Disclaimer: I wonder... Has someone actually been sued by not saying a disclaimer in a fic? O well, I don't own Rk! I hate to be the first one right?
"The First Mission" chapter 5
"Li, I have been informed that you have allowed strangers to stay in your house" said a man in his early twenties.
"Shura, I didn't raise you to be cruel. Before your father died, I promised him I would take care of you and Aya. It took me years to find you both. For your mother has brought you and your sister into Kyoto for the fear of them killing you also. Your father was not a bad man. He was just misunderstood. He wanted to live in a place where people are treated equally. His only fault which caused him his death was to believe that he could accomplish this by killing other people. I disapprove of your decision to follow his footsteps. Violence will only bring forth more violence. You must stop it before it's too late"
"Li, I am grateful for your help all these years but it is my destiny to finish what my father has started. I only hope those people you are taking care of now are not enemies." said Shura as he left the small hut.
-Inside the corner room-
"That's him! That's Shura, the guy we are...."
"Quiet Misao, they might hear you" whispered Aoshi as he covered Misao's mouth
"Oh yeah, I forgot... but Shura is the one that is keeping Okina. We need to know more about him."
"We can start by meeting all the villagers. Maybe they can give us a clue on where they are keeping Okina" suggested Aoshi
As they were fixing their futons, a thought had crossed Aoshi's mind 'The Oniwabanshuu didn't know that Katsuo has a daughter. I believe they are not telling us all we need to know about this mission.'
Misao also thought of something. 'So, Katsuo was not really as evil as I've heard. Maybe I can change Shura's mind to not become like his father. However, I understand how Shura feels. I myself am trying to follow on my father's footsteps as Okashira .I must do something to correct this and I must do it immediately before other people get hurt.'
-Outside the hut-
"Isn't today such a pleasant day today?" asked Li while she sweeps the front yard.
"Hai! Thank you so much for letting us stay for the night." answered Misao
"It's alright. How is your koishi?"
"I'm fine, thank you." replied Aoshi as the tall man went outside the hut
"I guess it is time for breakfast. Can you two gather some wood in the forest? I am too old to be walking that far."
"Of course, it's the least we can do..." answered Misao.
-In the Village, on their way to the forest-
"This is the perfect opportunity to scout...."
Before Misao could finish what she what saying, she was cut off by what Aoshi did.
The man had put his arms around Misao's shoulders and shifted his body more close to her. They kept this until they have entered the forest. Misao couldn't help but blush at the unexpected contact.
"Sorry, it's just that I've noticed the villagers staring at us. We need to act out our roles so that they won't be suspicious." explained Aoshi
"Oh yeah..." Misao's voice trailed off
'Now come on, what did you expect? He did it because he felt like it? Of course it was the mission.' thought Misao but she was more disappointed in knowing that Aoshi just wanted to be her pretend lover only for the mission.
Aoshi quickly noticed the sudden change of expression on the newly appointed and young Okashira's face.
'Misao has been quiet these past minutes. Did I do or say anything that could have upset her again? Maybe, now is the right time to explain to her what I really feel'
"Here, I think this is the place where they gather the woods" pointed out Misao
"Misao, I have to tell you...." said Aoshi but he quickly stopped because he heard something in the bushes.
Misao heard it as well and shut her mouth.
"Who is there? Show yourself or die..." threatened Aoshi as he is reached for his kodachis cleverly tucked in his shirt
"Calm Down! Chill my friends, it's me Taka..." Explained the brown haired man as he stepped out of the bushes.
"Taka? What are you doing in here?" asked the young Okashira.
"Um...doing my job. I was spying on the DHT through the forest. I can't go in the village so that's where you two come along"
"Don't ever do that again..." said Aoshi as he put down his weapons. Taka's stupidity had nearly cost them to blow their cover but Aoshi was more mad that he didn't get to tell Misao what he really wanted to tell her.
"You two suck at being a couple" teased Taka
"Aoshi you should be like...." suggested Taka as he embraced Misao and was holding her in a way like when two lovers are about to kiss.
Misao knew Taka wouldn't do it since she knows she's not Taka's type but still her face was beet red.
Aoshi, on the other hand, quickly gripped his weapons again as if ready to kill an enemy at a wrong move.
"Hahaha... you should have seen your face Misao... it's like all red and you too Aoshi. It seemed like you were ready to slice me anytime if I had continued what I was doing."
'Is Aoshi jealous of Taka?' thought Misao as she regained her composure
"Enough of these games, why did you come here?" asked Aoshi
"Fine, fine, I have just been informed that Kazuma - that's the guy who send you the message - has been kidnapped. So it basically means you have to rescue him also." answered Taka
"We need to do something quickly before others get involved" ordered their Okashira
"Taka, continue to spy the DHT and I want you to scout the perimeters of the village including this forest as well. Aoshi, after breakfast I want you to go with the village men and help them in their chores. Hopefully they can give you hints about the DHT. I will try to talk to Li to know more about Shura and his sister, Aya. We will meet in this same place later tonight." continued Misao
And so, Taka went on his way to do his job while Aoshi and Misao finished gathering wood and head back to the village.
On their way back, Aoshi thought of something.
'I haven't seen Misao quite like this. I'm surprised how she gave those orders. She has really matured these past years.'
-In the Village-
"Arigato for the wonderful meal" said Misao as she helped Li clean the dishes
"I should go and help the village men plow the ground. It's the least I can do for carrying me when I was bitten by a snake." suggested Aoshi
"Ok I'll just see you later Koishi" said Misao as she bid him farewell
"So, Li what can I do to help you?" asked Misao
"You can start by helping me wash these clothes." said Li as she pointed to a pile of dirty laundry
'Good thing I lived with Kenshin and Kaoru for awhile... Himura did teach me a few tricks on washing clothes' thought Misao as she remembered her adventures with the Kenshin-gumi.
-At the farm-
Aoshi had a taken the plow located in the backyard of Li's house and proceeded to the farm to help the other village men. They treated him as if he is one of them and talk candidly about Shura and his plans.
"Shura has just finished stage two of his plan, now the only one left is the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu" said a villager
"What are you saying? You actually support Shura? You know what happened to his father. Shura is a good person, but all he thinks about is how to avenge his father's death." commented another villager
"Oh yeah, Hino its time for you to go feed the people Shura has been keeping in the cave. Treat them well ok? We are not savages. We just are doing what Shura ordered."
While still plowing and pretending not to listen Aoshi thought 'Misao's idea of working with the villagers worked. Now, I know where they are keeping Okina and Kazuma. However, Misao should be careful since she is their next target. This Shura character is also very interesting. I wonder what Misao is doing right now'
-Meanwhile in the backyard of Li's hut-
'Oh my God! I wonder how Kenshin does it. My hands are getting are all crinkled and they look like prunes.' thought Misao as she washed the clothes.
"So, Li do you have any family?" asked Misao hoping that Li would tell her about Shura and Aya
"I do, but they are not here right now. I have two grandchildren, they are Shura and Aya." answered Li.
'Go on... tell me about the DHT' thought Misao
"They are really good children. Their parents died when they were young and I have been taking care of them since." added Li
As much as Misao wants to know more about them, she couldn't bare the look of sadness on Li's face. And so, she didn't ask for any more questions and continued washing the clothes.
-Late Afternoon-
"Li, me and Aoshi will just go for a walk in the forest. You should go out also its very romantic" said Misao
"Ok, just be careful"
"I will protect her, don't worry" replied Aoshi
Misao thought 'That is just sweet. I hope he really meant it not just for the mission'
So the Misao and Aoshi head back to the forest as planned earlier
"Taka, are you here?" asked Misao
"What took you guys so long? I have been waiting here forever!"
"Sorry, but we found out some things. Li told that she is the grandmother of Shura and Aya. And that their parents died when they are young...."
"Yeah, yeah it's not like we don't know those things already. But check this out I found where they are hiding Okina." interrupted Taka
"Baka! I was going to say that before you interrupted me. Aoshi found out that they are hidden in the cave in the forest." said Misao
"Big deal I also know where it is! Anyways I have another thing to tell you. It seems like somebody is ordering Shura what to do. I only heard them when I was scouting the forest. I didn't get to see his face but he was telling Shura that he should not listen to his Grandma and the villagers and that he should avenge his father's death."
"Hmmm... There are still some mysteries in this story. Who is that guy? We need to know more before we attack" said the Okashira
"I suggest we gather more information and meet her tomorrow again" said the tall man
"Who asked you?" said Taka obviously he didn't like Aoshi.
"Ok, enough you two! We will do what Aoshi suggested" ordered Misao
"Fine, I'll see if I can identify who our mystery person is." said Taka as he vanished in the dark
So the two Oniwabanshuu members walked back toward the villagers. Aoshi could sense that Misao was cold. So he offered his coat to warm the young lady.
"Arigato... "said Misao hiding her beet red face.
End of chp5
A/n: ok dats 6 pages.. count em.. 6! (well u cant really count em but u get d point..)
More revelations and surprises next chp..
Thanks for those who reviewed! and of cors to dan!