I was standing in front of the large mansion completely soaked. Rain began to pour down about half an hour ago. The dirt path had become increasingly slippery and in my half daze I had actually fallen over. My feet hurt from stepping on all the sharp rocks as the dirt was being washed away. I had been thinking about this day ever since Misao and I started on our trip, but never thought it would take me like this. I made my way up the stone steps and kicked the large door open. The house was bathed in darkness, occasionally lit by the flashing of lightning. I walked inside and found white sheets draped over the furniture in the main room. Curtains from the windows had been torn down to let in light as though someone had been here. I had stiffened trying to sense a presence but could not detect anything. The house was cold and I grabbed one of the dusty sheets throwing it over my shoulders and began walking down the long hallway. I noticed a door was ajar, lightning flickering through the gap. I cautiously pushed the door opened noticing it was the library. I had been in here many times. Hannya had jumped down from a whole in the ceiling. He was injured as where the others. A fight with Himura and Sagara, trying to kidnap Takani Megumi. They had failed. Then she was recaptured; she'd run away from the Kamiya girl's dojo and was found once more.
I brushed my hands over the dusty books that still lay stacked in the shelves. He had many books on what I could not read nor remember. I remember he was here in the library with me. We were talking…
Kanryuu: All right, but we can do without worthless trash like Beshimi and Hyotokko! I won't stand for those who can't live up to their salaries!
Aoshi: You "won't stand for it"? Make no mistake. The leader of the Oniwabanshuu is not you. (seizing him by the front of his shirt) The Oniwabanshuu is mine. And I won't allow anyone to speak badly of them! (releasing him) To continue, their target is Takani Megumi. She is confined in the third floor observation tower. Now go count your money and leave this to me.
"BASTARD!" I had yelled throwing anything I got my hands on and tossed them around the darkened room. I was one for control and yet all these emotions, these memories where coming out at once, not letting me bare them individually. I was being forced to remember, forced to show my pain and my guilt. I had faintly heard the crashing of different objects as they hit the far wall and turned walking out of the room. I could faintly smell blood, my own blood. In my carelessness I had injured myself already. I do not care! A voice inside of me spoke.
I now stood in the ballroom, the inevitable place my fellow companions had been ruthlessly murdered. I looked up seeing the large stairs heading up to the second floor. Many more would be heading up to the tower, the tower Takani Megumi had been held captive in…
(In the tower, Megumi is coming to her senses.)
Aoshi: You're awake.
Megumi: This is . . . the tower? What on earth . . .
Aoshi: The men from the Kamiya Dojo have come to get you back. They've already defeated the soldiers.
Megumi: Fools. Even though I ran off, they stillthey're fools, every one of them.
(Her short sword clatters to the floor.)
Aoshi: That's yours. I'm returning it. It's better not to get your hopes up. They'll never make it up here. In an hour, you'll have nothing to prevent Kanryuu from torturing you. A painful life or an easy death. Choose your own path. We aren't concerned with Kanryuu's drugs or money. What we care about is the fight. We came to fight for this shady smuggling business, and thanks to you, we have some worthy enemies. This is my thanks. You're one of little luck, so I have some sympathy. What you do with it is not my concern.
I had fisted my hands hearing that conversation run through me. Megumi-san had been forced to take over the making of opium for Kanryuu. The main doctor had died and now she was being forced to do it on her own. I had not helped her in any way. I couldn't have cared less about her well being and yet there were people out there willing to sacrifice their lives to give her a life. Himura…and Sagara. She was in desperate need of help and I refused. I had given her a choice though. Life or death, after all Kanryuu was going to torture her, in many ways unimaginable. She was a good person deep inside and she was saved, by them, by the once Hitokiri Battousai. The one I wished to fight, to take the title of the strongest from...
Aoshi: I said it before. You can't stop this flood of movement. You're slowed by wounds from head to foot . . . It's over, Himura Battousai!
(Kenshin's sword is knocked out of his hands.)
Yahiko: Kenshin!
Kenshin: I certainly can't stop your flood of movement. But, when you move to attack from the Kaiten Kenbu, for an instant, it's a different story.
(He grasps the kodachi between his two palms.)
Yahiko: The shirabadori!
Kenshin: In the five hundred schools of kenjutsu, there is only one way to catch a sword barehanded. In all of kempo, there is none. Aoshi, if you want the title of "strongest," it's yours. It's not something I'm proud of. Right now, saving someone, and returning to someone who's waiting
(He twists the blade out of Aoshi's hands and drives it into his throat again.)
Kenshin:is a thousand times more important!
I fisted my hands, feeling the blood seeping out. I was looking at the carpeted stairs. Himura was right. He never wanted that title for himself it had just been given to him, for his past as the Battousai. He was trying to make amends, trying to save lives, to make the Meiji Era a safer place, one of peace. I so foolishly thought that title would be of some good to the Oniwabanshuu. I was wrong. It brought nothing but death. I had lost to Himura and Kanryuu had turned on his guards, but then again, he was always an enemy and it should never have surprised me.
Lightning had flashed again, dousing the ballroom in light. My head turned noticing the still broken gattling gun Kanryuu had used. I closed my eyes knowing this memory off by heart. It effected me everyday, was in my thoughts everyday. He had brought it out and fired, bullets went everywhere and I was struck in the leg. I opened my eyes noticing I was now on the floor, I had fallen over, hearing the shots thinking it was happening all over again. My eyes had widened as the voices of the others could be faintly heard. It was happening again…
Kanryuu: Aoshi's firsthe can't move!
Shijuksho: No!
(He dives into front of the bullets.)
Sanosuke: Shijuksho!
Aoshi: Shiju. . .
Shijuksho: Don't look like that. I am content. Ever since I used that medicine, my muscles have been my pride. That they could be a bullet-proof shield is proof . . .
Kanryuu: That lump of meattwo hundred bullets should have pulverized him!
Hyotokko (bursting in through another set of doors): Hold it! Your opponent is the great Hyotokko! Don't shoot! If you hit me the oil sack will catch fire and we'll all go up in smoke!
Kanryuu: Then try this!
(He shoots him in the head.)
Aoshi: Hyotokko!
Hyotokko: He got me . . . Beshimi!
(Beshimi breaks out of the barrel on Hyotokko's back.)
Beshimi: Poisoned Rasen
(Kanryuu fills him with bullets before he can throw the pellet.)
Beshimi: O . . . Okashira, I didn't think this would work . . . They called us the useless bastards with only one trick to perform . . . but we didn't abandon the Oniwabanshuu, we gave our lives for our Okashira . . . I'm sorry . . . I guess we weren't much help . . .
Aoshi: Beshimi!
Kanryuu: Phew. That was close. That street performer's trick could have done for me.
Sanosuke: That bastard . . .
Hannya: Battousai. How long would it take you to pick up the reverse blade and stop Kanryuu?
Kenshin: Fifteen . . . no, ten seconds.
Hannya: Ten seconds. That's cutting it close.
Kenshin: What?
Hannya: Look. If you go up that second flight of stairs, there's a small observatory. Takani Megumi is imprisoned there.
Kenshin: Hannya . . .?
Hannya: I have no special reason to think of the girl. Lord Aoshi is more important. After this it's up to you. Himura Battousai.
Kenshin: Wait, Hannya!
(Hannya rushes out. Kenshin reaches his sword just as Hannya is cut down.)
Kanryuu: That's far enough, Battousai! To use that monster as a decoy is a cold trick worthy of the Hitokiri! But in the end you'll all die in vain! Die!
(He turns the handle. The gun is silent.)
Kenshin: Take a good look. It can fire two hundred bullets per minute. You've been firing blindly for some time now. They have not died for nothing. The lives of the Oniwabanshuu have defeated your Gattling gun. Now try begging the Lord God Money for your life!
(He strikes. Kanryuu collapses, twisted and broken.)
Yahiko: You're just lucky Kenshin doesn't kill.
(Aoshi stands in the center of the ballroom, surrounded by the bodies of the Oniwabanshuu. Kenshin puts a hand on Sanosuke's shoulder.)
Kenshin: Now, he might rather be alone.
Sanosuke: You're right.
Kenshin: Let's go. Miss Megumi's waiting.
I was a crumbled heap on the floor in the ballroom. They died, to protect me. I couldn't do anything. I sat…and watched them shield me. It was my fault I should have seen this coming from a mile away. Where had my omnitsu skills gone? Did I not care for their well being? NO! I did care! I DID CARE! I had rolled over onto my back, the sheet no longer over me, nor did I care. I stare blankly up at the ceiling and watched the scene unfold again. First Shijuksho, then Hyotokko and Beshimi and last was Hannya. I placed my bloody hands over my face covering my eyes wanting the memory to disappear. '…but we didn't abandon the Oniwabanshuu, we gave our lives for our Okashira…' I took my hands away hearing that. Yes they saved me, they all did and they would have done it over and over again if they were able too.
"I would have done the same." I spoke out loud to no one. The room was becoming brighter, I could see more clearly in the room. Bright yellow and orange was beaming through the glass windows. It was morning already? How long have I been here? I had thought to myself. My body began to shiver and I didn't stop it. My eyes were closing, I was becoming weaker. Was I tired, or loosing so much blood that I was going to die? I did not care. Perhaps I'll see them again, just one more time. I had closed my eyes; my body relaxing into the darkness…it was taking me away…taking me to another place…
Xxxxxx BEGIN DREAM xxxxxX
I stood on a dirt path and looked down noticing I was still wearing my summer yukata, the one I wore to bed. My hands were bloody and my side ached immensely. I had lost my kodachi's and turned to my left and stepped in that direction. It was Hannya, Beshimi, Hyotokko and Shijuksho. They were standing there, nothing was wrong with them at all. I began walking towards them an actual smile breaking out onto my usually hardened face. They were coming closer and Hannya spoke to me.
"We can't let you come Aoshi-sama? We can't bring you with us."
"Where am I?" I spoke stopping in my tracks looking at my four friends, my four companions.
"Consider it a fork in the road. You have two choices…to come with us or stay with them." I watched as Beshimi and Hyotokko pointed and I turned around seeing The Aoiya members, Okina, Okon, Omasu, Shiro and Kuro. It changed again…Himura, Kaoru-san, and Megumi-san, that boy Yahiko, Sagara and Genzai-sensei and his grand daughters.
"No…I want to come with you." I had spoken turning around and began walking towards them. I stopped again when they shook their heads negatively at me.
"For once we must refuse your request okashira." Shijuksho had spoken.
"What about her then?" Hannya spoke tilting his head and my head turned over my shoulder. There stood Misao, wearing the kimono she had borrowed from Kaoru-san. I had turned fully around now watching her face. Her eyes sparkled and she was waving, waving at me. She was saying something; something I couldn't hear or understand and I turned back around facing my friends once more.
"You can't…you can't make me choose." I spoke in a low voice.
"Then come with us, but before you do, look behind you again and see what happens when you are gone." I turned around and my eyes widen. I was staring at my own gravestone; it was placed in the forest, near the Aoiya. A cloaked figure brushed dead leaves off of it but I knew those delicate fingers, they belonged to the one who had stolen my heart. A pouch full of kunai's lay beside the headstone. Misao stood up and began walking away; the hood had fallen off by the force of the wind. Those blue eyes were sad, alone and red from crying so much. She was walking away, moving closer to the edge and my breath caught as she stared down into the endless blackness below. Misao turned around, facing my grave, then her head turned upwards, she was smiling, but it was a forced smile. She had taken her cloak off, dropping it to the grass and my eyes widened; she was older, matured more as well. She must be about 22 or 24 I wasn't too sure. She was beautiful and what was surprising was she wore my ninja top and held my sheathed kodachi's. I watched horrified as she stepped backwards away from the edge falling over and plummeting into the darkness. My hands raised up to try and grab hers but she had closed her eyes, a sweet smile crossing over those pink lips and she held my kodachi's to her heart. I was stepping forward watching her descending into the darkness away from me.
"Misao…" I had whispered and before I knew it I was running towards the scene wanting to save her from doing something so stupid.
"You have chosen wise Aoshi-sama." I turned hearing those faded voices to see my companions disappearing before me. I knew tears fell from my eyes, something very unnatural for me but they had spoken again and then disappeared altogether.
"You know she can't be without you Aoshi-sama and you without her as well. We'll wait for you here, when it is time for both of you to come, well be here waiting for our Okashira and our Misao-chan. Go back to her, she is waiting for you."
Xxxxxx END DREAM xxxxxX
I was still lying on the cold floor, my eyes opening, they were so heavy, they wanted to close but I refused, my stubbornness being known. I was like ice; I was so cold, so terribly cold. A draft blew through the hall, probably from the front door being left open. My body felt so heavy but I had lifted my bloody hand to my face feeling the dampness on my cheeks. I was crying, something I never did, I thought it was only in my dream… My eyes had widened as another memory came to my mind.
(Aoshi appears standing atop a wall, holding the four heads of the Oniwabanshuu. The police freeze at the sight.)
Chief: What are you doing? Seize him
Sanosuke (silencing him): Stop, or he'll just kill them. (to Aoshi) It's not your fault. You couldn't stop the Gattling gun. They died for you, but they don't want revenge.
Kenshin: Aoshi . . . if you can't forgive yourself, then fight me again now. Fight and destroy me. And lay the name of "strongest" on their graves.
Aoshi (turning away): Battousai. Until I kill you, no one will.
(He disappears.)
How twisted was I then, but could anyone really blame me. My four best men had been killed before me, what was I supposed to do? Go on like nothing ever happened? Sagara…Sano…He was right they did die for me, they did destroy the gattling gun and they would never have wanted revenge. Even Misao was right…she was younger then I but she knew what was right. She had such a heavy burden placed on her shoulders taking up the role of leader. She had loved me all her life and it would have broken her heart to see all of my madness. She would have taken me down, I was enemy then and she would have done it no matter how much it ripped inside of her or made her cry, she still would have killed me. I was becoming a disturber, a maniac and needed to be set free. Death however was not the way. Himura of all people brought me back. He made a promise to Misao; he'd bring me back, back to her. She was 16 then…I had missed 10 years of her life, ten years she had grown, matured and become more skillful. She left the Aoiya coming to find me…her Aoshi-sama.
I coughed loudly, my breathing becoming shallow, weaker at that. Was I dying? Was I to die in Kanryuu's mansion, just as he planned all those years ago?
My fogged up mind could register that 4 presence's where now in the mansion. They were no bandits either, no enemy...people I knew, one presence I knew extremely well.
"AOSHI-SAMA!" It was Misao…there were faint voices, my mind registering them as Himura, Sagara and Yahiko. I had lost my voice, unable to tell them where I was, where I lay…dying…
"AOSHI-SAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMAAAAAA!" The yelling was louder, more urgent and I felt a hand on the side of my head, cupping my cheek while the other rested near my side. I groaned at the pressure. It was so sore there. My eyes opened, focusing on wide blue eyes. Her hand was raised now, dripping with blood, my blood. How did that happen? A small voice inside of me spoke. I had no answer to that question and coughed again finally finding my voice.
"Misao…arigatoo for staying…for caring…I'm…sorry…"
"HIMURA, SANO QUICK! HELP ME!" I had closed my eyes for the final time knowing this was it. At least…I got to see Misao again…
Xx TBC xX
