Kaede: Hey Rajghilar sorry to keep you waiting and I am happy you like the story.

Chapter 2:

Ishinshi headquarters

"Aki! Aki please wait up for me!!" said a young woman. She had a heart shaped face, long midnight black hair; some bangs of her hair covered her gray eyes that looked like a storm. She was tall and you could see by her tight kimono her womanly curves.

"Come on Tokio! We are already late as it is!" Said Aki. She had a round face framed by short brown hair and her eyes where a mud like color. She was short and her body was less curvy.

Aki was running trough the hallways and from time to time pushed someone out of the way, while Tokio was walking quickly trying to keep up with her and at the same time saying sorry to the people who where pushed by Aki.

Tokio crashed into Aki, who for some strange reason had stopped. As Tokio got up, she noticed her friend had a weird look in her face. "Aki what's wrong?"

Aki raised her hand and pointed at something ahead, the look of pure terror never living her face. Some people where carrying out a covered body from a room. Tokio quickly realized what room that was. It belonged to Asakura Oyamada, one of the leaders of the Ishinshi and Aki's father.

" Oh my god… Aki… " Whispered Tokio, hearing her name Aki seemed to come back to live and instantly ran to the body. But before she could get to it two samurais got in her way, she tried to push pass them but they would not let her pass.

" Let me pass, you baboons! How dare you try to stop me, I am Aki Oyamada." She yelled to them. The taller of the 2 shook his head. " I am sorry Lady Oyamada but we can not let you." This got Aki even more enraged. "I said let me pass!"

" Aki please stop this" Pleaded Tokio to her friend.

" What is the meaning of this noise?" Said a booming voice from behind. And there, standing proud and very much alive was Asakura Oyamada. He was a tall man in his forties with long dark brown hair and kind blue eyes. The samurai bowed and also Tokio.

"Father!" Cried Aki and ran to the man. He hugged her and with his hand dismissed the samurai.

" Aki that is not a way for a young lady to act." He said sternly to his daughter. Aki rapidly stepped away embarrassed and bowed her head. " Tokio-san its good to see you. May I say you look radiant." He smiled warmly at the girl he had taken care of since she was 6 years old. Her father had been a high politician and a good friend of his. Then he had been betrayed and killed, his friend's wife committed seppuku not long after and he took Tokio in to his house. She looked allot like her mother but more refined. Now 13 years has passed since she came to his home. Tokio bowed respectfully and smiled at him

" Its good to se you Asakura-san" Said Tokio. " Sorry to be rude but whose body was that?"

" Yes father we where greatly disturbed when we saw it" said Aki still shaken by the scare the dead body had given her. She loved her father dearly and the though of him dead hurt her allot.

" Oh its not rude at all my lovely girls. But before we talk about fowl things, lets have cha and you both can tell me about your trip." Said Asakura while walking to a room, Tokio and Aki trailing behind him. They passed hallways and went down some stairs, until Asakura reached his destination.

Asakura opened the door to reveal a simple room. It had a table in the middle and simple but still elegant cushions. The doors at the other side of the room where open to reveal a view of the garden outside. He sat down in one of the cushion and so did Tokio and Aki.

" It's a great pleasure to see you again my lord" said Tokio while bowing respectfully.

" Yes father is great to see you after our travels, how have you been if you don't mind me asking"

" It is good to see you two girls again. And I have been fine but busy. As you could see outside there is much work to be done." Said Asakura " So girls how was your trip?"

" Oh it was very pleasing father. We had a most wonderful time in Osaka; I bought kimonos, and obis and some accessories for my hair. But I have missed you father." Aki happily told her father.

" I am very glad my little sakura blossom, now you must be tired why don't you go to your rooms. Tokio will be there shortly I have to discus some things with her."

" Of course father, I will tell you more later." And with that Aki stood up bowed respectfully to the 2 persons in front of her and left the room.

When she was sure Aki had left Tokio asked to Asakura. "Asakura-sama whose body was that?"

" Ah right to the point my dear. Well there was an attempted murder against me. But thank to my spies I found out about it and could do the preparations necessary " Replied seriously Asakura to Tokio.

" And I am guessing that those where to hire a hitoriki just for that night, maybe to create confusion between the people who sent the assassin" She said with a smirk on her face.

" Ah so you drop the politeness finally and show your sly thinking, but yes that was exactly what happened" Asakura smiled to the girl, but then put a more serious look. " We needed to draw the attention from the real Kitsune Slayer."

"Yes I see. Now if you'll excuse me I am very tired my lord and I wish to sleep." Said Tokio while she bowed and stood up.

" Of course child, we will talk tomorrow" Asakura told the girl, he watched her leave the room and thought- Ah a beautiful rose, but as every other rose she has her thorns…

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Kaede:
I hope you liked it. You can send me your coments also to cutekitten01hotmail.com You can also tell me what you want to see in the story. Till next time