Chapter 21
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
Kenshin opened his mouth and closed it quite a few times, not knowing what to say. He turned to look at Tokio and she was just as surprised. Finally, he managed to get an answer out of his mouth, "Er... Nothing Toshiko. You should go to sleep... After all of today's adventure."
Toshiko raised a bit of her eyebrow and looked at Tokio, who now had her lips pressed thinly. "Tokio-san... Kenshin... I heard something, and I'm not deaf yet. I'm only sixteen. I want to know what you've been talking about, especially if it means that you are hiding something away from me. Was Soujiro here?" She asked again and received a surprised look from the both of them. Her own eyes widened, she didn't believe any of this. Soujiro, here? He cared? For her? She felt her knees turn into jelly and fell on the floor.
"Toshiko!" "Toshiko-chan!" The both of them yelled.
"What is going on? I want to know." Toshiko said, quietly, yet it sounded like a command.
Tokio stood up and supported Toshiko, "We'll tell you when the rest of the people comes back."
"Iie." The two women look at Kenshin, "I do not think that it is a good idea if everyone knows. The less people know, the less danger he is in."
"Who is he?!" Toshiko asked, annoyed. She was losing her patience. She wanted to know where Soujiro was. No, she needed to know where he was. She needed to know whether he loved her or not, she needed to know why he left. She needed to know if they knew the answer to this. Most importantly, she needed him...
Kenshin mentioned the two of them to sit down, and they complied. "Hajime's not going to be too happy..." Tokio said.
Kenshin nodded, "True, but right now, I really could care less about what Saitoh thinks." He turned his eyes to Toshiko, she had noticed the drop of 'sessha' which meant a really serious thing. "Toshiko, promise me, once you hear about this, do not lose control. If you do, you're putting everyone in danger. And that includes Kaoru-dono, Sano, Megumi, Yahiko, Tae-san and so on... Even Tsubame-chan and Saitoh." After receiving a nod, he continued, "A month ago, around a week before Soujiro left... Saitoh came, remember?" Another nod. "We weren't talking about 'a case a while ago'. Someone has recreated Juppon Gatana."
"Soujiro..." Toshiko said.
"No, Soujiro didn't do something like that. He never would... He has... His own sheath." Kenshin said, fully knowing that Toshiko knew what he was talking about. "And that sheath, is you."
Toshiko sat there with her mouth slightly open in surprise and suddenly said uncertainly, "You're... not joking... Are you?"
"I'm... Sessha is not kidding, this is serious. Saitoh has already sent two ex-Juppon Gatana to spy them, but the both of them are not as strong as Soujiro. He came that day, asking me to look for Soujiro, but found Soujiro in the dojo. When we reached his office, he told Soujiro about the whole situation. Soujiro is in a dangerous situation, de gozaru. He was here when you committed suicide. He was here all along, he just left a little while ago. Soujiro told Tokio that Uedo Kanda was a dangerous man, if he had not been easy on Soujiro during their first duel, Soujiro would have been dead...de gozaru."
"He was here all along until you went to sleep a while ago. I saw him by the gates, then you came and found out, de gozaru." Kenshin finished, "That's about it. Did I leave anything, Tokio-san?"
Tokio nodded, "The fact that he loved you so much he almost showed his emotions at the market. That boy loves you."
Toshiko held back a sob and her eyes glazed over, "I... Never knew... I doubted him..."
Tokio smiled at her sadly, "Then never doubt him again. He never doubted you, don't ever doubt him again. Lastly, don't ever commit suicide, that's the coward's way out. Life is hard for everyone, don't be a coward and die because it feels hard. The older you get, the harder life gets. Remember that... But then again, there are some exceptions to that..." She glanced over that Kenshin. "Himura-san, I hope you don't mind me staying here tonight. I'd like to talk a bit with Toshiko-chan."
Kenshin nodded, "That'll be fine, Sessha hope you don't mind sharing a room with Toshiko?" Tokio shook her head, mentioning that she didn't mind. "I'll get an extra futon for the room."
"Arigatou, Himura-san."
"Arigatou... Minna-san..." Toshiko said while looking at the both of them and suddenly smiled. Everything was all right... Soujiro would do this right, he did all the stuff right. Even though he was only nineteen, she knew he was awfully smart, especially in these fighting stuff. Everything was going to be all right. Everything. Never was she going to doubt him again... At least she'd try not to. Kenshin and Tokio returned the smile. Everything was going to be all right... She had Kenshin, Tokio, Saitoh, everyone. She was not alone in the world. She stood up and went to slide open the door when...
"And don't be too close to Mokaku..." Kenshin added. She turned around and gave a confused look. "I'm pretty sure he's one of the Juppon Gatanas. Just don't suddenly be cold to him. But don't be any nicer to him. Act normal." She nodded her head once and headed out the room, surprised.
As she reached her room, she sat down and hugged the shirt. Tears came down quietly as she cried silently. Soujiro no Baka... You could have told me, you aren't alone in the world. Baka, baka, baka... She smiled a bit, Seta Soujiro, you are getting your butt kicked once you come back. I swear to god.
* * * * *
Soujiro sighed, the minute he had left the dojo, he had wanted to go right back in and keep looking at his Toshiko. Unfortunately, it was getting dark and if he did not return soon, they'd get suspicious. The only good thing that happened today was seeing Toshiko. And of course, not having that... that woman come along.
As he walked to the shrine, he saw a familiar looking woman standing there waiting for someone. Soujiro was sure she was waiting for him and grimaced inwardly. Kiya that irritating woman. Why she was following him, he didn't know. It was probably Uedo-sama's order. He neared and as Kiya got sight of her, she jumped up, excited.
"Sou-chan! Uedo-sama has something to say to you." She smiled up at him.
You're even shorter than Toshiko... He thought to himself, then said out loud, "Arigatou Kiya-san. I'll go see him now."
She surprised him by linking her arm to his and he looked down confused, "I'm coming with you." Soujiro smiled, but frowned inwardly. He wanted to be away from the woman. Now. Soujiro continued smiling the whole time while looking at the beautiful scenery.
The moment he stepped in, he was even more shocked. A new person, standing in front of Uedo-sama, not smiling, simply glaring. He turned around and gave Soujiro a glare of hatred. Soujiro was not scared, but those eyes... Those black eyes reminded him of someone he had just met a while ago. Shocking white hair, black piercing eyes... Instead of showing fear, he smiled at him, no emotions showing on his childish feature. Inside, he was thinking.
"Tenken." Uedo-sama said, he looked up to him, "This is a new recruit. Yukishiro Enishi. He will, from now on, be under your command." Soujiro fought hard not widen up his eyes. Yukishiro Enishi... Previously fought with Himura-san and lost. And Toshiko's brother. What the heck is he doing here, glaring at Uedo-sama?
"Enishi-san." Soujiro greeted and bowed, he looked back at Uedo-sama, "Is there anything more, Uedo-sama?" With a shake of his head, he lead Enishi out of the room and into his own room with him glaring at him the whole time. "Get in here." Soujiro hissed and Enishi pulled away even more. "Yukishiro Enishi, brother of Tomoe-san and Toshiko. Get in here before anyone get suspicious." Soujiro whispered in his ear.
Enishi immediately walked in the room without a fuss, but the second the door closed, Enishi pushed Soujiro forcefully against the wall, knocking the wind out of him. "Who the hell are you?" Enishi asked, his voice cold.
Soujiro, feeling no one was outside or anywhere near whispered, "Let go of me, Enishi-san. Seta Soujiro, also called Tenken no Soujiro here. Why are you here?"
"How the hell do you know Neechan and Toshiko?" He asked murderously.
"Himura-san. Toshiko's my friend and she's staying at Himura-san's right now. And don't you dare go there or you're going to put her in danger. Then I'll be the one pushing you towards the wall. Now answer my question." Soujiro said coldly, still having a smile on his face and not losing any emotions.
Enishi relaxed at Soujiro's protectiveness towards her sister. Even though he had loved Tomoe more than he had loved Toshiko, he hadn't seen his little sister in ages. And he did miss her. "That damned bastard used Toshiko to threaten me into joining." After the sentence, he had already felt Soujiro's anger flaming up easily and was worried. "Tenken?"
Soujiro shook his head forcefully, calming his senses. "Daijoubu." He muttered something under his breath and Enishi caught a few words like 'bastard', 'wuss', etc...
Before, he was relaxing at Soujiro's protectiveness, but now he was frowning a bit. He didn't want anything like Tomoe to happen to Toshiko and he'll protect it, even if it took his life in the process. The man standing before him was Tenken no Soujiro, the man standing before him a decade ago was Himura Battousai. To him, it made no big difference, if he were to hurt Toshiko, he would have his head. No matter how much Tomoe had loved him or forgiven him, he still couldn't stop hating him. The fact was, he killed someone very dear to him.
"What's Toshiko to you?" Enishi asked and caught Soujiro by surprised.
He instantly snapped his head up to Enishi, who had now fully let go of him, "What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean." Enishi replied, not too happy about the answer Soujiro was giving him. "You tell me everything now before I kick your ass."
Soujiro frowned, I doubt you could kick my ass... "Toshiko wouldn't like my rear kicked very much..." Then added under his breath, "Well... Actually, considering now... Maybe she'd like my rear to get kicked."
Enishi frowned at Soujiro, he had heard the last bit, even though he was saying that quietly. "What did you say?"
Soujiro shook his head, "Nothing..." And received a glare, "I can't tell you..." Then he turned his head towards the door and waited for the two person outside to knock. As they did, Soujiro said, "Chou-san, Kamatari-san. Come in."
"Sou-chan," Kamatari said, "There's a meeting outside in thirty minutes." Then he said, "Yukishiro, maybe you should take a bath before going to the meeting. You stink."
"Why you stupid woman..." Enishi growled.
"Man..." Chou corrected.
Enishi's face was a look of surprise, "What the... Stupid girly-man..." Enishi grumbled. Kamatari frowned and countered him with a 'white haired freak' and they had both gone into an argument. Suddenly, Soujiro smiled a real smile. It felt like home... The dojo, actually. Enishi being Yahiko-kun, Kamatari being Kaoru-san... Not until now had he realized that he had missed them all too. And of course, his lovely Toshiko.
Naomi – I wouldn't let Toshiko die like that. No way. Arigatou for the html, Naomi!
DiaBLo – lol... 0_o is right. I wonder what she was thinking... ^^
XenoMark – I guess I didn't want Saitoh's wife to be a normal housewife and be weak.
EvaYasha – I think so ^^
Chiki – I know what you mean, ff.net is always crashing...
Author's Notes: Is it me, or is ff.net crashing everyday at least once? Anyways, thanks for all the reviews, I might have rushed this chapter a bit... Gomen it came out so slow. ff.net crashed. Again. But I have three tests on Friday, so yeah. Thanks all! See you later.
