Being Okashira
Part Twelve
Misao woke hours after sunrise in a futon that was not her own and on top of that, she was alone. She blinked herself awake and realized, belatedly, where she was. She yawned and patted down the futon, looking for her slip. She found it under the covers at the very bottom of the bed, how it had gotten down there, she could only wonder.
Reasonably dressed she headed toward the door and peeked out. The hall was clear.
With that, she slipped out and quickly headed down the hall to duck back into her own room. She quickly scrapped her attire and frowned before re-dressing in the slip and a yukata before heading down to the bath house. She hoped no one was in there.
As she turned a corner she met Omasu and Okon, with bath supplies in hand, headed for the bath.
"Ah, there you are sleepy-head." Okon grinned.
Misao frowned at her.
"Uh oh... " Omasu mirrored Misao's frown before slowing to let the younger girl catch up. She caught Misao's sleeve and stilled her, leaning down. "Did it go badly?" she whispered.
"Omasu!" Okon chided. "Outside to the bath house."
The look on her face was telling.
No discussing delicate issues indoors were male ears were no doubt listening.
They headed outside for the sanctuary of the bath house.
Within, the questioning began.
Inside, Okina and Aoshi had been sitting in counsel for almost two hours. An empty tray of tea sat off to one side, servants having been forbid from disturbing them.
"I see," Aoshi replied sedately. "Then I shall go immediately."
"Go? Personally? Do you think that's wise?"
Aoshi spared the older man a glance. "It would seem cowardly of me to send someone else to Tokyo when we are at fault for the destruction there. I will see the Battousi myself. I will not disgrace Misao or betray the trust she's placed in me."
The new leader rose to his feet, Okina followed suit, but his old face was bearing a heavy frown. "I understand, but I remain firm in my opinion this is unwise. Your image to the Battousai cannot be more important than the stability of our home."
Aoshi turned away. "Even if something happened to me, as long as Misao is safe the group will be fine. She can marry another and life here will continue."
Okina's frown deepened as he watched his new commander step out the door.
"Shut up! Don't say that again!" Misao warned, her face bright red. "I am not doing that, that's gross!"
The two girls erupted into laughter.
"Why not? He'll really like it," Omasu promised with a wink.
"Eeew..." Misao made a face at the other two as they sat in the steaming water. The earlier washing had been refreshing and she felt clean and new.
"You're sure you're okay?" Okon asked.
Misao stared into the steaming water. "I'm fine. You see Aoshi this morning?"
They both nodded. "Yes, he came down early and he and Okina have been talking for a while."
Omasu leaned forward slightly. "But seriously, Misao, under all those clothes, he's just as gorgeous, isn't he?"
Misao's head snapped up and Okon slapped Omasu with a rag. "Leave her alone already."
Misao sighed and stood, wrapping a towel around herself. "I'll see you later."
The two exchanged glances as she left, unsure if she really was okay. "You think he was rough on her?"
"I don't know," Okon replied. "I wouldn't think so, Aoshi seems sweet on her."
Omasu's eyes widened. "Really? You think so?"
"Haven't you seen how he watches her?"
The other shrugged. "I just figured that's because he was acting like her bodyguard."
"Well..." Okon admitted. "I kind of thought that at first too, but bringing her milk and stuff like that, what kind of bodyguard does that?"
They shared a smile as they pictured Aoshi handing Misao a glass of milk.
As Misao approached the house, her hair wet and wrapped in a towel draped over her shoulder, the outer side door opened. She came to a stop, not looking up, only seeking to avoid a collision.
When the person didn't move, she looked up impatiently, still patting her hair, only a little surprised to see Aoshi.
He stepped out and pulled the door closed behind him. For a moment he just stood there staring at her.
"Are you well?" he asked, after several long moments.
She nodded, feeling awkward suddenly. "I'm okay."
He waited another moment before accepting her comment as though waiting for her to change her answer. "I'm leaving for Tokyo in an hour."
"So soon?"
He nodded.
"Oh..."
"Misao!" The shout came from behind her and she turned just in time to see Omasu and Okon skid to a hasty stop several feet away as they noticed Aoshi. "Oh, sorry, sorry..."
Aoshi turned and walked inside without a word, leaving the door open. "Sorry Misao, we didn't mean to interrupt."
"That's okay," she replied with a small smile. "It wasn't really going anywhere.. It's just... kinda... you know... awkward."
The two older women exchanged smiles and descended on the younger female.
"You just have to give it a little while. You know Aoshi-sama's..." she caught herself before she said 'an ice-block' and instead just trailed off.
"What she means to say is that marriages take time that's all. It'll work out."
An hour later found Misao lingering in the hall near Aoshi's office. She kept taking surreptitious glances around, but no one really seemed to notice her lingering. She paced, anxiously, waiting for him to show but time ticked away and nothing happened. Just as she was beginning to think he'd already gone and left her, he appeared just behind her startling her as she turned.
"Ah! There you are! I thought I missed you…"
"Why didn't you just come to my door?"
She glanced away. "Er… I guess I just thought I'd wait…"
Aoshi slid his travel bag from his shoulder and handed it off to the lackey standing just behind him.
"Wait for me outside," he ordered curtly and the nameless soldier nodded, bowed, and hurried off leaving them alone just inside the corridor.
"I just wanted to wish you luck and bid you to be careful and stuff… and to ask if you wanted me to come along, of course."
"No, you shall remain here."
She frowned not willing to argue over it. "I thought you'd say that. Be careful then."
He nodded solemnly and started to move past her when she caught him by the sleeve.
"Er, wait… you're not even going to say goodbye to me?" she pouted.
He stared at moment glancing down at her luminous eyes. When he showed no signs of moving she stepped up and grabbed the front of his uniform to pull him down. He leaned in the direction of her pulling and their lips met awkwardly.
"Oops!" she gasped as their teeth clashed. "Ouch."
He slid an arm about her waist and pulled her against him sealing their lips together briefly. When he stepped back her cheeks were flushed.
"I will return shortly.
She nodded absently.
When Aoshi was gone things settled down into their normal routine with Misao bouncing around a little more than she had before as she was no longer bogged down with reading.
She seemed to enjoy making Okina smile and bounced around him especially.
It was the pitch of night when the others were preparing to head up the stairs and to their beds, the guard shifts switching, when the first sound was heard.
A click and then a crackle.
The drowsy residents inside were startled, shaken by fear in the pits of their bellies onto their feet when a shout came from outside.
"ATTACK!"
The crackle became a roar near the front of building as the roof tiles caught fire.
Everyone scrambled for their weapons.
Misao shot out of her room and into the hall, her clothes slightly askew, her hands full of kunai.
"Misao, get Misao out!" someone shouted in the background, but the slight female vanished into the darkness of the corridor and the growing chaos and smoke filling the building as the fire broke through inside.
The grunts and shouts of battle were accompanied by fits of violent coughing as the combatants struggled to break.
Wood crackled and cracked, ceiling beams tumbling downward as the building structure became compromised as the fire quickly spread.
Confusion ruled the Aoiya.
The scent of blood and smoke contaminated the air and no one could account for anybody else.
Aoshi stared at the shorter man with a frown, barely noting the woman behind him.
"Kenshin?" she spoke hesitantly.
"Stay back Kaoru-dono," he calmly ordered. The woman paused but did as the red haired man commanded and stayed where she was, watching.
"Can this unworthy one help you?"
Aoshi's frown deepened. "You know Misao?"
The woman gasped loudly and rushed forward, curling her fingers into Kenshin's sleeve. "Has something happened to Misao?"
Aoshi ignored the woman's comment and stared at the man.
"Misao and I have wed. I am looking for Houji Satojima."
Kenshin took a step away from the dojo gate, motioning Kaoru back. "I'll be back later."
Aoshi took note of the fact that he had not said 'we will be back later', but he was not offended. He deserved it, he supposed, having gone through such extraordinary lengths to hurt the man before him.
He followed the shorter red haired man as he began to walk away from the dojo. The woman watched them.
"You know where he is?" Aoshi asked, eager to get the information and go.
"Misao-dono seemed like a nice girl, that she did," Kenshin spoke, his voice even and conversational. "This means you are the new leader then, are you not?"
Aoshi all but grit his teeth at the delay, but his own men had been unable to find out Houji's location. Himura was merely a source of information, one that was apparently going to be difficult.
"Do you know where Houji is located?" Aoshi pressed.
"Yo! Kenshin? That asshole giving you trouble again?"
Aoshi looked up to see Sagara Sanosuke, former gangster and apparent best friend of Kenshin's strolling toward them. Thankfully the hot headed idiot left his zanbanto somewhere else.
Aoshi took a deep, silent breath.
"I have immediate business with him," Aoshi added. "He is directly responsible for the attack and injures your acquaintances suffered recently."
Kenshin shifted and seemed to be thinking. "I do not know where Houji-san is, that I do not."
"You talking about that weird dude with funny hair and big forehead?" Sano interjected. "I know where he's at. The guy's got a big mouth for someone who can't take a hit…"
Aoshi turned toward Sano curiously. "Where might I find him?"
Sano crossed his arms. "Well that depends on what I get out of it…"
Aoshi couldn't believe his luck. This man wanted money?
"You wish me to pay you for information?"
"Nah, not looking for money right now, but if you're going somewhere for a fight, count me in. I've been looking for a good fight and all you ever seem to do is fight so… hey, I'll tell you where he is as long as I get to come."
"No," Aoshi answered. "It's none of your business."
"Hey! It's your damn fault that this happened in the first place."
"Sano!" Kenshin warned.
Aoshi pressed his lips together sternly. It had actually been Misao who had sent Takani here, but she had done so innocently. He would not take badgering of her actions lightly.
He moved to grab the offending youth but Kenshin stepped between them.
"It is not good to fight among ourselves, that is not."
"Watch how you speak of my wife," Aoshi warned, his tone brooking no argument.
Sano stared back confused. "Wife?"
No one addressed him. "Come along if you like, but take me to where he is." Calculating the risks, Aoshi decided he didn't care if the idiot got himself involved and then too deeply involved.
If he got the crap kicked out him, so be it.
"All right, this way!"
He could always ditch the guy later.
The Aoiya was crumbling about its edges. There was extensive fire damage to the roof and the entire front half of the building. Okina had been burned trying to help the others extinguish the blaze, four of the front guardsmen had been killed and there were injuries all around.
Once daylight shone over the Aoiya, Misao had gone into hyper-active mode, ushering people to sick rooms, bandaging, making tea, mopping floors. Anything and everything to keep her hands and her mind occupied.
She'd been crazy with anxiety. Her own injuries, which consisted of a handful of bruises and a nice, ugly slash across her abdomen had kept her busy at night.
She went back and forth between being distraught over it and convinced it would be fine with just a little time.
It was worse though, during the night. She was accustomed to sleeping alone, as she had done so her whole life, but Aoshi's absence was un-fillable.
She missed him direly.
She wanted someone to hold onto. Someone to comfort her and reassure her, someone just to be there with her. Someone who wasn't going to pat her head like a child and... she sighed.
When she wasn't going crazy with a hammer and nails or cleaning she was in her room, moping. The bottom half of the stairs had been burned in the fire and she'd been warned they were unstable, but she continued to go up and down them. The entire section of flooring there was being replaced. The sound of hammering went on and on and on, making her temples throb.
People had died.
Things were a mess.
This was all her fault, she knew it was.
All because of her brilliant idea to get involved with that stupid clinic. That annoying woman Takani was always trouble... and yet... she couldn't blame this problem on the lady doctor.
It was Houji who was responsible, no one else.
The hammering downstairs continued as Shiro and Kuro continued to lay floorboards down and numerous others ripped off roof tiles to replace the wood beams beneath.
The noise would never end.
Sagara Sanosuke was an idiot. Aoshi had little patience with idiots, but he couldn't deny the man was headstrong. He considered Sanosuke his battering ram and the lummox had successfully broken through not only the front gates of Houji's mansion, but the front door as well. He and Sanosuke had, without the Battousai's help, made it to the front lobby.
Bodies littered the ground outside, but the inside of the house was deathly silent.
There were no shuffling feet above in the upper floors, no sounds of bodyguards rushing to challenge the intruders.
"Che, those lame asses. You afraid? Wanna piece of me?" Sanosuke growled, walking ahead of Aoshi.
Aoshi walked to the stairs and quickly went up. Without turning back, he gave his orders.
"Check the rooms, find Houji."
Aoshi's men filtered in behind Sanosuke and began splitting off, rummaging through.
The rest followed Aoshi up the stairs.
"Aoshi-sama! We got 'em!"
The quiet ninja leader turned toward the voice and began walking toward the right side, following the balcony hall. The mansion was plush and overtly western.
Big, green plants decorated the hall beside every doorway and ostentatious chairs were set up at the end of the hall near the balcony with an equally showy table.
The door at the end of the hall was guarded by two of his men holding their weapons drawn in front of them. The entire place smelled like... lamp oil.
Aoshi stepped into the office to see the same, plain faced man he'd encountered once before. The man's thin mouth was curved downward into a frown; his wide forehead bore tiny droplets of sweat.
He was alone, undefended in the little office, surrounded by books. Shelves and shelves of books sat on both sides and behind the desk where Houji sat.
"So, you've come to visit, have you?" Houji drawled.
Aoshi ignored the comment.
"The Clinic... I want it."
Houji leaned back in his chair, propping his elbows up on the heavy wooden armrests, locking his fingers together. The man's face twisted into an expression of conniving pleasure. "What's it worth to you?"
Aoshi checked a growl at the arrogant response. Houji was obviously outnumbered and yet he continued on with such overconfidence?
"Lame ass scum bag!"
Aoshi turned just as Sanosuke stepped by him and toward Houji. No one tried to stop the rambunctious street fighter as he grabbed Houji's collar and yanked him to his feet.
"I'll tell you what it's worth... It's worth one gigantic ass kicking. You ready?"
"Really, Shinomori, call back your dog of war... Can we not discuss it like gentlemen?"
"I want the clinic," Aoshi replied.
"Clinic?" Sano paused. "What clinic? Yo, what's up here, Shinomori?"
Houji threw back his head and laughed.
Aoshi ignored him.
"You fool, fools, all of you are fools."
Sano scoffed and punched the man in the face, stopping his tirade. "Yo, shut up. What's this about a clinic, Shinomori?"
Aoshi, again, refused to acknowledge him.
"You will sign over the clinic to me, now, or I will dismantle you, one limb at time," Aoshi announced calmly.
The ninja's around them drew their blades up before them, turning toward Houji.
Houji shifted, reaching for the drawer, pulling out a white sheet of paper.
"Fine, fine. Take it, but was it worth it? That's the question." Houji began to laugh again, in his own little world.
Aoshi reached for an examined the document. When satisfied with the authenticity, he motioned to his men.
"Handle him."
Sanosuke released Houji and followed Aoshi as the former turned and quickly left the room. He headed down the stairs, with Sano almost on his heels.
"Yo! What the hell is going on here!" Sano barked. "What's this about a clinic? I thought we were here for payback because of Gensai's place."
"You were mistaken," Aoshi replied, stepping out the front door. Immediately, one of his foot soldiers stepped up.
"Aoshi-sama, this came for you just now. I was told it was urgent."
He unfolded the slip of paper with quick fingers. The message was short and grave.
"Aoiya was attacked. There have been deaths."
Deaths?
"Handle him," Aoshi ordered. "The rest, return to your home bases."
Deaths?
Had Misao been injured?
Was the note short and concise because no one wanted to alarm him? He fled toward the train station. He needed to be in Kyoto now.
Aoshi pushed the door to Misao's room and stepped in, ignoring Okina on the other side and closing the door quite rudely in his face. He turned, slowly, to find her standing by the window. Her arms were crossed in front of her, her hair trailing in one long waterfall hung from the top of her head.
There were gentle waves in the deep colored hair from the continuous braiding. The little of her skin he could see from his place at the doorway looked pale and cold.
She was wearing a beige colored yukata, the blue sash around her waist was light colored and looked almost painfully tight. Pretty, he thought, stepping closer.
"You are unwell?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice, whirling around to plaster herself against the wall, looking startled.
"Hey! Don't sneak up on people!"
She had one hand tucked around her abdomen protectively, although it was pressed there loosely.
"You were injured?"
She looked away, her pale complexion tinting slightly. "Just a scratch. How did it go?"
He ignored her, stepping closer. She looked like she might flinch away as he reached for her, but he snagged her wrist and leaned close. He caught a gasp against his lips as he pressed his to hers.
She trembled at the contact, eyes wide. He repressed a grin and leaned closer, angling his mouth against hers. She relaxed as his lips caressed hers gently, his hands sliding down to her waist, finding and pressing against her hips.
She moaned softly, delighting him with the tiny sound as she weakened against him. He drew his lips back one moment and watched as her eyes flutter open.
Her freshly kissed lips were full and wet. He leaned toward them once more, sliding his mouth over hers with a mastery that had her knees weak. He locked his arms around her waist, supporting her more fully, tempted to prop her against the windowsill.
She surrendered softly, moaning weakly against his mouth, almost a guttural sound. He slid his tongue against her lips, probing, encouraging, wanting. She whimpered at the soft touch, allowing his tongue to slid just slightly so between her lips.
He darted his tongue boldly between her lips when she didn't seem appalled by the motion, moving his hands inward, toward the narrow tie at her waist. He moved slowly, possessing her mouth while he pulled at the tie, letting the ends flutter gently down.
He pressed his hands flat, sliding beneath the fabric. He moved back a half a step, dropping his gaze down her neck, watching as he parted the thin garment. Her body was wrapped beneath the thin linen, her chest and abdomen covered.
Across the gentle curve of her belly liquid looked to be just leaking through the pristine bandages, a brown oily like color seeping at the edges.
"Just a scratch?"
She blinked and regained hold of herself, straightening. Her expression tightened into one of disappointment and anger and embarrassment.
She opened her mouth to snap at him, but he cut her off, crushing his mouth against hers. He drew his arms around her, trapping her beating fists down by her sides as her arms were held captive.
He knelt down rubbing his fingers over the delicate bandage. How had someone struck her so badly? Was it bad? Did she require a doctor?
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against her belly, just above her bandage and she stilled. He closed his eyes and breathed her in.
"Did it go okay?" she asked. Her voice held a faint tremble, and he could feel the quiver of her frame.
"Aa," he answered. "Is this your only injury?"
He continued to keep his face pressed against her, his eyes closed, just feeling her. Misao had a presence, something he hadn't realized until he'd left a few days previous, that he missed.
"Yeah, pretty much. I don't count the bruises."
She didn't count the bruises?
How many bruises did she have?
He tightened his hands in the material of her garment and sighed inaudibly.
He'd taken the first train available back half expecting she might be dead. He considered himself lucky that he hadn't found her neither dead nor confined to her bed with injuries.
He determined then, he would not care to return to the Aoiya under such duress in the future and made a note to order more advanced training for her. He would also redesign the security layout. There should never be a situation so outstanding that Misao would have to get involved.
"I missed you!" Misao wriggled her limbs free threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly. Much more quietly, she murmured, "What happened to Houji?"
"Prison…"
"Prison, " she repeated, nuzzling her head against his chest. "That's good. Everyone okay?"
"Aa."
She sighed, relieved. He could feel the tension seep from her frame as she was reassured. Slowly he eased her down onto the futon and curled up beside her. They could talk it all out later if necessary.
Misao fell to sleep quickly beside him. She was youthful and soft in appearance and the strain that he hadn't noticed there before, was now noticeably missing.
He relaxed slowly as his anxieties faded. He'd gotten word that Houji had been sentenced to twenty five years and there was no immediate pressing business that would take him away from Misao.
Tomorrow, together, they could start their life together.
Tomorrow, they could begin to build their empire.
Tomorrow, tomorrow…
He hoped they would live their lives without the false hope that there's always tomorrow.
AN: Lame. This story sucked. Goodbye bad story, goodbye.
