Disclaimer:.....you know that
I don't own anyone right? RIGHT?! Good..Well except for a few people that I
will make up in the beginning!
Chapter 9: Thoughts on Past's Future
~~-This poem was from a dear friend of mine, and
I hope that I can use it ^_^
Candle
Candle in the night
Your dying voice does fade
Yet bright are your eyes
Blessing each tender moment
Your every breath intriguing
Words sweet without regret
A joyous view upon your life
Though it will flee in time
Welcoming death with warm embrace
But unforgotten is the beauty of life
I still am at a loss of words
No understanding of your mind...
Intricate is your peaceful heart
My heart weeps at thought of you
Emptiness will shatter my soul
Without you I am never whole
~*~*~
Urako walked up the steps of Tokyo's Police
Station, wanting this whole event to be over quickly. She wanted to get out of
the Past, though at the same time stay here. It felt more comfortable
here, it felt more like home. Though she knew that it would never be
because her brother, her friends, and her fiancée weren't with her.
Many Policemen walked briskly in and out of the
building; some with paperwork and others rushing to their posts. She glanced
around the cream colored walls of the establishment, spotting many pictures of
past Police officers. Old and faded, just like her heart.
She pulled her vision from the walls and saw a crescent
shaped desk at the end of the hall.
She reached the cedar desk and asked the serving
police man, "Is Officer Saitoh available?"
The man looked from behind the desk, quirking
his eyebrow at her question.
"Excuse me? Officer Saitoh? No, we wouldn't
recruit Shinsengumi to this Police Department! That would dishonor us greatly!"
he shouted to her.
Urako frowned but didn't back away, and replied,
"Well is the head officer available?"
"Officer Fujita Goro? Hold on, let me look," he
said as he left the desk and went into a nearby door.
'Fujita Goro? I wonder if he changed his name to
stay in the Police Department...' Urako thought, as she patiently awaited
Saitoh-no, Fujita's appearance.
"Excuse me, Kenshin Himura?" a young officer
tapped her shoulder.
Urako turned around and looked into the other
officer's eyes, awaiting an explanation.
"Officer Fujita Goro is known as Saitoh to me
and his wife. How, may I ask, did you come around to know it?" he
whispered worriedly.
"And what is your name young officer?" she
asked, trying to make her voice a little more masculine.
"Anzai, sir," he bowed respectfully.
"Well Anzai, let's just say that Fujita Goro and
I go way back; we're friends, well maybe just mutual acquaintances," she
replied, looking for any sign of the Wolf.
"So I see Mr. Himura. I believe that Officer
Fujita Goro is in his quarters, sifting through paperwork," Anzai said as he
bowed and left.
"Many thanks, I'm sure," Urako murmured, as she
kept her gaze on the cherry stained door that the serving man went into.
'I wasn't graced with the longest patience in
the world Saitoh!' she yelled in her head, as she finally became fed up and
walked towards the cherry-stained door.
Instead of knocking, like any respectable
Japanese man(and woman) would do, she barged in glaring.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Shit, it's raining!" Sano cursed as he was
about to put the bait in the water.
"Awww man! I was looking forward to having
Kenshin cook fish for us, instead of always having tofu!" whined Yahiko, as he
bunched up his arms and leaned against a nearby tree.
The clouds were darker now than they were before
the two set out to catch some fish, and thus had started raining. The chilly
wind occasionally whipped across their bare faces, forcing them to shiver and
hide behind their gi sleeves.
"Well, I guess we should pack up and return to
the dojo," Sano sighed as he plucked up his fishing pole from the water.
"Yeah, I guess," Yahiko agreed, as he lifted
himself off the dampened tree and followed Sano.
The darkening clouds gathered closer together,
making more shadows appear on the dampened earth. The two trudged along
the bushes, making their way to the dojo.
The two walked on until they saw the broken
gates of the dojo. Sano and Yahiko's eyes bulged as they thought of every
worst scenario. Their calm walking turned to fast paced running as they entered
the dojo grounds. Meeting their eyes was a group of four burly men lying
on the ground and no one around.
"Missy? Kenshin?" Sano hollered, fear clenching
his nerves. 'What happened here?' he thought as he and Yahiko looked around
quickly.
"Hey Ugly!!!! Where are you?" Yahiko shouted,
his cinnamon eyes searching quickly around the seemingly deserted dojo.
"Hey, kid...go and get the police!" Sano said,
as he dashed to the other side of the Kamiya dojo.
Yahiko was about to agree, but then caught sight
of Kaoru walking out of her dojo, eyes slightly red.
'What's going on with her?' Yahiko thought, as
he rushed to her.
"SANO! They are here!" Yahiko yelled over his
shoulder, as he ran to Kaoru.
Kaoru looked a little, odd, somehow to Yahiko.
He couldn't explain it. The air around her just seemed different,
somehow.
'What the hell is going on?' Yahiko asked
himself.
"Kaoru..?" Yahiko asked hesitantly.
"Tell Sano to come in the kitchen....there is
something I must tell you all," Kaoru replied in monotone.
"Where's-" Yahiko started.
"Do as she asks, Yahiko," Kenshin interrupted
behind him, as he followed Kaoru into the kitchen.
Yahiko nodded mutely, and ran to get Sano.
'What's up with them?' Yahiko thought as he ran
to the side of the dojo.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sano knew he felt something earlier that
morning, especially when Urako had those visions. Something was going to
happen, and it was going to be soon. He didn't know how or why, he just
felt it.
'Like when Captain Sagara and the Sekihó were
slaughtered...somethin' inside me just....released itself...' Sano thought, his
brow furrowed.
For some reason Sano knew that Kaoru and Kenshin
were alright...he just....felt it....
He always had, though never really paid any
attention to it until now. He thought at first it was his fighter's sense,
sensing Kaoru and Kenshin's ki signatures. But, now, just looking for them, he
didn't really think so. He didn't know where they were, he just felt them, and
mentally he knew that they were ok.
His late father never told him where he actually
came from, looking scared every time Sanosuke brought it up. His mother would
only force a smile and say, "Uniqueness is your strong point as well as your
strong will." He would never understand that but he smiled anyway.
Now, he thought maybe they knew something of his
real parents, something of who he truly was as a human, if that were the case.
"Sano! Kaoru told me to get you and to bring you
in the kitchen. She wants to tell us something!" Yahiko said as he ran up to
him and pointed to the kitchen area.
"Alright," Sano replied. 'I have a feeling I
know what this is about,' he thought as he followed Yahiko into the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~
She knew this day would come, knew that all her
and her family's hard work would finally pay off. She kept all her and
her family's memories in her beloved journal; waiting to be unleashed and known
to the next world.
Kaoru walked into the kitchen area and sat down
on the tatami mats, the silence suffocating her. She smoothed out her kimono; a
nervous habit of hers and awaited the arrival of the others.
Kenshin hesitantly followed suit, staring at
Kaoru intently.
'What does she want to reveal to us? Whatever it
is, it must be important to not even inform me about, that it is,' Kenshin
thought worriedly.
"Ok ugly, first you scare Sano and I with your
absence and now your attitude is all different! What is going on?" Yahiko
stated outwardly and plopped down near Kaoru.
Kaoru arched an eyebrow at Yahiko, and smirked a
little. 'Little Yahiko.., I hope this is a burden that isn't too heavy for your
shoulders,' she thought, replacing the smirk with a slight frown.
"Missy...I think I understand what's going
on..," Sano tried to explain as he sat down as well.
"Oro? What is going on Kaoru?" Kenshin asked,
utterly confused.
Kaoru sighed heavily and faced all her friends
and replied, "It isn't easy, but you must promise to believe me."
Yahiko shrugged noncommittally, Sano nodded, and
Kenshin-"oro?"-ed, hesitantly nodding as well.
"Alright, it all began about 1000 years
ago....."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~
Darkness and unrest ruled the land and used the
flames of hell to scour and burn the earth. Charred and useless, the villagers
walked away from their lands hungry and homeless. The cries and wails of the
dying filled the air, as well as the shouts and screams of pain. The
innocent people were being killed, their blood staining evil's sword. Hope no
longer resided here amidst the minds of the survivors. Hope, as they saw it,
died along with their loved ones and friends. It lied beneath the charred
ground; lying with the worms and refuse of the world.
Slaughter was a common thing in those days, you
either died or waited to be killed. Blood was like water then; soaking
into the ground and covering all with its liquefied form.
My companions and I had heard of this place; a
place where Hell itself was said to reside. Never having seen such blood
lust, some of them fled; fear striking in their souls. But, the few that were
left, were sent to fulfill a prophecy made by an aging seer.
~~~Rising from the bloodied dawn
Will be the soldiers
with mighty brawn
Life to Death and Death
to Life
The survival of Us is
by a Knife
The beasts of
foreign blood
Shall with
cunning and haste scud
To where Hell's Gates gape
To stop the innocent
scrape~~~~
Our leader, Gennosuke Ippitsusai, accepted and
lead our bravest warriors, including myself out there. We were beasts, as some
called us. Taking the forms of humans when necessary, but our original forms
were for hunting our food. My beast form was that of a graceful but dangerous
black panther. Our forms resemble what our true nature is; for others it may be
a bird of some sort. Genno's form was a great white tiger, a leader at heart
and a soldier at will.
Throughout the bloody battle and merciless
slaughter, our army strived for Peace by killing the demonic beings that killed
the innocents without thought. Days turned to months, and soon even years
passed by us. Our armies were growing tired and worn, wanting to end this
endless fight with the legionous waves of demons. Our numbers dwindled and hope
faded, much like it had with the villagers. Insanity ruled the weak minded
while the sane tried to fight off weariness.
One day, our hope was respired when the news of
the demon's drained forces reached our tired but grateful ears. Genno gathered
what little of our forces he could find and ran straight through their strong
throng. We turned into our beast forms as a last mode of attack, clawing,
slashing, and blinding our foes. Our leader, was then struck through the heart
by a sturdy spade. I fell to my knees, retaining my human form again, as tears
stained my porcelain like face. To lose him was never in my line of
thinking, I always thought him strong and indestructible. As his blood poured
onto my hands, he began to speak to me.
'Tsuki..you must promise me...promise me that
you'll stay alive....' he coughed up some blood as I held his head. I had felt
so helpless just sitting there amidst the battle, holding my lifelong friend in
my arms as he died.
I nodded and whispered, 'Yes..I..I promise...'
My tears clogged my eyes and my sobs wracked my body as I felt him slipping
away.
He smiled at me and replied, 'Don't worry young
one, I and the rest of us shall be reincarnated-the chosen ones."
My eyes widened with happiness and confusion and
asked, 'H-How? Why?'
He smiled at me and said, 'The seer told me of
another prophecy Tsuki. -'Your reincarnation is to wait until a man of
past blood comes at her door-he will be her life and love. Through her
and him will be born a babe of power and will be looked upon as a leader. She
will come back to lead us against the blood that was wrongly spilt. She will
relocate the others and we shall rise again to defeat this undying evil..'-that
is all...she ....said..' He smiled one last time and fell limp in my arms.
A cry of pain brought me back to reality as I
watched my friends get slaughtered by our foes. I suddenly felt my
muscles again as I felt an overwhelming feeling to kill the demonic beings.
Many of my brethren fought along side me, destroying the last of the demon
hordes. Alas, I was the only beast left standing amidst the dead and
decaying. Their stench infiltrating my nose, causing me to cough. Even
though the beasts won, I felt loss and death instead. For a few more
years I would live with the nightmares of the battle, even with my new husband
and four sons, until my death.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You've got to be joking Kaoru," Yahiko said out
loud.
"Shut-up you little brat! And I'm not joking!
I'm Tsuki Shiruba's reincarnation! Ritoru Tsuwamono is yours 'Little
Yahiko'! Hebun Sentou is Sano's, Mujitsu Masamune is Misao's,
Setsuyaku o-Rurisukusu is Megumi's, and Shiro Chishio is
Kenshin's," Kaoru huffed.
"But what about-" Kenshin started.
"And who is Gennosuke's?" Urako asked from
behind.
"Whoa Urako don't scare the crap out of us like
that!" Sano yelled, holding his chest with his hand.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation
Sano. You were just soooo into that story," she replied smirking.
"But, how did you-" Sano asked.
"I'm from the future, and I read the journal.
Though, it seems as if the prophecy was wrong,"
"How's that?" Yahiko asked.
"When I read the journal, a long period of time
was skipped, and the words sounded sorrowful," she replied, looking thoughtful.
"Could you...tell us?" Kaoru asked hesitantly.
"I would if I understood the inscription. It
sounded almost as if something were lost or taken away...," she said, trailing
off.
"So...what's with this whole prophecy thing? Are
we supposed to save the world or something?" Yahiko asked Kaoru.
"No, I think it's just a matter of unfinished
business. Evil still rules in this world, even though it isn't as brutal or as
thoughtless as it was before. It still has many different forms and many
different carriers," Kaoru responded with a sigh.
"Oro...does that mean that we can change into
different beasts?" Kenshin asked Kaoru, trying to figure out this whole mess.
"No, since then, the blood of the beasts has
been thinned and can only be seen through our strength. For instance, you,
Kenshin, are a dragon, since your sword style requires much strength, will, and
determination," Urako replied.
"So that means that Sano here is a rooster?
Hahaha!! So he really is a Rooster-head!!" Yahiko laughed.
Sano glared at Yahiko, "Shut up kid, or soon
you'll be the crap on the underside of my shoe!"
Yahiko gulped but couldn't stop his continuous
giggling.
"Now, now you two....each one of us has a
different and special strength," Kenshin soothed.
"So...what are we supposed to do?" Sano asked,
scratching his head in confusion.
"Wait two days, and take down the Tikara Ryu,"
Urako replied easily.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Misao was still daydreaming of her Lord Aoshi
and her going together to see Miss Kaoru and Himura.
'And soon, it'll be reality!' she squealed
delightfully in her head.
Misao was being dragged through the Aoiya by her
friends, Okon and Omasu. They laughed and giggled secretively at their
love-sick friend as they hauled Misao up the stairs to help her start packing.
Misao inhaled fully, gathering up the pine scent
in her nostrils. Her mind wandered, from Aoshi, to Aoshi, to Aoshi. But, then
it suddenly landed on her encounter with the dark figure from her past.
'He still feels like bad news to me, even if he
has taken that damn vow,' Misao thought, eyes staring into nothing.
Misao had felt something react inside her when
Soujiro returned, smiling still. After all that has happened, she still
felt uneasy around him. He was still as much as an enigma as he was
before.
~*~*~*FLASHBACK**~*~*~*~*~
"You're a beast Misao, a reincarnation of a
powerful beast. The prophecy is almost fulfilled, and soon, the
babe will be born and all evil will vanquish," he had said.
"Wha-What? I'm a what? A beast? That's absurd!"
Misao retorted quickly, her mind racing for even the slightest possibility that
what Soujiro said was true.
Soujiro smiled again, and replied, "Misao, you
should be happy, the evils in the world will disappear and happiness will reign
supreme once more."
Misao frowned at that and thought, 'But. well,
even though I am happy that evil will cease to be...shouldn't there be a
balance? Good with Evil? You can't just have Good or just Evil...there needs to
be a balance between such powerful forces.'
Misao stared intently at Soujiro, growing
confusion within her mind and asked, "But-
"You will know in a few days, but tell no one of
my appearance. This must be kept a secret, for the safety of the babe and the
world," Soujiro said swiftly and bowed as he disappeared from sight.
"But. why?" Misao asked the darkness.
'Especially since he was so quick to bring pain
and death to those less strong than he only 5 months ago...This just seems
creepy,' she thought as she turned and headed for the Aoiya.
~*~*~**~*~END OF FLASHBACK~*~*~*~*~*~
There is always a reason for everything that
happens to us; some underlying meaning that we don't get then but suddenly
realize years later. And Misao was certain that Soujiro's appearance meant
something other than what he was sent to tell her.
Misao's usual cheery smile slowly turned into a
frown of thought. 'Something is buggin' me......and I'm pretty sure it has
something to do with Himura and Kaoru. And it isn't just because Soujiro
came by. I feel....I feel like something is going to happen...,' she
thought.
The trio soon reached Misao's room, and Misao
was abruptly pulled out of her broodings by Okon and Omasu's chatting.
Okon snapped her fingers in front of Misao,
"Ohhhh Misao....Earth to Misao....MISAO!"
"What?!" Misao yelled, as she finally came to.
Okon and Omasu just laughed and shook their
heads saying, "I think Aoshi is getting to your head."
Misao cracked a smile and nodded in agreement,
even though her mind was swirling with unanswered questions.
She shook her head, and helped her friends pick
out clothes for her to wear in Tokyo.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Has anyone seen the Fox?" Sano asked, as he
plopped another rice ball into his huge mouth.
"No...she may have gone back to the clinic and
just didn't tell us," Kaoru suggested, as she looked up from her soup bowl.
The whole group talked endlessly for a few hours
about the whole prophecy, a few still a little skeptical. Urako offered her
knowledge from the future, saying what she read. It wasn't much, some chicken
scratch for quick notes about how the prophecy failed, and how evil would rule
the world. Urako discussed how depression, hatred, and sorrow were the main
emotions found in the world, instead of love, happiness, and joy. Everyone
there were zombies, people too focused on the bad side of life to really enjoy
it. It seemed peace was once again out of people's grasp. Many people there had
lost the will to enjoy life, taking it for granted and not loving it. Consumed
by greed, powerful nations fought over land and who was morally just in the
world. It seemed as though evil was using human emotion to rule and corrupt
people to do its bidding.
"I saw her leave earlier, she went back to Dr. Genzai,
saying that she stayed too long as it was, and left," Urako said as she sipped
her tea.
"Does she know?" Yahiko asked as he leaned
forward anxiously.
Urako smirked a little at Yahiko's enthusiasm
and replied, "I don't believe so. But, like all the chosen ones, she has a
feeling in her stomach that something is going to happen."
"Oh, so how do we take down the Tikara Ryu?"
Yahiko pressed eagerly.
"Now, now Yahiko I do not think you should get
mixed up with something like this, that I do not," Kenshin interjected lightly.
"Kenshin is right, kid, I don't want you to be
hurt because of my bad judgment," Urako said as she stared at Yahiko intently.
"I won't be hurt! I can look out for myself! I'm
not weak!" Yahiko shouted, his pride damaged.
"That is the kind of cocky attitude that will
get you hurt kid, and I'm not saying that you're weak--I'm saying the enemy is
strong," she lightly reprimanded.
"Why won't you let me help? You're letting ugly
here go! I'm almost as strong as she is!" Yahiko pressed blindly.
"Yahiko-I'm pretty sure everyone here doesn't
want you to die-"
"Then why are you going? There is a chance you
guys might die! And where would I go then?"
Urako sighed, memories of her past flooding her
mind. Screams and cries of pain that only she heard, entered her ears. Her
heart felt heavy and she didn't know what to do. She knew what Yahiko
said was the truth; there was a chance that she might die, let alone any of
them. Death was a risk when living your life. So, what made her so special? Did
she fear dying? No, she didn't. She was so used to seeing it in her line of
work, if it could even be called that, that she didn't even have the sense to
care. She had said so many times before that she'd die for her family, but had
she ever said that she'd live for them?
"I believe that Urako is better equipped for
something as dangerous as this, she has seen blood and death-" Kenshin began.
"And what? I haven't seen blood spilt? I've been
with yakuza's and seen what they do to people if they don't comply with their
wishes, and I've heard their pleas for mercy. Don't tell me that I can't go
just because of that!" Yahiko snapped, his eyes burning with tears.
"Forgive me Yahiko, I didn't mean to dishonor
you, but this isn't a matter of who has seen the most blood. It's a matter of
safety," Urako said as she looked into his lost cinnamon eyes.
"Yahiko, the time will come for you to show your
strength, but now isn't the time. You must become stronger before that
can happen," Kaoru explained comfortingly.
Yahiko sighed in defeat and nodded mutely,
although the fire in his eyes had not been put out.
'I will find a way to help them!' he thought as
he took a bite of a rice ball.
Kenshin glanced wearily at Urako, wondering how
she lived her life when her past came and ruined her future. He saw the pain
that crossed her eyes when Yahiko fought with her about going to help fight the
Tikara Ryu. Barriers, he knew, were a hard thing to let down when you've lived
your whole life trying to put them up.
He looked back down at the steaming soup in
front of him and sighed. He now knew what it felt like for Kaoru when he hid
his true feelings from her behind his mask of indifference.
'Is this the pain that I put Kaoru through? The
pain of not being able to help? Feeling useless when close friends are in
pain?' he thought, realizing how strong Kaoru was in putting up with the
constant stone wall that was his mask.
He looked again at Kaoru, seeing her in a new
light. He smiled and felt hope swell inside him as he thought of ways to help
Urako. He felt stronger in knowing that he could help another out of the lonely
void of existence and help them live life. Before, he thought that keeping to
himself was helping protect his loved ones, when in reality it was pushing them
further away and only protecting himself. How foolish he had been, though he
was glad Kaoru was perceptive enough to see past that and into his heart.
Urako sighed deeply and silently excused herself
from the dining room and walked outside. She glanced at the sky, small
tears falling from the depressed clouds. The sorrowful wind whipped
across her body as she let it dance with her hair. She looked back to where the
four burly men used to be, Saitoh's men having come by and taking them with
them without questions. Her life was a mess, a stressful pile of emotions and prophesized
events. For a moment she wished that she was someone else, someone who lived a
simple life. She chuckled dryly at that, knowing that not only was the thought
selfish but it was impossible.
"I know it's hard, Ms. Urako," a voice flowed
gently behind her.
She sighed and looked down and replied, "Many
things have happened and I haven't the time to understand them or the emotions
attached to them yet."
Kenshin walked to stand beside her and looked at
her depressed features and said, "Sometimes it takes more strength to think and
let ourselves feel than it is to pick up a katana and kill our enemies."
Urako glanced up from her dyed red bangs and into
the comforting purple eyes of Kenshin, wishing they were her brother's eyes.
'Shinta...' she whispered hoarsely in her mind.
"I know you miss him, and that you're doing all
you can to get back to him. As long as you never give up hope then you will see
him again," Kenshin said again when Urako didn't reply.
"How do you know?" Urako asked hoarsely,
searching his purple depths for some sort of definite answer.
Kenshin smiled weakly and replied, "I don't, but
I would keep hope alive by taking that chance."
Urako looked back up to the crying sky again and
closed her eyes. 'So, that's what it is, the not knowing. Am I afraid of not
knowing? Am I afraid of letting my fate be uncontrolled by me? Yes, I am....For
if I do not know then I cannot fix or think of a way to prevent it,' Urako
thought as a small smile cracked on her face.
"You told me that I cannot know all the faults
and evils in the world, and that is true. So I tell you the same.
Sometimes you don't know the answers and sometimes you lose direction, but what
matters is how you get back on track; how you start your life again. When you
feel the strength to look back at your life and try to mend it, you'll have
more power than the emperor himself. Sometimes you must trust strangers with
your life and sometimes you must forgive your enemies. It's hard, I know, but
only through experience can you truly understand my words," Kenshin explained
as he looked up at the sky as well.
Urako squeezed her eyes tighter together as she
felt tears streaming down her face, as Kenshin's words touched her soul. She
needed to be strong for him; for her brother and finance. But it was so hard,
seeing his ancestor here. He looked exactly like him and acted pretty much the
same way. She'd have to tell him that Fujita Goro was his alias to stay a
Policeman in Tokyo, even if he'd never believe her.
"Thank you...Kenshin," she whispered as she
slowly opened her blue orbs.
"I should be thanking you, Ms. Urako, you've
helped me, too, that you have," Kenshin said as he looked back at her.
Wide eyed, she looked back to Kenshin and asked,
"How?"
Her bright blue eyes caught him off guard for a
moment as he thought, 'She has the same eyes as Kaoru that she does.'
"W-Well, you've helped me realize how much my
life means to people, especially to Kaoru," Kenshin said as he smiled.
"You already knew that, you just needed to be
reminded. Kaoru helped you more than I did," Urako replied smirking and
wiped her eyes with her gi sleeves.
"Yea, his Rurouni brain is small behind his
thick skull," Sano bellowed behind them.
"ORO!!" Kenshin exclaimed, falling down the
short stairs leading down to the laundry basin.
"Hello Sano, I'm glad that you've made your
presence clear to us," Urako calmly stated, a smile gracing her features as she
watched the swirly eyed man on the ground.
"Well, it's around one o'clock, and I promised Katsu that I'd beat his ass at gambling today, so
see you later!" Sano said as he walked casually out of the dojo gates, using
his white jacket to cover his head from the droplets of rain.
The others soon came out as well and bade
Sanosuke good bye, though their thoughts were elsewhere. Uncertainty ruled over
their clouded minds as well as anticipation for the adventurous task that lay
ahead, barely 48 hours away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
Trains were evil. Aoshi didn't care if
they were inanimate objects, they deserved to be destroyed. Huge bulky slabs of
metal and steam, and for what? So it would be even harder for people to move it
when it decided not to work?
The train was delayed an hour because some
worthless worker decided not to show up and shovel coal into the fire in the
engine room on the train. Aoshi needed to meditate, if he didn't then he would
all too happily kill the train workers and engineers as well as the metallic
monster from hell. This was probably Shishio's reincarnation to make his life a
living hell. He almost smiled at that thought.
The light pulling on his sleeve pulled him out
of his cynical comment, and his ears were then filled with the shouts of people
around him. He looked down to Misao's bright bluish green eyes and then
focused his sight on her lips. So small and soft.
"Lord Aoshi, the engineer is calling us on the
train, we should be going on now," Misao said, giddiness detected in her voice.
Aoshi nodded mutely as he always did and
followed the small yet hyper woman in front of him. She reminded him of a
hummingbird, always flapping their wings at an incredibly fast pace. But, then
again, everyone called her 'weasel girl'. He supposed she was a weasel, always
able to get in and out of places with important information. Taking her with
him was a big step for him because he rarely let her go out and on missions,
fearing her life would be in danger. At least by this way he could be at her
side, protecting her.
They walked up the ramp and entered the metallic
monster from hell, as Aoshi called it, and down close corridors until they came
upon their room.
"Wooot! I call the window!" Misao bounced to the
window of the small room and looked out.
Aoshi cracked a smile on his usual stoic face as
he watched Misao's happiness glow from her form.
'She could light up a room with just herself.
That smile and those gorgeous eyes....' Aoshi thought lovingly.
Aoshi tore his gaze away from the young woman
and to the used love-seat to the right of him. He hefted the two heavy
bags, both Misao's, on the love-seat and sat next to them. Their whole
compartment was small, being about four feet wide and eight feet long, with
gray interior. Completely depressing. Another thing to add to the 'Why I hate
this metallic monster from hell' list. He let a small smirk grace his face at
the thought.
Misao glanced merrily back at her 'Lord Aoshi',
to see him smiling, well smirking--but at least it was something. His eyes were
closed as he sat comfortably on the love seat. It was a perfect picture,
but something was missing. HER! Why wasn't she on his lap? A million thoughts
raced through her mind telling her why she shouldn't be thinking that way
though a trillion thoughts countered by telling her that she should. A
lot goes in the mind of a love sick young woman. She took a few slow breaths,
calming herself for what she wanted to do.
She approached the meditating bear trap, walking
cautiously towards him. It wasn't that long of a walk, it was just now she had
to take another step into his lap. Though she was unsure of how to go about it.
Her face turned beet red as she thought about many possibilities.
'Calm down Misao...just...breathe....you can do
this...' she chanted in her mind. She focused and narrowed her eyes in
determination as she made another step.
'Wait. I have to turn around in order to sit
down....great...how very dumb of me...' she thought as her face turned even
more red.
As Misao turned around, Aoshi's eyes opened up
and widened at what Misao was doing. He was unsure of what to do, though
in the end decide to let Misao think that his eyes were still closed. The
lightness of her body reminded him of a feather; so light and soft. She inched
herself closer on his legs until her back touched his chest.
Aoshi's face was tinted a light pink, but
something bubbled in his stomach, something warm and comforting.
'Is...is this...love?' he thought as he enjoyed
the feeling of her lying on his chest. He could feel her quick heart beats and
uneasy breathing and knew that she was nervous. His ice-like heart melted even
more so as he wrapped his arms around her little form, protecting her from anything
that might pass by.
Misao's eyes bulged as she felt Aoshi's strong
muscular arms wrap around her. She would have fainted dead away if she
didn't feel the strong beating of his own heart. Her heart then slowed down to
match his and Misao buried her head in Aoshi's trench coat, all questions about
Aoshi's feelings for her answered. Aoshi then smiled a smile that reached his
eyes. He was truly happy like this and with her. When these
dealings with the Battousai and the Tikara Ryu were taken care of, he'd take
her home. They'd be happy; truly, madly, and deeply.
~~~*~*~*~*~
Did he mention that he hated the metallic
monsters from hell? He opened his eyes to find Misao stretching on his lap. The
bell or whatever made that insane sound blared to high heaven again, telling
the train's passengers to get off. He groaned, and wished he could shoot the
thing and have it over with.
'This is probably why people nowadays are more
susceptible to go nuts,' he thought as he massaged his forehead.
It had been raining, it seemed, all day
here. The ground was damp when the two placed their feet upon it.
It sloshed beneath their shoes as they trudged along the road towards the
Kamiya dojo. Aoshi carried Misao's bags in both arms, his own clothes he
carried within his trench coat.
Misao was especially cheery despite the
depressing weather, jumping and humming a tune that she made up. Aoshi watched
her in awe, letting his eyes glide slowly down her form.
'She makes me forget all the depressing events
in my life, she makes my life worth living,' he thought as he felt a tingly
feeling go throughout his whole being.
"Misao," he breathed, "Misao, I..I need to tell
you..," he began lightly.
Misao had stopped and looked to her Okishira,
her friend, and her love with loving eyes full of life. She only smiled and
walked slowly back to him, grasping his hand with her small one. She
placed his cold hand on her face, letting him feel her warmth as she blushed.
"Do you feel that Aoshi? You're alive, and I'll
do all I can to melt your ice barriers. Like your hand on my face, your heart
will warm up," Misao explained as she placed her other hand on his chest,
feeling his heart beating.
Aoshi smiled, his ice eyes glimmering with love
and respect as he nodded. She would wait for him, the mere thought brought and
gave him happiness. He had felt so lost when his friends had been shot and
killed by Kanryu. Blinded by the need to be the best as well as the
unquenched rage that raced through him when he remembered how he was too weak
to protect them, nearly drove him to insanity. But she stood by him, through
everything. Even when he believed that she could not even comprehend what
drove him to do the things he did. After all his failed attempts at pushing her
away, he realized how strong of a girl -no woman, she was. He didn't want her
then because he didn't think she knew what it felt like to lose close friends.
He alienated himself, but she was always there on his mind. It was when
he really thought about it, that he realized that his friends were like family
to her as well. She must have felt so much sadness when she came to know
about them, knowing that she never even got to say good-bye. They were
two lost souls with the same pain only to find out through that pain, that they
were meant for each other. What a bittersweet occurrence. One that he wouldn't
trade for the world.
"Thank you...Misao," he whispered as he bent
over and kissed her head.
*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~
A/N
Awwww...you gotta love the fluff.....*sighs* yes
I am a hopeless romantic ^_^ ---sorry if he seems a little out of
character--but I had to get all the major characters in here together quickly
^^--as well as speed up the time--I know, I take a while in explaining
shit--but I need to do it so that I understand as well as you understand what
the hell is going on ^^
Anyhow...let's see...OH!!! Thankies to the
reviewers, wow my fic is liked maybe even loved!!! *giggles* WooHooo!!! I have
accomplished something ^_^ YAY! hehehehehehe--I'm going to have an A/N party
with the RK gang so look out for that ^_^
Kawai Lara-ChanTHANK YOU for you wonderful
reviews!!! hehehehehe it's always refreshing for a starting authoress to hear
how she is doing with your words of encouragement. ^_^
Kaoru: Kenshin likes everyone, but he only loves
me...
Misao: I think it's more of you getting Aoshi's
respect than him liking you. But... if you try to take him away from
me....*glares*...
Megumi:..Hopefully
Sano is loyal....and if you want Ken-san...I have a few potions....*grins*
Urako:AH-HA!
I have a damn fan!! WooHoo! Gimme
5 bucks Sano!
Sano:*grumbles*...
Dove of Night-Thankies Dove-chan
^^!!!! hurry and read the rest of it--b/c it'll take you a while ^_^
kenshinobsession-Thanks
^_^--yea i know HS exams are a pain in the ass
-_- but I have yet to even begin mine @_@ --anywhos--I'm
very glad that you picked my long fic to read ^^
Koishii Sweet- Thanks so very much!!!!! *hugs*
Orion Kohaishu- I will
have Shoru at your house.....everyday....if I could
find him.....Thankies for reviewing--and I will leave you those very IMPORTANT
reviews....hehehehehehehe DomDom
is MINE ^^*blushes* damn it....
Innocence8-Wow...how did I think of the idea?...hehehe--let's see...from seeing a lot of movies, anime, and
reading many fanfics. I saw that many people
loved the action and adventure mixed with some romance, and so-out popped this
little idea. ^^ I wanted to make a fanfic that
contained at least all the genre's(b/c i wanted to
see if I could do it ^^)
Destinee's
Destiny-Hehehehehe--at the time I only had 8 reviews ^_^ But thanks to you and
other fabulous reviewers-I now have 18 ^_^ *dances* WooHoo!!!
Thankies so much you guys!!!
loyanini--I
know those little o thingies pissed me off so much too to the point where I
almost gave up. But I didn't-I found someone who would post my story and
beta-read it and make it all nice and pretty. ^_^ so i
hope you can enjoy the story more now ^_^
LittoGrrlStephie-WOw...what
can I tell you that you don't already know ^_^--Thanks for everything, for
showing me a whole new world, for giving me a shoulder to cry on, for just
listening to me while I told you everything about myself. It feels so good to
let loose those pent up emotions! Barriers are a bad thing when they hurt your
friends ^_^--Thank you for standing by me and for being such a great
friend*hugs* I hope that you're doing great too ^_^ much love little crown ^^
~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~*~*~