Chapter 6: Learning

Chapter 6: Learning

(Aoshi)

The streets of Tokyo were full of people, all with specific destinations and purposes even under a sky which threatened rain. All except one who stood under the dreary arms of a tree. He had met with the Oniwaban connections in this city and come up with nothing over the last four days. There was no new vigilante roaming the alleys, no young man who joined any gangs from out-of-town, and no sign of Misao showing up at the lodgings of the Kenshin-gumi.

The wedding preparations were in full swing at the Kamiya dojo. Everyone worked to clean the surfaces of each building. Even Sanosuke had been conned into assisting with repairs long overdue on the outer wall of the courtyard. Everything was bright and clean, yet with an air of one detail missing - one very small detail, but which left the picture incomplete. Kenshin had almost seen him as he watched from across the road as they shopped. The swordsman had swept sharp violet eyes over the crowd, but never stopped on the former Okashira. Aoshi had turned his back on his former rival, and waited till the red-haired man had returned his attention to his betrothed. All the friends were present. All, but two who were separated from the circle of companions and from one another.

Where was she? This had to be her destination. It wouldn't have taken this long to reach Tokyo, even on foot. Shifting his weapons so that they settled more comfortably beneath his coat, Aoshi began walking, plagued by a new question. Why was Misao so determined to leave her home after so adamantly ordering him to stay? He knew Misao's greatest frustration came from the belief that he never listened to her. He may not listen to the specific words, but he remembered each tone that colored her voice. In that incident, Misao had been struck in the middle of the night by a panic that he had left the Aoiya. When she had found him in his room, she had clutched the front of her yukata and sighed in relief. He had asked what the matter was, and she only smiled.

"Aoshi-sama, forgive me, but I'm ordering you to tell me if and when you decide to leave the Oniwaban."

He had blinked in confusion. For her to issue a direct order on such a trivial subject seemed overdone. Then he had seen the lingering fear in her eyes and was struck once again with the cold weight of guilt.

"I have no where else to go. My pride will never lead me away again. That I promise you, Misao."

Her grip on her nightclothes had slackened. Bowing, and whispering pardon for disturbing him, she had returned to bed.

Aoshi found himself staring out over the river from the bridge. The sun was beginning to set, turning the water into a parody of fire. He closed his eyes and turned away. He had said that his pride would never lead him - and yet wasn't that his reason for following her? Did he want to admit that now his pride was in her, and his dependence upon her presence now lured him into a twisted promise? He was not being led away, but led to, something beyond his old ties to the Oniwaban.

"You look as unbalanced as the Battosai, Shinomori."

Aoshi stiffened. Saito Hajime had come within sword-reach and he had not sensed him. Covering his surprise and discomfort, Aoshi glared at the policeman from the corner of his eye. Saito only smirked.

"So what brings the leader of the Oniwaban back to Tokyo bearing his weapons? Though I must say I hope those are your actual kodachi. If you've taken some idiotic vow like Himura then I may decide to put you out of you misery right now."

Aoshi pulled his sheath into partial view. "You would have a hard time doing so, Saito. I am here on business."

The uniformed man lit a cigarette from his invisible supply and mused with narrowed eyes. "You're probably chasing that weasel girl."

Aoshi didn't respond. Saito continued. "Well if you business can spare you, I have a proposal. There is a convoy traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo in secrecy. However, they are late and I cannot sent any of my own presently. I've been left shorthanded by the chief and my remaining officers are imbeciles. The government is looking to hire an expert to find the group and bring them safely back."

Aoshi finally turned to face his one-time opponent. "You could not have known that I would be here to ask."

Saito smirked again. "I have eyes all over this city - informal or not. You are merely a convenient prospect. Besides, the government is willing to pay you well for your time as a freelancer and I know that the Aoiya has been struggling to pay its repair bills. It's a simple enough job."

For a long moment Aoshi considered. Thus far he had no luck in finding Misao, and his organization was in dire need of funds. How the Wolf had known this, he would have to find out later. Besides, he would be backtracking to Kyoto so perhaps in the process he would be able to pick up signs of her.

"What would this job include?"

Saito dropped his cigarette in the road and stepped on it.

"The Katatomi family is extremely wealthy, the head of the family being the Emperor's accountant. He could be skimming from the taxes, but if he is he hides it very well. Even if he is not, his job pays well enough on its own. His daughter is being married to the third advisor to the Emperor. However, word has reached the chief that there may be a plot over the marriage. The chief is otherwise engaged, so he has left the matter for me to settle."

"Baby-sitting?"

The policeman raised an eyebrow. "Not much different from what you're doing now is it? But it has more respect than your past attempts at proving your name."

Aoshi glared, his hand tightening slightly on his sheath. Saito scoffed. "You have been losing your touch. Take the job or leave it but I need to know now."

After a long moment, the ninja let his weapon slip back out of sight.

"I will do it."

For the next night of slow travel, Misao sat with Hanabi in the carriage. The only light was a small lantern which hung from the ceiling. When the soldiers asked where the new bodyguard was, the poised woman would merely reply with suggestions. Kitai hunted among the pillows and silk drapes after a scarf that constantly eluded her from one human to the other.

Misao stifled a giggle as the kitten turned in circles with confusion when the scarf vanished completely. Tossing it to her new partner in conspiracy, she whispered,

"Lady Hanabi, you say that these attacks have been too persistent? What gives you that idea?"

The elegant white hands paused in their game and Kitai triumphantly seized her prey.

"I know that every night I go to bed with the feeling that I am naked though I have these drapes and a guard within call. My father who has never given me a second glance till three months ago, is now pampering me like a newborn boy." She peeked out of the rolling carriage and pointed out the train of goods, now effectively covered with brown, rough-woven cloth. "This is only half of my dowry. Even less now from the other robberies. Yet we have not sought out any more guards, and we still travel at night. I do not understand where my father found his ideas, but they are flawed. However, I cannot tell him so."

Misao smiled. "But I can as Jiei. We are still three days from Kyoto, and if you have already lost so much, the perhaps we ought to press on in the morning."

Hanabi returned the smile. "My father is brilliant when it comes to handling money, but take him out of his accounting room, and he is lost." She paused and scrutinized Misao in the dim light. "I cannot believe that once I thought you a man, or a boy. Your eyes are too generous and your features are very fine."

Misao blushed slightly. "That is why I use a mask. As to my eyes, well, I just try not to really look someone in the face."

"And you fight so well. Where did you learn?"

Misao's memory jumped back to the older members of the Oniwaban who lay buried somewhere in Japan, and the feeling of one man's hungry lips on her own. She swallowed hard and tried to smile.

"I had a unique family."

Hanabi sensed the discomfort at her question and let the matter drop. However, Misao returned the inquiry with her own.

"I saw you fighting last night. It was amazing!"

It was Hanabi's turn to blush. "I know nothing of real combat."

"But you fought those men so easily!"

"I was merely following a pattern. I have been trained my entire life with the sword, yet never had to use it against a person who wished me harm."

Misao frowned. "But I felt no emotion from you. If that was your first real fight, didn't you have some fear?"

"After they were all gone, yes. You see, most of my technique is focused only on the movements. I sense something attacking or defending and rise to meet it, or elude, as I choose. I know that many other techniques chose to react to emotion, but I do not." She laughed softly. "I was terrified when I realized they were all gone."

Misao smiled back. She had learned the long and hard way by somehow getting out of the situations she ended up landing herself in. Perhaps her nickname 'weasel' was more accurate than she was willing to admit. She was struck with an idea.

"Hanabi, do you think you could teach me? I'm a fast learner! The only weapons I know how to use are kuni, and those have only certain strengths."

The young noblewoman regarded her for a moment before adding to the proposition, "If you will teach me how to use your kuni, then I will gladly do the same."

Misao's grin sharpened. "Your future husband won't know what he's in for when you reach Kyoto." She moved to untangle Kitai from her tussle with the sash. The action pulled the skin at her shoulder and she winced. Hanabi immediately noticed and took the kitten from the twist of silk.

"We will have to do this carefully until you are fully healed. However, the basics are easy to learn without even holding a sword. We'll start with reaction..."

The morning dawned with Misao slowly learning the carefully controlled movements of her wrist and the meditative processes of reaction into action. When her arm grew tired and her back stung with the sheen of sweat, they switched roles and Misao instructed Hanabi the proper way to hold a knife without cutting her fingers.

Jiei emerged at the break of day to converse with Rikoteki who, after some persuasion, agreed to continue traveling through the day. Moving from carriage to carriage, the masked bodyguard exchanged a few words with each soldier and left with a pat on the shoulder.

That night the sound of an approaching horse had all the men grabbing up their arms. Against the pleas of Hanabi, Misao slipped out of the back of the carriage and crouched beneath it. She couldn't see the individual on the horse, but she hear low voices coming from behind the second carriage.

"Fine fine, I am flattered that the Kyoto police is so concerned for our safety. However, they only sent one? I am down to only ten fit guards."

"I assure you that my skills will be efficient to handle any situation."

"Yes, well, you will forgive me for not offering to pay for your service since the government seems to be handling that. I am already spending enough on guards as is."

Misao's heart jumped to her throat and she almost choked. By all the Spirits, what was he doing here?

"You hold the position that you do, and only spend enough for a minimal guard?"

"Yes, well, thing haven't been going so well for me lately. I have already lost so much of my daughter's precious dowry."

"Let me see what you have done."

Misao sprang back into Hanabi's carriage. The older woman reached for her sword at the sight of her wide eyes.

"What is it? Another attack?"

The ninja shook her head. "I don't have the time to explain, but do you remember that I said I was trying to travel on my own? Well there has been someone following me ever since I left."

A voice outside of the carriage interrupted. "Hanabi-chan? Daughter, there will be a new guard sent by the police. Please give him your greetings and thanks."

Misao turned wide blue eyes to her friend and shook her head. Hanabi nodded and unfolded her fan. Cracking open the curtains she allowed only her upper face to be seen.

"My welcome and thanks to you, sir, for coming to our assistance. I fear this journey has been tedious."

Rikoteki smiled, puffed with pride in the apparent importance of his position that the government had sent an agent to his aid. "My daughter already has a personal bodyguard, so really my concern is the rest of the caravan."

Aoshi's cold voice sent a jolt through Misao. "Where is he now? It might be good for us to work out a plan of action."

Hanabi lowered her eyes. "I am afraid that he was slightly injured in last night's encounter. However, he has already discussed a plan with my father, one which I believe to be most efficient."

There was a rustle of cloth, and Aoshi conceded, "Then we will follow it."

As the two men began to walk away, Hanabi called out, "Sir, if I may know your name?"

"Aoshi Shinomori."

"Thank you, Shinomori-san."

Hanabi turned with new understanding in her brown eyes. Misao heaved a long-suffering sigh.

"This is the person you run from? Is he a guardian or a suitor?"

"Both and neither."

"Well, he is very handsome, though not very warm. We will be hard pressed to keep your identity concealed." Hanabi pulled out a jar of makeup. "Best wear your mask at all times now. I will bind your back and chest." She began blackening the skin around Misao's eyes. "It may be best for you to conceal your eyes altogether. I have a very fine dark blue handkerchief that could be a veil. At night it would be too dangerous for you to wear, but perhaps during the day."

Misao marveled at the quick acceptance of the situation and began dressing herself in Jiei's costume. As they began fitting the gauzy piece of cloth over her face, Hanabi giggled. "This is so much fun!"

Misao smiled weakly back.