Healer

By Meii-chan

Chapter 7- Strength

The marketplace was already crowded and noisy when they arrived in the afternoon. The area closest to the ports was already filled with fishermen showing off their latest catch of the day, and the air was saturated with the nauseous blend of sea spray and dying fish. Not too surprisingly, many of the customers there held cheap white handkerchiefs (courtesy of the numerous tourist stands nearby) up to their noses in order to block out the odor. The main street of Yokohama, which led straight to the piers, was filled with open air bazaars, haggling shoppers, and the occasional pickpocket.

After picking her way through the markets of the fishermen, Megumi had deemed it impossible for them to find a place to set up a shop, only to have Yumi pick out a spot a few seconds later. Megumi could hardly help but sigh as she walked over to Yumi. Likewise, Kenshin could hardly help but smile, amused by the ironic twist of fate.

Doing so, no one noticed a tall mysterious man with a red shirt observing them from beneath the canopy of a soba stall. (1) When the waitress wasn't looking, Chou quietly set down his bowl and sneaked away. He didn't get far before the waitress, about fourteen years old, took a silvery platter from somewhere behind the soba stall and threw it at him. The platter connected with his head with a dull clang and fell to the ground, miraculously still whole.

"I knew I shouldn't have let you into my stand you thieving freeloader! If you want to leave, pay up!" she demanded while picking up the platter. "I am the great Amaterasu and you have to respect me!" (2) Amaterasu, with her hair tied up on one side of her head, appeared rather ludicrous as she shouted at Chou, who was most likely twice her height.

"Hey, kid. Do me a favor and I'll pay up the bill." Chou said, without moving from the position he was in when struck with the platter.

Amaterasu glared as fiercely as she could. "Why should I? I didn't come and ask for noodles—"

She immediately quieted when Chou suddenly turned around and held a knife to her throat. A couple of civilian onlookers turned away and began busying themselves with economic matters when this occurred. "That's why. So if you don't want me to kill you here and now, take this," Chou pulled a piece of paper from a non-existent pocket and shoved it into Amaterasu's hand, "and give it to that guy there." He pointed at the retreating form of Kenshin in the crowd. Only then did he take the knife away.

"The guy with red hair?" Amaterasu blinked, not believing what she saw. After a quick glance at Chou's upswept blond hair she concluded: gaijin.(3)

"Yeah. Since you're so smart, I'll give you the money now." He said as he shoved some coins into her hand. "Now off you go. Keep the change." And then he pushed Amaterasu into the crowd where Kenshin disappeared into. "I'll be waiting. Himura Battousai."

After setting up a tent and the merchandise, Soujiro came up with an ingenious query. "What exactly do you sell?" he asked, glancing at the various objects that littered the counter. Stacks of papers, decorations, dolls, clothes, and rice cakes were among the things lying in the shop.

"Well, these papers are for people who want to buy the rice in bulk…they can just pick it up later…" Kirashi explained, only to be interrupted by a purchaser. "…the rice cakes and decorations are self-explanatory, there just cheap stuff that most people would buy if they wanted to… I'm a pretty good seamstress, so that's why the clothes are there."

Soujiro picked a doll on the counter. The doll as made of plain, un-patterned cloth, and its kimono was sewn together like a quilt with bits and pieces of multicolored fabric. "What about this?" he asked, showing her and then placing it back on the counter.

"Oh, that. It's nothing really. I had this old idea for parents who were traveling with their kids to stuff uncooked rice grains into these dolls so they didn't have to carry as much on their own. But, it didn't turn out as well as I thought—the children refused to let their parents take the rice out of the doll…Soujiro-kun?"

Soujiro was no longer listening, as his attention was focused on something happening at the other end of the street. Kirashi turned to see what had captivated his attention and gasped.

"Yumi-san! Get Soujiro to the back of the shop and cover him in a blanket or something!"

A few feet away, Yumi rolled her eyes. "Megumi-chan, you have a blanket?"

"Yeah, sure." She said, pulling out the much beloved fuzzy pink blanket. "Why?" Megumi didn't have to hear Yumi's reply because she saw who was walking towards them and ducked behind the counter.

Ichiro and Yanosuke, apparently bailed out of jail, were wandering the busy streets of Kanagawa to beguile and aggravate the general public. Kirashi, recognizing them, had immediately seizing the fuzzy pink blanket from Megumi's hands and draped it over Soujiro. She commanded him to stay still in the shadows and then turned around to come face to face with Yanosuke.

"Er…Konnichiwa, Yanosuke-san… (4)" she said, restraining herself from screaming at him to stay away from her area. "How are you and your brother today?" She kept her eyes trained at the illegal sword Ichiro had the nerve to carry around in broad daylight.

"We're fine. At least better off then you are." He scoffed, puffing away at his pipe. "Father just made a great business deal with a sake manufacturer in Kobe by marrying off Kageiro-chan. To tell you the truth, I don't think your small farm can handle the economics of this era. We will take over all your customers—"

"Well, that's only because you get most of them into buying your rice because you intimidate and lure them..." Kirashi muttered, incensed by Yanosuke's opinion of her best financial tries.

"—regardless of what you do." He said, picking up the doll Soujiro had just held in his hands a few seconds ago. "Selling petty children's toys will get you nowhere. Come on, Nii-san, let's go." He dropped the doll on the ground as he turned and left.

Kirashi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when the two left. She uncovered the fuzzy pink blanket beside her. "Alright, Soujiro-kun, they're gone."

Kirashi had been scared that Ichiro, with his habit of rummaging though other people's merchandise would uncover Soujiro and kill him with that sword of his. After all, that's what Soujiro had told her about them, and considering their egocentric personalities, she couldn't help but believe him. But there was one thing that kept tugging at her mind. "Where's Himura-san when you need him?"

Deep night had settled into the sky when she had asked him about it, only for Kenshin to answer: "There's something this unworthy one needs to do right now. Can this unworthy one go to complete that task?" he said in the most innocent rurouni way.

"Fine…" It wasn't really that important, Kirashi told herself.

"Doing something? Does it have to do with that waitress you were flirting with in the afternoon?" Yumi commented, hoping to get a rise out of Kenshin.

"She gave this unworthy one a note to talk with a troubled youth in police custody now." Kenshin said, not quite telling the whole truth.

"You're no fun." Yumi complained and then walked away to go to bed.

"That's okay." He waved goodbye as if nothing important was happening. "This unworthy one will be back soon."

Even though the note a young waitress delivered had been brief, Kenshin had a good idea of what to expect as he headed to the deserted Shinto shrine near the Kariwa residence. It simply challenged him to a duel at the shrine at sundown; it was signed not by a name but by an odd alias: SWORDHUNTER. He quickly deemed that it was the head of the bandits who were constantly pestering Kirashi and her family before they arrived.

Kenshin had the suspicion that this fight was staged in order to keep him away from protecting Kirashi and the others. Thus, he had hesitated until it was well into the night before arriving. He was sure his opponent wouldn't mind, because he would most likely be the same as the roguish bandits who assaulted them a week ago, meaning lacking of the responsibility and care for time.

The steps ascending to the shrine in the forest were unkempt. Dried leaved and all sorts of debris littered the pathway; Kenshin had actually walked past the shrine before felling the kenki (5) of his opponent somewhere behind him. Retracing his steps, Kenshin found the obscured steps into the hillside and headed up. Sitting underneath the battered temple gate in the most lackluster manner, was Chou and is army of lackeys.

Needless to say, Chou was not pleased. He had been waiting outside for Kenshin to arrive for three, exceedingly dull hours. The very image of Kenshin taking his merry time climbing the steps infuriated him. Before Kenshin was halfway to the shrine, Chou called out in a distinctly Osakan accent. "Hurry up! You're already late!"

Kenshin raced up the rest of the way apologizing all the way. "This unworthy one is sorry! This unworthy one couldn't find the place!"

"You should be. You'll soon regret it. No one insults Chou the Swordhunter!" Turning to the lackeys behind him, he said: "Go fetch me the Nagasone Koketsu from that dingy old place. A great sword doesn't belong in the hands of some incompetent samurai." The lackeys raced off in the direction in which Kenshin came. Chou looked back at Kenshin and drew his sword. "You aren't worried, Battousai? Leaving a pathetic samurai, women and children against my army of bandits? They won't stand a chance."

Kirashi waited until Kenshin was far away before visiting Megumi and Soujiro in their room. She knew that they should be asleep by now, as it was past ten, but knowing how kids were, she half expected them to be up until past midnight. Her latter prediction became true when she heard the ruffling of blankets and giggling though the paper door. Smiling at their childish antics, she slid open the door.

"Sorry, Kirashi-san! We'll go to sleep! We'll be good!" Megumi said under a pile of blankets in the corner.

"It's alright. Next time don't let me catch you. What's this?" she asked, indicating the pile of blankets.

"It's a tent!" Soujiro said happily popping up from underneath the fluffy mass. "See Kirashi-san? We propped it up with the fishing poles Himura-san never uses. And Megumi-san was telling me about Yuki-onna (6) and kappa (7)"

"Yeah, I see, Soujiro-kun. That's very nice. However, may I talk to you two about something more serious?" Kirashi hated to spoil the tone in the room, but it was important.

"Areh?"

"Soujiro-kun, your family tried to kill you, right?" Kirashi said, ignoring the looks form Megumi that clearly said "How did you know that?"

"Yeah. I guess." Soujiro said sadly, even his smile wavered. "I guess it's only a matter of time…even so, I don't want to…"

"Don't worry. You're not going to." Kirashi told him as she patted him on the head. "I'll make sure of it. I just need to know how I can get them to go someplace where they can't hurt you."

"The police locked up Yanosuke-san and Ichiro-san last week." Megumi said. "But I just can't see them breaking out of jail."

"Then why were they out on the streets today?" Kirashi asked. An idea popped up into her head. "They probably bailed themselves out with all the money they got from marrying off the daughter…stupid rich people…get to do whatever they want…"

"But then the Meiji government is unfair!" Megumi protested. "They said that they were going to help the oppressed people!"

"Yeah…but the government is made up of people; it's hopelessly corrupted." Soujiro said quietly. "I don't think there much any of us can do about it."

Kirashi's eyes quickly widened at this and then reverted to their normal size. "Oh yes, I guess that's true. But it's so unfortunate…I just need to find another way to land them in jail. Then everything will be okay. Right?"

Megumi and Soujiro opened their mouths to speak, but their voices were drowned out by the uproar outside.

"Kirashi-san? What was that?" Megumi said, beginning to panic. "Is Ken-san here?" She became more worried when Kirashi didn't answer.

Yumi ran into the room at that moment with Henya at her heels. "Kirashi-san! Do you know what's happening? There's about a hundred thugs closing in on us from the woods and you let Himura go on a merry little jaunt to visit some troubled youth in police custody! I'm too pretty to die!"

Kenshin didn't draw his weapon when Chou did. Instead he looked Chou fiercely in the eye.

"Chou. You're wrong. They do stand a chance. All of them, they're not so weak. Kariwa Henya, even though this unworthy one never knew him that well…he will not give up so easily to your men. He has already resisted the ban on swords with his samurai pride. Even if he isn't the greatest warrior ever, that pride will keep him from surrendering to your men. And Kirashi-dono, she has already faced hardships through taking care of her estate and her family. Kirashi-dono's love for the people around her will protect them as long as she's alive. Yumi-dono isn't so pathetic either. Even though she's not a fighter, and worries over her appearance, she does have a powerful fighting spirit. This unworthy one feels it every time she yells at this unworthy one when she's frustrated at preparing meals or cleaning the house. Had she learned the art of the killing instead of the art of flower arranging, it would be you're men who wouldn't have a chance. Megumi-dono, even though she can't fight against your men, she has the compassion and art that will save the people around her. For every injury your men inflict on them, Megumi-dono can heal twice as many injuries. She's already made up her mind to help people, no matter what other people think of her or what happens to her. No one can deter her from that path of caring for others. And Soujiro…this unworthy one knows that he's truly gentle, and doesn't want to hurt anyone. But he wants to protect Megumi-dono and the others. And when a person has something important to them to protect, that is when they can become truly strong!"

"Humph." Chou snorted. "Say what you want. But for now, it's our own battle!" And he leapt forwards with his sword, his mind bent on the intent of destroying Kenshin.

"Yes, I am aware." Kirashi said in an eerily calm voice. "Yumi, go find Himura while there's still time before they're upon us. Anata, go find some of those fireworks you were keeping for the day you perfected your flying machine. We might need them tonight, not for celebration, but for other means. Megumi-chan, stay in here, preferably under your tent so you can heal any injuries we get afterwards." Megumi looked at Kirashi with puzzlement. "My husband told me about what you want to do. And Soujiro—"

"I'll fight." Soujiro said, taking an extra bamboo fishing rod from the tent. "I knew that someday I have to defend everyone, so that's why I asked Himura-san to help train me. I'll protect the people most important to me!"

"All right. You do that." Kirashi said softly. "Here they come." She stated as the bandits swarmed though the rice fields like a nest of hornets.

"Let's go."

Glossary:

1. Soba—noodles

2. Amaterasu—the name of a Shinto goddess who, in Japanese mythology, created Japan.

3. Gaijin—foreigner

4. Konnichiwa—Good afternoon

5. Kenki—Sword aura thing.

6. Yuki-onna—The Snow Woman. In Japanese folklore a woman dressed all in white who takes the lives of men trapped hopelessly in snowy mountains.

7. Kappa—a river demon in Japanese folklore. A turtle-monkey thing that has a dish of water on its head. If the water pours out of the dish, the kappa is powerless.

Author's Notes: Wheeee! Summer Vacation! …Except I don't like my English final exam grade. Doesn't anyone find it annoying when you get your report card and it's all one grade except for one? It sort of breaks the harmonic monotony of my report card… Even though it's summer vacation, I have no time (or energy) to write because I have to take care of little kids at summer camp…

I think I had Sano in mind when I wrote this. Doesn't anyone think Chou would be the kind of person to go freeloading? Though I believe he only did that to get Kenshin… I think Amaterasu made a good entrance into this fanfic, ne? If you're trying to rack your brains to try to figure out if she's a real character, she's an OC. She'll play a bigger role later on in the fanfic, but I'll just introduce her now. I made all of them go to the marketplace in the afternoon instead of the morning, when most of the people go because…they just are. Just think of Kirashi's market practices as a bit unorthodox, and the problem is solved. Yay for Kenshin's long rant about the characters. I think he said all I wanted you guys to know about the characters so far.

So, the big battle of this plot line! And keep in mind Kenshin hasn't taught Soujiro to fight yet. But he's not known as Tenken for nothing!

Reviewer Feedback: (Thank you so much! Keep on reading and reviewing!)

GENKI-NINJA: I think the Soujiro/Misao pairing is fine, but it's really overdone by fanfic authors, and they might end up annoying each other to death.

Lord Cirenmas: Ah! My faithful reviewer! You deserve a chibi Soujiro or Megumi plushie for being such a good reviewer!

Kyone: Is it really that interesting? Maybe I'll write another Sou/Meg fic after I finish this one! (Or not, who knows?)

sekihoutai: Yeah, the beginning never had much plot to start with, but I might edit it later. I ended up making Henya a cooler person in this fic since I was doodling pictures for this and I made Henya into a bishounen (hard to imagine, isn't it?)