That impression stuck even after I realised who he was." She shrugged. "Besides I don't believe he is even half as bad as the rumours say."
Somehow her words really seemed to make Kaoru happy. "He will be happy to hear that." Kaoru said and Tsunami almost grimaced before she could stop it. There really was no need for him to hear those words, but she couldn't think of a convincing way to stop her from telling anything to anyone without making her suspicious. So she only nodded.
Kaoru seemed satisfied for she changed the subject. "I thought that perhaps I should offer you something for helping me."
"There is no need, really." She said knowing that there really wasn't anything they could do for her. She had probably more money than the girl before her and she should have realised it too. The way she had been dressed on both events that they had met should have hinted it clearly enough to the other girl.
"No, no. There is. Without you we might never have found him and there is a change that we would have attracted the wrong kind of attention like you said. So, I find it only fitting that we repay you somehow." She was smiling brightly and her voice was filled with determination. Suddenly Tsunami realised that she really didn't have the energy to resist the girl. It would probably be quite a battle to stop her and Tsunami had no intentions of engaging in a verbal battle in the middle of the street with Fumio watching her every move. So that left only one choice.
"As you wish." She sighed then out loud and the other woman clapped her hands. Then she dropped the bomb in her lab.
"Good. Then come to the Aoiya sometime and I will offer you a dinner."
"Sure." Tsunami said, but her thoughts weren't exactly in favour of the idea.
*No way in hell!*
* * * * * * *
Author:
Since finding out what is happening with Kenshin is easy and something that most probably everyone reading this fic has seen already, I prefer to concentrate on Tsunami and Kaoru in this chapter.
You know, I barely made it. This year I have uploaded a new chapter to this fic every month and was afraid that I would fail this time around. Well, I made it! =)
(Honestly, I didn't have any real intentions as I have been working on my new AU and rewriting World Without an Image. And to those of you waiting for World of Images, that is a very good thing.
...I think many will kill me for telling this, but I actually have about 3/4 of ch3 ready. I just can't make myself write the last 1/4...)
And now for the reviews:
JadeGoddess: Thank you for your review! As for your question, I think I only mentioned Misao in my manga-review-thingie. Still, I am not saying it is impossible. ;)
SoT'n'Kenshin: Thank you! This update wasn't just to the level of the previous, but still not too long, eh?
Loyalty of a Heart
By: Tiian
Author:
Again there is a huge skip in time caused by the fact that in manga too these days (9-14) were ignored. I have no intentions of trying to make up something for them to do. This is far easier.
Chapter 7.
~ Day 15 ~
The days had passed slowly after Ryoushin had told her to stay home, away from the Aoiya. After suffering few days of boredom, she had decided that considering all that was going on, it would do only good to train. And train she had, waking early and doing all sorts of practises all day long.
It had also helped her to escape from the draining thoughts she kept having. She knew that father had noticed and worried about her. Very little escaped his trained eyes. He had tried to get her to talk, but for the first time in her life, she didn't tell him. She wasn't really worried about him being angry or disappointed. She just felt that she didn't want to tell him.
She didn't really know what was happening to her and so she didn't know how to tell him. These new feelings she kept having were distracting at the best.
She sighed and rubbed the last drops of water from her long hair. The bath had done her good and now she was feeling quite good. She had agreed to go to the town with her mother for once. Actually her father had told her to go, because the times were dangerous and while they had their guards, he would feel better if she went too. She walked to her bed and sighed at the sight of the clothes Shinchou had picked for her.
The kimono on the bed was one of the most expensive ones she had. It was also impossible to do anything in that kind of clothing. If her father expected her to protect Shinchou and the kids, he should have told Shinchou to pick her different clothes.
The sudden sound from the door alerted her instantly and she turned to watch. The door opened up to reveal Shinchou's smiling face. "Karen. I thought I would come and help you get dressed."
Tsunami smiled back and bowed her head a little. "Thank you."
Shinchou was a beautiful woman, everyone could tell that with a mere glance at her. When Tsunami looked at her, she couldn't help but wonder if her father had picked her because she resembled Saikoubi. Green eyes and black hair, petite body though Saikoubi's had been stronger. Both very beautiful women on the outside, and very different from the inside. Not that she could judge since she had no memories of Saikoubi, but her father had told her enough for her to form her opinions.
Again as she looked Shinchou in the eyes, she couldn't help but feel like an outsider. It was always like this with her. Chounan was old enough to mimic his mother and the look in his eyes was the same even though he called her his sister. Nozomi was still too little, but Tsunami knew he would end up looking at her the same way, like she was a friend, not a family member. She had learned to accept it, as she had accepted many things in the past. This was not her family, but the father of this family was her father too. And the only person to love her with all his heart was he.
Shinchou spoke to her friendly while helping her getting dressed, but every word she said was almost immediately forgotten. They flowed inside and outside her brains and she didn't bother to make an effort to remember.
"All done!" Shinchou said with satisfaction as the last fold was neatly twisted in her hands. She smiled at Tsunami and she forced her lips to curve a little.
"Now all you need is a little bit of makeup."
Tsunami sighed and was about to sit down when Shinchou yelped. "No! You can't sit, you will ruin my work!" The frustration in her voice was clear and this time Tsunami almost smirked out of mirth. Shinchou was so exact when it came to clothes and makeup.
Sighing Tsunami stood and allowed her 'mother' to apply some makeup on her skin. She didn't really care for such useless decorations, but had learned not to complain. Fighting with Shinchou never ended well, no matter how much father tried to support her. She also had a tendency to bear grudges.
"All right, now the hair." Shinchou said and was already releasing her long black hair from a braid when Tsunami noticed. She looked at Shinchou annoyance ruling her face. "I want it braided." She said and Shinchou looked at her surprised at her sudden founding of voice. Then she smiled and finished her work. Her hair was now free and it fell far past her back trying to reach her legs.
"As you wish." Shinchou said and braided her hair after combing it clear of all tangles. But instead of braiding it like Tsunami always did, Shinchou added few ribbons inside the braid. Tsunami sighed, but didn't say anything. It was just like Shinchou to agree to something and then do it on her own way, no matter what anyone else wanted.
"Now we are all done." Shinchou said with a smile of satisfaction.
Sometimes she wondered if Saikoubi had been just as much like Shinchou in manners as in looks. Some said yes and some had said no. She never asked her father more than he had already told. The matter didn't interest her enough to find out and she knew her father would be saddened my having to remember his love.
"I am going to get ready now." Shinchou said and walked to the door with a smile. Then she stopped to raise a finger at Tsunami as a warning gesture. "You better not mess my work." And she was gone.
Tsunami sighed.
* * * * * * *
"That was a long time ago..." Hiko said ending his recollection of the past, the day he had met his stupid pupil in the field of red blood and cold air of the night. It indeed was a long ago. At the time he had had no idea what kind of stupid pupil he had chosen.
"Oi! How long are you gonna sleep?" He asked annoyed. Kenshin was lying on the ground breathing heavily, just as he had for the past ten minutes. This was getting really annoying. "You have rested enough, wake up!" He yelled, but Kenshin didn't move an inch expect for the breathing.
Then a thought struck him and he almost smiled.
"Well, if you're not going to wake up, then I guess I'll have to keep thinking of old times. Like the last time you wet your bed, the autumn you were seven."
Kenshin sat up immediately.
"Or the time you were so hungry you ate those toadstools and almost died..."
"Master!" Kenshin yelled, his face red with embarrassment and annoyance. "Bringing up all those shameful things I'd forgotten! You must be pure evil." Kenshin said with conviction.
"What are you talking about? I have been training a whole week with my stupid pupil who left me after a fight. You couldn't ask for a better master!" Hiko said with a smile. At least he had gotten his student to stop sleeping or pretending to sleep.
Then he sighed. "This is getting redundant." He lifted his katana and took a good hold of it. "If you are unable to get a hit next time around, I will not teach you the techniques."
Kenshin was suddenly very wake and ready, staring at him with sharp eyes.
"The thirteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurugi school, Hiko Seijurou. He is sneaky, he hates people and as someone who knows my past, he is a million times nastier than Saitou." Kenshin said out loud voicing his thoughts and Hiko felt his anger gathering.
"Even if you think things like that you shouldn't say them out loud." He said a bit angrily. His words didn't really bother him, but his lack of tact did. Still, Kenshin's eyes were serious and calculating so he knew that that was not what his stupid pupil was thinking anymore.
"Here I come." Kenshin said.
"Oh." The sound had barely left his mouth as he noticed that Kenshin had jumped. It was to be expected and so Hiko jumped straight after him. Seeing his pupil getting ready to attack, he knew immediately what was coming. After all he had thought the boy everything he knew about the art so predicting his moves was easy.
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu - Ryuu Tsui Sen had always been one of Kenshin's favourite techniques. Hiko prepared to take the hit with Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu - Ryuu Shou Sen. Their katana's clashed.
* * * * * * *
It was getting hot and no matter what she did, the sweat refused to stay away. Lifting her small handkerchief to her face she tried to sweep it off. Without harming the makeup of course. For the fifteenth time she cursed Shinchou for dressing her up like this when she herself chose much lighter and comfortable clothing.
Nozomi was clinging to Shinchou's arm looking around as if he had never seen anything before. His brown eyes were looking around never paying more attention to one thing than to another. Sometimes he almost left to look at something, but when his hold of Shinchou was gone, he run straight back to her and she smiled at the boy with a smile she never gave to Tsunami.
She didn't really need or want Shinchou's attention, but she couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy at Nozomi for having a caring mother.
Chounan was already old enough the separate from her mother and he stopped often to look at interesting things. Unlike with Nozomi, he was very sure of what he did like and what he didn't. Tsunami soon noticed that taking care of Chounan was her job. The boy was stubborn as hell and when he locked his interest on something, trying to talk him into walking away was pretty much impossible. But Tsunami couldn't help but like the boy.
He wasn't very tall yet, but neither was she. He had his mother's bright green eyes and full lips. But there was nothing womanly on his features. He had his father's nose and shape of face, his straight shiny black hair was long enough to reach just slightly under his ears. There were clear hints of future beauty.
But what Tsunami liked the most about the boy was his stubborn nature. He could be obedient when necessary, but when he decided something he kept to it. For example if he refused to eat something, nothing made him eat it. Shinchou had tried to force him into eating by telling that he wouldn't get anything else to eat. Chounan had merely looked at her and removed himself from the table. He spent the entire day without eating before their father gave him something in the evening. When the same repeated the next day, Shinchou decided that he didn't have to eat it and never offered it again. At the time Tsunami had had a feeling that if their father had told the boy to eat, he would have.
The boy was curious about everything and after getting an answer to one of his questions, he had the next one ready. When there was something he was interested in, he was asking about it all the time and when he didn't get answers, he got frustrated. Because Ryoushin knew much more than Shinchou, Chounan had the habit it following his father rather than his mother.
When Tsunami looked around she saw the boy from her thoughts standing before a small table filled with different jewellery. When she got closer, she noticed that some were shaped like knives and throwing weapons. Of course these could do no harm being merely small copies, but she didn't like seeing Chounan near them. He had the habit of talking when he was excited and she worried what might spill out of his mouth.
"Karen oneechan!" The boy yelled and run to her with a bright smile that could challenge the sun. "Come!" He said next and his eyes were practically shining with excitement. Tsunami smiled and allowed Chounan to drag her to the table. She gave a small smile to the young girl sitting on the other side of the table.
"Look, look!" Chounan yelled and pointed at one of the necklaces. Tsunami turned her eyes to the object he was so eager to show her and she was immediately alarmed. The necklace was made of silver or something very much like it. She didn't know who had made it or how and didn't even care. What worried her was the fact that a kunai was used as a model for the jewel. It was well done, she couldn't deny it, but that was exactly what worried her.
"Isn't that---" Chounan continued speaking while his finger clearly pointed at the necklace. The seller was leaning over to see what he was showing and Tsunami picked it up quickly. As the thing Chounan had been looking at was taken away, he immediately stopped talking. Tsunami almost sighed in relief.
"Yes, it is." She gave the boy a smile and he smirked.
"I knew it!" He said with glee and run after his mother, probably to tell her about this. Tsunami laid the jewellery back on the table and smiled trying to look apologetic. "I am sorry for the trouble."
The girl smiled back at her. "Sure. Interested in anything yourself?" She continued.
To be polite Tsunami looked at what the table had to offer before shaking his head. "Not really my style." She said finally and without waiting for an answer she turned and walked after Chounan. He was talking to his mother and they were all waiting for her. Chounan was talking to her and describing the necklace in detail.
When Tsunami was pretty close, Shinchou turned to her. "No problems?" She said with a smile, but Tsunami knew what she meant and shook her head. Shinchou accepted that and turned back to Chounan.
"Hungry?" She asked and Chounan nodded.
"Food." Nozomi said staring at his mother with wide innocent eyes. Tsunami couldn't help, but think that that innocence would disappear much too soon. The life of a ninja was never easy, but it was the life that they would live.
"Then let's go and see the place your father has been talking about." Shinchou said and the boys nodded enthusiastically. Tsunami smiled at this and followed Shinchou again as she led the way. Her eyes were still darting around and looking for any signs of danger. Kyoto had became much more dangerous now that Shishio Makoto was here. She saw a flick of a shadow that disappeared a second later and smiled a little. She wouldn't be alone if there was an attack.
Pretty soon Tsunami noticed something very disturbing. They were headed near the Aoiya. Her father had yet to lift the ban of going close to that place and the closer they got, the more nervous she became.
"Mother." She said and walked to Shinchou's side. The word tasted strange in her mouth, but it was the only word she could use before Nozomi and Chounan.
Shinchou turned her head to her. "Yes?"
"Where are we going?" Tsunami asked trying to hide her concern.
Shinchou smiled. "Ryoushin has been talking about this place so I thought I would try it out."
It was funny how she always called Ryoushin 'father' when she talked to Nozomi and Chounan, but never when she talked to her. It was always Ryoushin as if he wasn't her father too. It always made her angry, though she did understand her possessiveness. On certain level.
"The place serves also as an inn and I believe it is called 'Aoiya'."
Shinchou said it so very carelessly. Tsunami stopped on her tracks as her worst thoughts were realised. Shinchou was taking them to the Aoiya, the enemy's base. She grimaced.
"I don't think that is wise." She said seriously. Shinchou had stopped as well and was now staring at Tsunami with a slightly angered face.
"And why is that?" Shinchou bit out. She hated it when Tsunami tried to tell her not to do something. She had long ago already stated that she would not take orders from her in any form. "We are already almost there."
Tsunami walked to her and whispered very quietly. "That is the base of Oniwabanshu, our enemy. Also, father has clearly told me to stay away from there. Did he tell you to come and eat here? Did he even hint?"
The anger faded from Shinchou's face and it relaxed, but Tsunami didn't have that luxury. Shinchou never listened to her and hardly ever did as she suggested. "Mother." She said quietly, but loud enough for Shinchou to hear her with her normal ears. As she had captured Shinchou's eyes, she directed her look to Nozomi and Chounan. That seemed to be just the thing as worry rose to Shinchou's eyes.
"All right then." She said with reluctance. "I have heard that Shirobeko is a good place too. We will go there then." She said and turned swiftly around. Tsunami could almost sigh in relief as they turned around to head back to the restaurant she had already visited earlier. While she knew that there was some connection to Aoiya there too, she doubted it was a direct one. Besides at the moment almost any place was better than the Aoiya.
Relief and relaxation had already taken over her when she heard something. Someone was calling her name, her normal name. She turned around and while it was none of the Oniwabanshu, it was one of the other people she really didn't want to see.
Kamiya Kaoru.
She was rushing towards them and Tsunami knew she had to act fast. No connection could be allowed between her and her family. She turned to Shinchou and waved her hand as a sign to go. "Go. Now." She mouthed and Shinchou seemed to get the message, even though she clearly wasn't happy about it. She left taking Nozomi and Chounan with her.
Now Kaoru had already reached her and she turned to look at the other woman. She was smiling at her brightly though she seemed a little bit wary. Tsunami smiled at the woman and nodded by bending her neck briefly.
"Karen-san. I thought it was you." Kaoru said and Tsunami nodded again.
"Kamiya Kaoru, right?" It was more like a statement than a question, but Kaoru nodded anyways. "That's me!" She said cheerfully and Tsunami felt her smile growing more genuine.
When Kaoru didn't seem to be continuing, Tsunami thought is better to speak. "Did you have something to say?"
Kaoru laughed a little. "I wanted to thank you for your help." The gratitude was so clear in her eyes that Tsunami felt actually a little bad. Had she ever looked at anyone like that?
"So you were successful?" Tsunami said and trying to convince herself that she didn't really want to speak with the other woman, but was collecting information. Knowing about Battousai might prove out to be useful.
Kaoru nodded. "We found him." The happiness was practically shining in her and Tsunami found herself happy that Kaoru had succeeded. She had never seen anyone who was always so happy and cheerful before and found it infectious. It really bothered her.
Hiding her emotions carefully she nodded. "That is good." She said with a genuine smile of happiness. "Was there something else?" She asked and turned to show that she was leaving if that was it.
Kaoru was hesitating, her inner conflict was easy to see on her face, before she finally seemed to gather enough courage to speak. Still her every move was hesitating. "I was wondering, how did you know who he is?"
Tsunami looked at Kaoru with a wondering face, but inside her mask she stiffened. She knew exactly what Kaoru was hinting at and had absolutely no will to discuss the matter with Kaoru. While it didn't look like she was directly connected to the Oniwabanshu, through Battousai such connection was possible. And so she had to be very careful with her words. While she thought things through her head, Kaoru had continued to explain clearly thinking that she had not understood what Kaoru was after.
"I mean, you knew about his... other name, right?"
Tsunami bit her lip for a second before releasing it after remembering how many times her father and Fumio had warned her about it. She nodded slowly to Kaoru and she seemed happy that her message had reached her.
"How did you know?" Kaoru continued, getting more and more brave by every moment. While Tsunami had no intentions of telling her the truth, she had to say something.
"He is pretty... infamous here in Kyoto. His legend is still very much alive in here and the way you presented him in your picture and text was exactly like in the stories still told. I have heard the stories as well and after a moment could make the connection." She explained.
Kaoru nodded thoughtfully and Tsunami sighed mentally. She had bought it. *Thank Kami-sama.*
"You weren't afraid?" Kaoru said suddenly and Tsunami blinked.
"Afraid? Of what?" She asked not making the connection.
Kaoru seemed surprised. "Of him, of course." She said as if stating the obvious and obvious it had been. Tsunami had the graces to look a little embarrassed. She shook her head.
"No. You see, I didn't make the connection immediately. Besides, when I met him he ripped a sleeve off of my kimono because he stumbled and his stutters didn't really make me frightened." She smiled at the memory. "It really wasn't my impression of the demon I had heard stories about. That impression stuck even after I realised who he was." She shrugged. "Besides I don't believe he is even half as bad as the rumours say."
Somehow her words really seemed to make Kaoru happy. "He will be happy to hear that." Kaoru said and Tsunami almost grimaced before she could stop it. There really was no need for him to hear those words, but she couldn't think of a convincing way to stop her from telling anything to anyone without making her suspicious. So she only nodded.
Kaoru seemed satisfied for she changed the subject. "I thought that perhaps I should offer you something for helping me."
"There is no need, really." She said knowing that there really wasn't anything they could do for her. She had probably more money than the girl before her and she should have realised it too. The way she had been dressed on both events that they had met should have hinted it clearly enough to the other girl.
"No, no. There is. Without you we might never have found him and there is a change that we would have attracted the wrong kind of attention like you said. So, I find it only fitting that we repay you somehow." She was smiling brightly and her voice was filled with determination. Suddenly Tsunami realised that she really didn't have the energy to resist the girl. It would probably be quite a battle to stop her and Tsunami had no intentions of engaging in a verbal battle in the middle of the street with Fumio watching her every move. So that left only one choice.
"As you wish." She sighed then out loud and the other woman clapped her hands. Then she dropped the bomb in her lab.
"Good. Then come to the Aoiya sometime and I will offer you a dinner."
"Sure." Tsunami said, but her thoughts weren't exactly in favour of the idea.
*No way in hell!*
* * * * * * *
Author:
Since finding out what is happening with Kenshin is easy and something that most probably everyone reading this fic has seen already, I prefer to concentrate on Tsunami and Kaoru in this chapter.
You know, I barely made it. This year I have uploaded a new chapter to this fic every month and was afraid that I would fail this time around. Well, I made it! =)
(Honestly, I didn't have any real intentions as I have been working on my new AU and rewriting World Without an Image. And to those of you waiting for World of Images, that is a very good thing.
...I think many will kill me for telling this, but I actually have about 3/4 of ch3 ready. I just can't make myself write the last 1/4...)
And now for the reviews:
JadeGoddess: Thank you for your review! As for your question, I think I only mentioned Misao in my manga-review-thingie. Still, I am not saying it is impossible. ;)
SoT'n'Kenshin: Thank you! This update wasn't just to the level of the previous, but still not too long, eh?