The Night Life: Round 8
Misao grasped Aoshi's sleeve. "So who is Hannya?" she asked. Silently, Misao mentally apologized to her dead brother. Deciding that it was best to play along with Yukishiro Enishi, she had asked Aoshi to describe her brother. However, Misao had never found out exactly how her brother had been killed. Perhaps this man was the key.
Without answering, Aoshi wrenched his sleeve from Misao's grasp and brushed past her.
Following closely behind, Misao yelled, "Hey! HEY! Just where the hell do you think you're going?"
"It doesn't matter. He's going to follow us."
"What's that supposed to mean? Who's going to follow us? That Yukishiro guy?" Misao asked angrily. She received no answer. Sighing, Misao pushed through the crowd, struggling to keep up with him. She grabbed the back of his shirt.
"Okay, Mister Ice-guy, I asked you a question. Must I explain what you are to do when asked a question?"
"Oh, please, I have no idea. Do tell."
"Hey, I'm serious. What's going on? You haven't answered my question. Who is Hannya?"
Aoshi debated with himself. He knew that he shouldn't have left Misao at all earlier, but that couldn't be helped now. He stole a glance at Misao, who was walking as fast as her stiletto heels would allow her to. How was he going to answer her question?
"Just what did Yukishiro tell you while I was gone?" He held the door open for Misao and walked out into the warm night air.
Misao shrugged. "He didn't really tell me anything," she lied. "You COULD answer my question, you know." Misao looked at him. "Well?"
"It's...well..."
"Yes? Continue..." Misao urged.
"It's...complicated," Aoshi finished lamely.
Misao sighed exasperatedly. "Oh, thanks...like that's going to help me! Since you obviously have no experience in answering questions, let me tell you what you do when an individual asks a question. You answer them. Now, let's try again. Who is Hannya?"
"He was a fr—"
"—AHHHHRRRGGGGHHHH....ow...great...stupid shoes..." One of Misao's heels had gotten caught in a crevice on the sidewalk. She was relieved to find, however, that she wasn't sprawled on the concrete floor. The relief quickly evaporated when she found herself staring up into ice-blue eyes. Aoshi had caught her by the shoulders to prevent her from falling.
Attempting to regain some composure, Misao stood and brushed herself off. She looked at Aoshi to see his reaction to this new development, but quickly realized that Aoshi had already assumed his position in front of her.
Misao ran to catch up, and when she did, she said, "Ah...well...er...uh...yeah...back to my question. So...who is this guy?" Again, she gave Hannya another mental apology, this time for referring to him as 'this guy'. Misao's anticipation mounted; she was on the verge of discovering something—she could feel it.
"Hannya...was an honorable person," Aoshi answered, quickening his pace.
"Hey, don't walk so fast! How do you know him?"
"We used to be friends," Aoshi replied, as he strode into a dark, deserted alley.
"Used to be?"
"Yes, used to be." There was a shadow of regret in his voice.
"What happened?"
"He died..."
"How?" The possibility that this man was her brother's murderer hit her then. After all, if Yukishiro Enishi had been speaking the truth, then...that would make Aoshi a vampire. But how could that be? Her hand flew again to her neck, where her wound was still fresh.
However, whatever Misao had been expecting, she certainly wasn't expecting the answer that came next.
"He died...to save me..."
Misao blinked. To save him? Since Aoshi was actually answering questions, Misao decided to ask him another question. "Who is Yukishiro Enishi to you?"
"He is n—" Aoshi stopped suddenly and narrowed his eyes. His hand flew to the hilt of his kodachi.
Crashing into Aoshi's back, Misao stopped. "What—?" She followed Aoshi's line of a vision and saw the very subject of there conversation. "Oh..." she said, in a small voice.
Enishi smiled condescendingly. "That's very cold, Aoshi. Is that how you greet an old friend?"
Aoshi glared in response.
Enishi smirked. "Hn."
"Just what are you planning to do, Enishi?"
"How utterly touching—using first names, now, are we? I could say the same to you. Tell her your plan, Aoshi. Or, rather, Misao, tell him what you know. Tell him that you know what he is."
Misao looked quizzically at Aoshi.
"Later, Misao...I'll explain later. There are more pressing matters at hand." He glared at Enishi.
Keeping the same smile pasted on his face, Enishi said, "Hn. If a fight is what you want, I, unfortunately, will not be able to fulfil that wish. I only came by to remind Makimachi of our...agreements. Remember what I told you, Misao. Good evening."
Aoshi stared after Enishi's retreating back, before turning back to Misao. "What did he tell you?" Aoshi asked. He tried to keep his voice calm. He could not, by any means, give Misao any reason to believe that he was a vampire. After all, Misao's soul was one of the purest he had ever seen—if not the purest. Aoshi could not let this chance slip through his fingers—his debt to Hannya depended on it.
Xxxxxx Lebleuphenix – Your Turn xxxxxX