Truth Is
You see, Misao always wanted to be number one in Aoshi's eyes. Sadly, after failure and failure again, Misao finally decided maybe no guy would want her. But summer's full of new opportunities, right?
Chapter three – Skeletons in His Closet
"Don't let anyone beat you up," Misao commented as she patted her brother's back.
"I'll try," Shiro replied.
Their mother's tears began to water, "This is the last time all three of us will be together! Shiro, honey, are you sure you have to go sign up for dorm rooms?"
Shiro sighed, "Yes mother."
She brought her tissue to her eyes, "Oh Shiro…"
Misao pushed him towards the gate to the plane, "Let's go!"
He turned his head to look back at her, "Aw you'll miss me missy. Just admit it."
"No way," she shook her head and smiled, "I'm going to turn your room into a private closet. Or maybe a study room! Or how about an art room!"
She chuckled, "Sure whatever, I'm not coming back here."
"REALLY?"
Their mother just began to sob even more.
Shiro turned to his mom, "No mom, I mean I'm not going to be living here anymore! I'll come back to visit and stuff!" She couldn't stop, "Mom!"
Misao hugged her from the side, "It's alright mommy you still have me."
Shiro turned towards the gate, "Oh, that's comforting…"
"SHUT UP SHIRO."
"Kids," their mother whimpered, "please don't let our last memory together be one about fighting."
They both turned and nodded. They didn't want to be the ones who made their mother cry so much.
Last call for flight 21 to Hong Kong.
"Well that's me."
"Bye, miss you."
"You miss me? Sure."
"I'm just trying to be nice."
"You aren't that good of an actor."
"You're ugly."
"You're fat."
"You're-"
"Kids!"
The both turned to their mother and sighed, "I'd better go now," so then Shiro gave one last hug to his beloved mother and sister. He felt guilty for leaving since his mom had no one to be with and his sister was having such a hard time, but that Soujiro kid would take care of them, right? He seemed like a good kid. Shiro was glad he was leaving his family in the hands of Soujiro. Too bad he couldn't say goodbye one last time. But Soujiro was visiting his mother to make sure she was doing well. Also his dad, something was up with him.
Well…goodbye Shiro.
He gazed out the window and saw his mother and sister leaning against the airport window as the watched the plane that Shiro was in began to pull out.
He waved a little at them even though they couldn't see him. He smiled one last time as he saw Misao just standing there solemnly as his mother cried into her tissue.
They were going to be ok…it was just going to take a little will power.
His only worry was that maybe there wasn't any will power left.
He would just have to wait and see.
…
"Bye Shiro…" Misao waved against the window gently. In truth, she really would miss her older brother. There had been so many times that he had stuck up for her, so many times that he had been there for her, and so many memories that they had shared together. It was saddening that it had to end so soon, but everything ends.
These are things that haunt me deeply…But, would it hurt more to have been around longer and then to leave?
…and makes me very sad…
Or as it was while Misao was young and she knew her brother for a shorter amount of time?
…the moments we'll never have again…
It sometimes reminded her of her father. Shiro was old enough to remember him, but it was still sad to recall on the past memories that had long gone by but…
…or the moments we never had?
…Misao sometimes wished that she had got to spend some time with him. To have some memories to remember…she was so young.
A few hundred miles away, Soujiro sat at the bedside of his father.
"Soujiro, why don't you fetch him some water?"
He turned to face his mother who was leaning against the doorframe, "Sure."
He stepped out of the room as he heard some mumbling coming from where he had just left. He knew it wasn't going to be long until the inevitable occurred. You know…the big after. He just felt bad for his mother. His mother was been inseparable with him.
He turned on the faucet and watched the water drain into the cup. He heard laughing coming from the room and turned to watch his mother giggling.
It was nice to see her happy nowadays. Her eyes just hadn't lit up the same way when she laughed when she was without him.
He turned the faucet off and carried it gently to his father's room. He stood by the entrance while waiting for a pause in the conversation so he wouldn't impose.
"Soujiro come in now," his mother called as her son entered the room while carrying the glass of water to his father.
He coughed a little as he sat up and smiled, "Thank you Sou. So how's the family you're staying with?"
"They're nice," he replied, "I'm staying with the Makimachi family. A mother, daughter, and son."
His father nodded, "Are any of the children your age?"
Soujiro glanced off to the side while refusing to smile, "The daughter."
"Oh my," he replied as he winked at his wife, "Have you become friends with her?"
Soujiro stared back at his father, "Yes."
His mother gave a look to Soujiro as if telling him to stop but he wouldn't break his gaze. But Soujiro's father continued to smile as if nothing was amiss in the air.
"Sou-chan," his mother said quite quickly, "How about you give me and your father a little alone time?"
He watched her for a while and sat up and exited the room. He leaned on the outside part of the wall so he could still hear their conversation even though it was a little muffled.
"I don't know what's wrong with him. I'm so sorry." He heard her apologize.
He heard his father chuckle and reply, "There's nothing wrong with him, he's just angry with me. I would be too if I were him."
"But why? Why on earth would he be mad at you?"
"Because," he began, "I haven't been here for quite some time. Always on and off, you know how it is."
"That's no reason to be so rude though!"
It was true though, he was always on business trips until he finally got sick. He had missed a big part of Soujiro's childhood, and Soujiro felt that he had abandoned his family.
He knew it wasn't exactly the way he always had thought it had been. Soujiro came to know that his father was truly and honestly supporting his family, even though he felt a little like something had been missing for a great chunk of his life.
Soujiro walked to the exit of the building and to his mother's car as he sat in the passenger's seat and waited for her to come.
After ten minutes, his mother opened the door, "Why are you like that to him?"
Soujiro just gazed off as his mother stared at the side of his face. But soon she stuck the key in and turned the car on and drove off towards home, wondering how to fix this mess.
But with Misao…
Misao set her purse down by the entry way and checked the phone messages.
'Missy! It's Omasu and I'm home all day doing nothing so call back PLEASE!''There are no more new messa-,'
Misao then turned the machine off and dialed up Omasu.
Ring.
Ring.
Ri-, "Hello this is Omasu speaking."
Misao laughed on the other side as she walked up to her room, "You sound so weird when you say that."
"Well I'm just being polite. So did you get my message I left?"
"Yeah. Did you want to hang out or something?"
Omasu's voice picked up, "DUH. That's the reason I called in the first place. Where were you anyways? You always pick up when I call."
Misao layed back on her bed, "My mom and I were dropping Shiro off at the terminal. You know, college dorms…frats and all."
"Your brother isn't going to join a fraternity. He isn't that kind of person. Kuro on the other hand is."
"You're right," Misao replied while giggling, "No frat would let him in."
There was silence on Omasu's line, "That was weak."
"So what do you want to do?" Misao asked while checking her nails to see if any of them were uneven.
"Well, You want to catch a movie or something?"
Misao sighed and whined, "But summer movies suck…"
"Whatever. I'll meet you at the theater at six, alright?"
But even before Misao could answer, Omasu hung up. Meet her at six huh? It was 4:53 now so that gave her an hour to get ready. Ready for what though? It wasn't like Aoshi was going to be there or anything. And even Soujiro wasn't here for the weekend because he was visiting his parents. He wouldn't be back until Monday. And it was only Friday!
This weekend was going to be boring. Shiro and Soujiro were gone and Omasu was going to Hawaii for a week! For crying out loud, didn't Misao have any summer camps or anything? Sheesh.
But she decided to forget about what she was thinking about and began to get ready for the fun night to come.
An hour later, Omasu honked her horn from outside. Misao opened her front door and ran to her friend's car and slammed the door shut. Even though they both said they were going to the movies, they always planned to have a fun time wherever they went.
Misao wore fitting, dark blue Levi's, a long sleeve grey shirt, white shoes, and slung a black purse over her shoulder. She sat on the couch and watched TV while she waited for the clock to strike at six…
HONK HONK
She stood up and turned off the television as she opened the door and called out to her mom, "I'll be with Omasu!"
"Alright! Be back by 11!"
And then the door clicked shut behind her.
Misao hopped into the car and asked, "Where to?"
Omasu revved up the engine, "Well I was thinking about catching a movie and then heading over to a party my cousin was telling me abour."
"The good cousin or the bad one?"
"Neither. The one you thought was really hot two years ago."
Misao checked her messages on her cell, "He still better be fine."
Omasu giggled, "I'm not the one to judge."
"I HOPE not," Misao joked while emphasizing the word 'hope,' "that'd be so weird. Kind of nasty too."
"Aw can it and buckle up."
Omasu then shifted her car into drive and headed towards the nearest AMC theatre. After deciding to see a scary movie and watching it, they headed off to Omasu's cousin's party.
"So where is this place we're going to?" Misao partially yelled due to the fact that Omasu was driving a convertible, "How far away is it?"
"Omasu smiled, "It's a ways away. He lives like thirty minutes from the theatre."
"Well whatever," Misao commented nonchalantly, "Just make sure I'm home by eleven. Last time I came home later I had like every electronic thing taken away from me. Even toaster's and stuff."
Omasu glanced over at her, "That sucks!"
"Yeah I know! I mean, just because I come home late doesn't mean I can't toast my bread and bagels."
Her friend laughed, "Your mom doesn't trust you with anything once you do something wrong."
Misao nodded, "But the great thing is that she doesn't even trust me to take out the trash 'cause she thinks I'll run off or something."
Along the way there, they continued to share obscured stories about their families and laughed the whole way to Omasu's cousin's house.
The street, where he lived, was completely packed. This was obviously a big party.
"Wait, so how old is he again?" Misao asked again reassuring herself.
"He's a couple years older than us but he's going to be a senior. And just to remind you, he goes to a huge public school so it'll be crazy."
Misao gave an evil smirk, "I love crazy."
Omasu rolled her eyes and stepped up to the front steps and opened the door.
Omasu took Misao by the hand and led her through the crowds. It was as if this is what Omasu did on a daily routine. And Misao felt over-dressed too. It seemed like at this party, a tube top was decent. The pool outside was in use, and the hot tub had way too many people inside.
Just as she was passing the kitcken, she thought she just saw Soujiro standing with group of guys.
"Hey Omasu! Did I just see-,"
"Hey!"
Misao looked up. There stood one of the few guys who could pass Aoshi in the looks department. Omasu's cousin, Sanosuke Sagara.
"Hey Omasu! And Misao, haven't seen you in a while! Looking good, looking good…" he yelled over the blaring music
Omasu punched his shoulder, "We were just stopping by to check up on you, make sure you aren't doing anything wrong."
He chuckled, "Oh ok. So what, are you two just gonna hang here for a while or…are you looking for someone?"
Misao's ears perked up, "Actually," she cut in, "do you know anyone named Soujiro?"
Sanosuke's eyes lit up, "Yeah! We're pals. He should be here…I just saw him," Sano finished as he looked around behind him and waved to an anonymous person who had just entered the room, "Yeah I definitely don't see him."
Just then, a girl walked up and hooked herself on his arm, "Sano," she whined, "we were wondering where you went! I mean you just left."
All Misao could think about was how big her boobs were.
She tugged at Sanosuke's arm, "Come on Sano."
He smiled at her and said, "Wait, let me introduce you." She looked up at Omasu and Misao with a disdained look. Sano caught this and quickly spoke up, "This is my cousin Omasu and this is her friend Misao. Omasu, Misao, this is Kimiyo. She's a…uh…a friend of mine."
He looked down and winked at her as she giggled. Misao stomach turned a little as Omasu just smiled, "I'll see you later Sano, and don't forget my mom wants to have dinner with your family sometime soon!"
He waved back at he walked off with Kimiyo as Omasu and Misao just stood there for a little while, "So," Omasu asked, "What do you wanna do now?"
Misao looked around, "Fine Soujiro…I swear I saw him."
Omasu looked around too, but being a little on the short side, she found it a little difficult, "Um yeah, honey? I can't see a thing."
Misao laughed a little before she tugged Omasu to the kitchen where she had seen him last. She found the same group of guys who were there originally, but no Sou, "Hey, do you guys know someone names Soujiro?"
One looked at them, "Yeah."
"Where'd he go?" Misao asked intently as Omasu looked around and scanned the room.
"Um," the guy stuttered, "I think he went out back with his girlfriend."
And then he turned back and began chatting with his friends.
"Girlfriend?" Misao asked, "Who is she?"
She guy turned back, "Uh, her name is Asuko…" then he turned back for the final time.
Misao turned to Omasu and stared in bewilderment as Omasu waved to some guy who was walking by, "So did you get the lowdown?" Omasu asked while still looking in the opposite direction.
Misao replied yes and pulled Omasu's hand out the door to the backyard, which was big. It was hard to find Soujiro since almost everyone there was wearing dark clothing. He wasn't in the pool or hot tub and he certainly was smoking near the back fence. But just as she looked to her left, she saw Soujiro standing with a girl, and it looked like they were arguing.
"Hey look Omasu!" Misao pointed in the direction of Soujiro and the girl whom she had assumed to be Asuko. Omasu's eyes widened as Misao told her about the girl being Soujiro's girlfriend.
Soujiro looked completely different now that he was with a different group of people. He was wearing a black button up long sleeve shirt with loose, but fitting, jeans. His hair was a little more disheveled than usual and his eyes seemed darker than they normally appeared to be. He looked kind of hot. But Soujiro wasn't that good looking…was he?
"But he never said anything about having a girlfriend!" Omasu yelled as her face snapped back and forth between Soujiro, Asuko, and Misao.
"Yeah I know. I guess he didn't tell us all that much about him."
The two girls watched Soujiro and Asuko for a few minutes before Misao walked back inside, "Missy! Where're you going?"
"I'm thirsty," she replied hastily.
She went up to the counter and poured some coke into a cup. As soon as the bubbly liquid reached her mouth, she spit it out, "Crap! This stuff is spiked…" Omasu laughed while her friend wiped her mouth with her fingers, "Damn I'm thirsty."
Omasu pulled Misao to a cabinet, "Sano once told me about his," she opened it up only to find more alcoholic drinks.
"Way to go," Misao chided.
Omasu reached for the bottom shelf and pulled out a Sprite, "He told me in case I ever needed a clean drink, I should come here."
Misao hastily popped the can open and gulped half of it down, "Thank you Lord. Now let's do a little bit more spying."
"Right," Omasu said softly as she clapped and rubbed her hands together devilishly.
They stepped outside once more and found that Soujiro and Asuko were no longer together, but Soujiro was now talking to a couple of older looking men, one being the one Misao was talking to earlier, and Asuko was making her way to the house. Misao and Omasu stepped out of the way for her as she quickly made her leave.
"So ladies, having a good time?" It was Sanosuke.
"Yeah," Omasu replied whereas Misao was still looking at what Soujiro was doing. Sano caught this looked over at him too.
"He just broke up with his girl, Asuko," Sano said rather quietly, "It wasn't working out anyways."
Misao looked up, "Why?"
He leaned in and pointed to him, "That guy is bad news."
Misao gave a confused look before glancing back at Soujiro, "Him? Bad news? Are you sure?" Omasu gave the same look.
"Yeah!" Sano replied, "He's in a gang-ish thing. And what? Do you two know him?"
The two girls looked at each other in confusion as Omasu glanced up to her cousin, "Wait, does he go to your school?"
Sanosuke nodded and Misao asked again, "And he's a bad guy?"
He nodded again but shivered as soon as he did so, "And he's got this creepy smile too."
Misao was dumbstruck. Soujiro? Bad? Those two words didn't go together. And what was he doing at this party anyways? Wasn't he supposed to be with his parents somewhere far away? And his smile was creepy? Misao always thought his smile was innocent looking and…yeah?
"So who are those other guys with him?" Omasu asked a little frightened now.
"Um," Sano pointed to a dark looking man with a Band Aid on his cheek, "That one's name is Makoto," then he moved on to the taller one, "and that one is Kamatari." Then he pointed to a girl who had just entered the scene and was resting her head on Makoto's shoulder, "Oh, and she's Yumi…she's your story of a good girl gone bad I guess."
"What about the big one?" Misao asked while glancing at the really tall one who looked like he was standing guard.
"He's ah…oh, he's Anji."
Omasu looked at Misao as though she had just ate something horrifying, while Misao just stared bug-eyed at them for a while.
"I don't know who thought about it but people at my school call them the Jupo. I have no idea why, but yeah."
Misao looked up to him while gulping, "Have they done anything…like bad?"
Sano laughed a few times and replied, "Psh yeah. Mainly just beating people up though. But that Makoto guy is known for killing a few people here and there. Police haven't caught him yet because, well, he's Makoto Shishio."
"Why does that matter?" Omasu asked.
"'Cause," Sano sighed, "He's the only person I know who can do that shit and get away with it too."
Omasu glanced once more at the group of guys that stood in the distance and tugged on Misao's sleeve, "Missy, can we leave now? Your mom wanted you home by 11…"
Misao looked a little pissed, "He's so dead," she said lowly as she took a step towards them.
Sano saw this right away and grabbed her by the shoulders, picked her up, spun her around, and set her down so she couldn't get past him, "I think you'd better do what my cousin says and leave."
She glanced to where Soujiro and his gang mates would be, but Omasu cousin was blocking the way, "Fine, but just one more question."
"Shoot."
"Where do his parents live?"
Sano gave Misao a funny look before replying, "His parents are kind of a mystery. Noe one's ever seen or even heard of them."
She took one more look at Soujiro and actually made somewhat of eye contact with him. He looked as if he'd just seen a ghost or something.
She stomped off and Omasu and Misao said their goodbyes to Sanosukewho waved as they left. As the two girls sped away, Soujiro walked up and stood next tot the doorframe and watched Misao leave. As soon as Sano turned around he jumped, but soon a mean look glued onto his face, "What do you want?"
Soujiro looked off into the distance and looked at him…but soon smiled, "I don't think it's any of your business."
Sano glared, "You know them?"
Soujiro chuckled and left.
Sanosuke shivered as he thought once more that Soujiro was one freaky kid.
As Misao and Omasu sped off into the night sky, Omasu pointed at the clock since they only had ten more minutes left until 11.
"It was worth it though," she said loudly over the wind's noise.
As soon as they reached Misao's home at twenty past eleven, Misao mother was standing by the window looking mad as hell.
"Are you going to tell her?" Omasu asked, a little spooked still.
She glanced at her mom out of the corner in her eye and then back at Omasu, "What do you think?"
Omasu gave a loud gulping noise as she smirked and then asked, "Well make sure you tell me what your punishment is next time I see you."
Misao laughed as she hopped out and waved to Omasu who drove off slowly. Misao turned to walk up the steps to her house while her mother continued to stare at her. As soon as Misao opened the door, her mother walked by and chimed, "No, TV, no phones, no games, no friends, no computer, no microwave, and NO TOASTER."
Missy could only sigh. But no matter what, it was all still worth it.
But Misao couldn't help but feel…disappointed? No, that wasn't the word. It was there, but her head was just flooding with too many thoughts that she couldn't even picture his face.
Later that night when Misao's mother was far past asleep, Misao signed online and found her brother was on too.
(MisSyM25) 1:27:09 AM: How's hong kong fool
(HisbadselF) 1:27:24 AM: its nice
(HisbadselfF) 1:27:26 AM: y r u up this late
(MisSyM25) 1:27:34 AM: party, omasu's cousin
(HisbadselF) 1:27:40 AM: so what ur also telling me is that mom banned all electronics from u
(MisSyM25) 1:27:49 AM: yea lol
(HisbadselF) 1:27:53 AM: dumbass
(MisSyM25) 1:28:00 AM: guess what
(MisSyM25) 1:28:26 AM: HELLO?
(HisbadselF) 1:28:32 AM: speak woman
(MisSyM25) 1:28:52 AM: when I went to the party, I saw Soujiro there
(HisbadselF) 1:28:58 AM: I thought he was visiting his parents
(MisSyM25) 1:29:02 AM: I kno!
(MisSyM25) 1:29:13 AM: but it turns out he was in a gang and stuff at his old school and he did like, bad stuff there.
(HisbadselF) 1:29:15 AM: no way
(MisSyM25) 1:29:21 AM: 4 SERIOUS!
(HisbadselF) 1:29:39 AM: Well w/e but don't charge him with the situation, just remember that he isn't that way when he's around you, so you should treat people how they treat you
(HisbadselF) 1:29:45 AM: and plus he doesn't know u were theree
(MisSyM25) 1:29:50 AM: um
(MisSyM25) 1:29:51 AM: no?
(MisSyM25) 1:29:57 AM: he definitely saw me.
(HisbadselF) 1:30:22 AM: well have fun
HisbadselF signed off at 1:30:23 AM
"Shiro!" Misao whispered to herself quite loudly.
But he was right in the end. Soujiro hadn't really done anything to her, but just knowing that he was that kind of person left an impression on her. She wasn't like her brother, she couldn't just forget.
But it was going to be as awkward as hell once he got back from his parent's house. He definitely made eye contact with her.
Gang member? Come on, he was like the sweetest guy in the world. And Soujiro was DEFINITELY not hot. He might be cute, but not hot. And he never said anything about having a girlfriend! He lived in a completely different world than what Misao had expected.
But she had to admit silently to herself as she laid down in her bed with all of still on, he did look hell of fine.
'Maybe almost as handsome as…'
But she fell asleep.
The next morning, Misao described to her mother the killer traffic that kept Misao from getting home on time even though the traffic never really existed. Her mother forgave her only after a long lecture about responsibility.
Misao had toast for breakfast afterwards. Get it? Toast? Ah, never mind.
At around eleven in the morning, the phone rang, "Hello?" Misao answered.
There was silence on the other end for just a moment, but it was enough time to let Misao know who it was, "Soujiro?"
"Uh, yeah um…can you tell your mom that my plane's supposed to be delayed for tomorrow?"
Misao didn't answer at first just reliving last night. Until she whispered, "Who are you…?"
"Huh?"
Misao smacked her mouth with the palm of her hand and recovered, "Yeah, sure, bye."
She slammed down the phone down and turned around while she kept her hand on her mouth.
Misao heard a faint voice, "M-misao…you missed the receiver…"
Her eyes widened and turned around to find that she actually did miss the receiver by a good foot or so. She quickly grabbed it and hung up the phone quickly.
She punched the sides of her head as she took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed upstairs to her room. As she passed Shiro;s ex-room, she stopped for a moment.
She really was going to miss him.
As she arrived to her room, she checked her cell phone only to find out that the one person that was last on her mind had called and left a message.
Sanosuke. Huh?
'Hey it's Sano, just wondering if you want to hang or something…yeah call me back. Bye."
She saved the message and stared at her phone.
"YESSS!"
Now she could make Aoshi jealous, but he wasn't getting anywhere 'cause SANO WAS HOT!
There is a God.
'Take that Aoshi…take that. You and your girlfriend can BITE ME!'
Misao thought she'd call Omasu first and fill her in.
Today was going to be a good day. Well, at least until before tomorrow.
About forty miles away, Soujiro leaned against the door that led out back. He watched the clouds roll by and the trees sway with the wind. But no matter how much he focused on the scenery, he couldn't get Misao out of his head. You'd think that this ended relationship would be more on his mind but for some strange reason, she was just there. Maybe she was the reason he broke up with Asuko…
He felt sick. He'd better go help his mother with something. Maybe that'd get his mind off of her.
He didn't like her in a way that he would a girlfriend, but the feeling remained.
What was wrong with him?
End.
So I did the thing, where it's kind of like the Meiji era or whatever, but it's now. Does that make sense. If not, TOO BAD, read it over again. I just wanted to show the Tenken side in the modern day Sou. He's so evil. This story's gonna be shorter than I planned so stay tuned…I'm guessing like eight chapters…but hey, I don't know. I'm quite proud of the AIM scene, I did all of it and I did it from memory! So sorry if it isn't exact, but I'm still happy. Um, I DON'T think Sano's is one of the best looking characters of RK, but I had no other choice. I mean, do you seriously want Misao hooking up with Saitoh or something like that. And Kenshin…I have something else for him. Trust me…honestly. And review! I'm lovin' the reviews. Love you all!
Stay wit meh!
NaiLAUG!