Disclaimer: Yup. I own Rurouni Kenshin, but I just love writing fanfiction of my own series!
A/N: Whew! Chapter 17 already! And I haven't even hit the climactic part! This is like…rising action. Anyway, as you can probably tell, this will be my longest fic. So enjoy!
Sorry for being a bit later in updating this. I actually knew I was going to be a few days late…I should have mentioned it. I'm just finishing up school here on the West Coast, so thanks for being patient. Once summer rolls around…you better watch out!
Also, I love this new hit-counter…I can tell, now that someone has read all of my chapters and has not reviewed. I don't mention it a lot, but please do review, it helps me a lot.
Tanoshimu!
Chapter 17
Soujiro: Another Man's Agenda
-
Misao sat lifelessly on the patio, staring out across the courtyard in the humid, stale morning. She fanned herself with a hand, not really because it was hot but because feeling wind on her face made her feel alive.
She could practically feel the color draining from her face overnight and knew that she looked terrible. Not that it mattered. Misao guessed that no one else had gotten a wink of sleep either. The night and its horrors had an unshakable grasp on everyone, and it was not about to let them go just because the sun had risen.
A movement by the gate caught Misao's attention. She snapped over to it, expression completely alert, like a cat waiting to pounce. Had Kenshin come back already, Naruku safe with him? Was it Soujiro, who had disappeared without a word the night before? Or…could it be an ally of Enizu's, come to finish off the rest of them?
It was Sano. Next came Megumi, walking behind him.
"Misao," Sanosuke greeted, shutting the gate as soon as Megumi was through.
Misao didn't say anything, but just watched them. "Should you be here?" she asked, motioning toward the older woman.
Megumi huffed angrily, brushing a few locks of hair away. "I'm here because I choose to be. I want to help Ken-san, and… save Naruku."
Her brown eyes were so deeply regretful and solemn that Misao couldn't do anything but nod back.
"But…"
"Listen itachi," Sano said, reverting back to her old nickname. "I'm just here to drop off Megumi. I know you'll make sure she's safe, but my place is with Kenshin right now, got it?" he said, turning towards the gate.
Misao nodded again, looking at Megumi uneasily. "I…I'll go get Aoshi-sama."
She stood up and padded indoors, walking quietly down the hallway that seemed so empty and gray. Aoshi emerged from a doorway that Misao had already passed. She turned at the sound of the shoji door. Misao did not take notice of the fact that the room Aoshi had just exited was not his own.
"Aoshi-sama," she said. Looking at him, Misao could tell that he had not had a wink of sleep the whole night. He wore the same clothes that he was dressed in the night before, only now they were slightly wrinkled and some threads were loose. His hair was messy, but his eyes were as bright and cold as ever.
Aoshi stumbled toward her, blinking wildly and running a hand through his hair.
"Woah," Misao whispered at his appearance. He seemed so out of it, so dizzyingly awake.
"Listen, Sano and Megumi have just shown up," Misao began. "They're outside. Sano said he's going to go find Kenshin, but I don't even…" she trailed off as Aoshi began to speak.
"I…" he rasped. "I know where she is."
Misao's knees shook. She clenched her hands within the fabric of her shirt. She couldn't say anything. I know where she is, Aoshi had said. Surely he didn't mean…?
He did. Aoshi barged down the hall, throwing open the door and stepping outside. Misao hesitated to follow him, instead peering inside the room where he had come. Inside was Kaoru, tying the belt on her hakama.
Misao pushed the door all the way open. Now she could see the bokken gripped in Kaoru's right hand.
"Aoshi-sama just…" Misao began.
Kaoru balanced the bokken precariously as she hastily tied her hair up with a plain band, no ribbon. "I know," she said breathlessly. He just came in here, saying he knew exactly where Naruku is. We're leaving right now." She grabbed her bokken again and went past Misao and out the door.
The younger girl quickly followed, trotting alongside Kaoru. They barely paused to open the front door as they made their way outside. Kaoru hopped down the steps, joining Aoshi in the middle of the courtyard, where Megumi stood alone.
"What happened to Sano?" Misao questioned from her place just behind Kaoru.
Megumi looked up. "He went already."
"But how does he know where Kenshin is?" Misao demanded.
"He doesn't," Megumi replied. She cast a glance at Aoshi, unaware that Misao was busily thinking.
"We're going," the stoic man said. "You too." He nodded at Megumi.
"What?" Kaoru asked. "But, I mean…Megumi-san…"
"It's a good idea to have a trained doctor on the scene. Our fighting may be daunted, but I'm willing to take a risk if it means saving a life that would otherwise be gone."
Kaoru's breath caught in her throat. For a moment, Aoshi had sounded just like Kenshin, and that brought her hope and confidence.
Aoshi expression flickered for a second as Yahiko joined them.
"Are we leaving now?" were the only words that came from the young boy's mouth.
"Yes, Yahiko," Kaoru replied kindly. "We are. Do you have your shinai?"
Yahiko patted the wooden sword that was strapped to his back. Next to him, Misao was busily counting the pouches of kunai on her belt.
"I'm going to go get Sano," Misao said. "This is…" she didn't finish, but instead took off, sprinting out of the gate and down the path.
"Hey—wait!" she heard a voice call out, but it was too late. She needed to find some sanity, some truth in all of this confusion.
It was a beautiful morning, a soft breeze ruffling the woody trees alongside the road. Misao stopped in her tracks suddenly. Her gaze was fixed on the side of the road, where a black tuft of hair could be seen.
Misao silently crept forward, turning her body to look at a different angle. There was a sliver of human flesh visible. She ran.
"Soujiro!" she called out, but he had disappeared between the trees already. She catapulted herself through the branches, hitting them away as she ran towards him.
Unbeknownst to Misao, Yahiko was racing after her through the trees. He too had seen Soujiro. But unlike Misao, Yahiko knew the threat that Soujiro posed. "Misao—you can't!" His voice was lost between the branches and Misao's own yells.
Misao arrived at a clearing where Soujiro stood, his back facing her. She leapt towards him.
"Soujiro," she murmured, grabbing his shoulders and turning him around. She collapsed against him and he stumbled back from the weight.
"Misao," he replied, a slight edgy note to his voice. "What're you…"
"Soujiro, I don't know what to do! Naruku has been kidnapped and Kenshin already left to find her last night. Now Aoshi says he knows where she is and we can find her, but Sano ran off and…and…" here she took a deep breath. "And I just don't know…"
"Sh…Misao, it's okay," Soujiro said in a soothing voice. "I've been thinking about it and…I know where Naruku-san is as well."
"You…what?" Misao asked incredulously, stepping away from him to see into his blue eyes.
Soujiro nodded solemnly. "If we can find Himura-san—"
"Stop!" a voice cried from behind Misao. She whirled around and was surprised to see Yahiko standing there, a furious expression on his face.
"Yahiko, wha—"
"Don't listen to a word he says!" Yahiko exclaimed, coming nearer. "He's working with Enizu—I swear to you!"
Misao looked in bewilderment from Yahiko to Soujiro. "Yahiko, you're wrong, Soujiro wants to help, he knows where Naruku is and—"
"Of course he knows! He helped Enizu put her there!" Yahiko hollered. "Misao, he's not to be trusted!"
"Don't be stupid," Misao shot back, angry tears welling up in her eyes. She put a hand on Soujiro's chest. "He's my friend…I love him." Soujiro's hand found its way on top of Misao's.
"But Misao, he just wants Kenshin dead!" Yahiko shouted. "He's been toying with you this whole time, he's—"
"Stop it!" Misao shrieked. "I don't believe you!" She lunged forward at Yahiko, but Soujiro had her hand captured with his own.
Yahiko jumped away from her violent reaction. "Misao, please, I'm telling the truth, he's not on our side, he's—"
Before Misao could even think, her arm was raised and descending quickly. Her hand connected with Yahiko's cheek with a painful smack noise. Yahiko toppled over. He shut his eyes and clutched his cheek, finally falling silent. He looked up at Misao, pain and regret clouding his eyes.
Misao seemed almost confused as to what she had done. She had just hit Yahiko. "Yahiko…" she said softly. "I'm…"
She was about to apologize when Yahiko suddenly stood up again, his features twisted into an angry look. "Fine," he said coolly. "Fine."
He turned on his heel and left the clearing, disappearing between the trees.
Misao looked on remorsefully.
Soujiro touched her shoulder and she looked up at him.
"Come on," Soujiro said softly. "Let's go." He pressed his lips to her forehead gently and Misao's eyes fluttered closed as Soujiro kissed her.
-
Soujiro waited patiently in the empty study, keeping an eye out for Enizu and his followers. Other followers, he chided himself. Soujiro was one such person himself.
"So how did it go? What did you find out?"
Soujiro jumped at the inquiry. He morphed his glare into a smile as his eyes followed Enizu from the doorway to the seat behind the desk.
"Battousai left the dojo late last night," Soujiro reported. The words sounded practiced and unnaturally timed, but he was sure Enizu would not take notice. As long as Soujiro remembered to think of Kenshin as Battousai, Enizu would have faith in him. "He has no idea where you are keeping Naruku."
Enizu grinned, a slow, wide smile that slithered onto his face like molten gold. "I'm sure he'll be able to figure it out…if he just remembers one important thing about me."
"What's that?" Soujiro asked purely out of curiosity.
Enizu's grin broadened and he tapped his head. "I'm Kanryuu Takeda's brother." And then he cackled.
Soujiro strained to keep his own smile in place as Enizu sobered.
"Well. We know that Himura-san has left…that was to be expected. And the other fools? What of them?"
"You mean Kamiya-san?" Soujiro asked carefully.
"Yes," Enizu replied. "And that asshole, Sagara…"
Soujiro quickly nodded. "Yes, Sagara-san went to find you as well," he answered without missing a beat. More practiced lines.
"Hm…Well we can't have him or anyone else interrupting the resulting fight between myself and Himura-san. I think we'd better set up some defense around the castle, don't you?"
Soujiro nodded and began to feel sweat pouring off of his neck. This was the most crucial moment to his plans. It came down to this moment, the very last method of resistance. After Soujiro had failed to stop the kidnapping of Naruku, which he regretted to no end, this was the last thing he could do.
"Well there's no reason not to set up shooters and swordsmen behind the font gate and along the entrance pathway," Enizu reasoned. It was a casual decision to him, didn't matter much in the long run.
Alarm bells went off in Soujiro's mind. "Is that such a good idea?" he asked, sweating profusely. "Battousai's friends are shrewd and cunning. Surely you are underestimating them? What if they make it through the front gates? There will be nothing stopping a siege of the castle once they are inside."
Enizu looked thoughtful. "I hardly think that a rooster-head is going to be able to make an attack on my castle."
"Still!" Soujiro said in desperation. "He could cause some chaos."
"This is true…" Enizu replied, a finger on his temple.
Soujiro continued to sweat over this. "Maybe you should keep reinforcements in the secret passageways?"
"Maybe just The Tunnel," Enizu replied. "That's not a bad idea."
"No!" Soujiro replied.
I'm so sorry, Misao.
"The…uh…Shinomori-san won't know about The Tunnel. It was constructed after he left Castle Edo, remember?" Soujiro said shakily.
"Shinomori-san?" Enizu asked, arching an eyebrow. "He's still at the dojo?"
Soujiro's eyebrows furrowed. What did Enizu mean, still? When did he find out about Aoshi being at the dojo? And did that mean he knew about Misao as well? But it would do Soujiro no good to appear off-guard.
"Yes," he replied, bowing his head. "He has knowledge of the older secret passageways. He may try to use them to gain access, and with such a strong opponent even Rokuro and myself may not be able to hold him off."
Soujiro didn't know if this was true or not. He had never seen Aoshi fight, even at the time they were both allied with Shishio. It could be true that Rokuro alone would be able to hold Aoshi off, which is why Soujiro needed to make sure his plan went along accordingly.
Enizu opened his mouth to speak. "Sagara-san is very headstrong. I have no doubts at all that he will try and get through the main entryway."
"He won't," Soujiro replied. "Takani-san is with him. As you know, she is familiar with the layout of the castle, just like Shinomori."
"Are you suggesting that I post most of my forces in the passageways of this castle?" Enizu questioned, his face drawn into a tight, rigid expression.
Soujiro gazed at him with an unflinching stare. "Not most," he said. "All of them."
It was a gamble in all respects, but Soujiro knew he had to take it. If he could get Enizu to use all of the forces on Aoshi and the others, thinking that they would be the only opponents, he would not expect an attack or even a simple interruption from somewhere else. Someone else.
Misao, who was sitting outside the castle at that very moment, hunched against a wall and trying to look inconspicuous with the help of Soujiro's brown cloak. That was the only person not accounted for in Enizu's plan. For Soujiro, she was crucial.
Enizu tapped the top of his desk.
Soujiro was waiting on edge for his answer.
"Very well," Enizu said, sucking in air. "I will have two men at the gate. The rest, as you suggest, will be in the secret corridors. My idle men, however, will remain situated in The Tunnel. You and Rokuro will go to your stations and wait for further reports from the checkpoint men. Should Shinomori and the others get that far…well, you know how to deal with them."
Soujiro nodded, taking mental notes of all of Enizu's plans. The inactive men in The Tunnel would be difficult to get around while keeping Misao a secret. Unless…
Soujiro smiled brightly. "An excellent plan, Enizu-san!" he chirped.
"Thank you," Enizu replied, blinking lazily. "Go inform the men. I'm going to have a little chat with our lovely prisoner."
Something inside of Soujiro lurched, but he kept his composure and nodded before walking out to meet up with Misao. He could only hope from this point forward, that everything fell into place.
-
Yahiko returned to the group of determined travelers after his shouting match with Misao. He stepped out of the trees, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. He had failed them, leaving Misao with the enemy. Surprisingly, though, he felt a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up it was Kaoru, her sapphire eyes full of pride. The kind of pride that could not be put into words.
Instead, Megumi dropped to his side and began inspecting the red welt on his cheek where Misao had hit him.
"Hm…" Megumi commented, clacking her tongue. "You're all right."
Yahiko nodded. "You didn't have to wait for me," he started.
"Don't be stupid," Kaoru disputed. "Of course we did. You'd maim us if we went anywhere without you. Let's get going, though, Sano's waiting for us."
"You found him?" Yahiko asked, leading them down the path again.
"We didn't really have to look. He's just around the bend, apparently didn't get very far before realizing he had no idea where to go. And then when he got wind of the fact that Aoshi did know, he was practically begging to join up with us again."
Sure enough, Yahiko could make out his older friend's gangly figure nearing them.
"Hey kid," Sano greeted Yahiko, nodding his head at the rest of them.
"Sagara-san," Aoshi said placidly.
Sano crossed his arms and his eyes darkened with an intimidating look. "I get the feeling you don't really want me along, Shinomori."
Aoshi brushed him off. "It doesn't really matter what I want," he replied, elusively.
Kaoru was shaking her head, barely suppressing a laugh. "Well I'm glad that you're coming," she said, mostly to make him feel better but also because it was true. Besides his strength, it was Sano's good humor that they might need, to lighten even the darkest of moments.
Megumi wound her arms around Sano's shoulders. "Outa-kun is looking after the clinic until I get back," she said. "Try and make him proud."
Sano gave an easy grin. "I'll do my best. Always do."
Twenty minutes later, the five of them had reached the gates of Castle Edo. The dirt pathway loomed ahead of them. They seemed frozen in awe and slight fear as they looked at the menacing sight of the giant mansion that lay ahead of them.
Aoshi turned away and began walking in another direction, without even looking back.
"Hey!" Kaoru exclaimed, catching his arm. "What are you doing? We just got here, and we've made it this far, so—"
Aoshi cut her off without even saying a word. Soon he had everyone's eyes on him, expectant, questioning. "We enter from a secret entryway that will lead us to the center of the castle. To the room where…"
He faltered and Kaoru was at once worried. Then realization dawned and she moved closer to him.
"The room where my comrades were killed. That is where we will find Enizu," he started walking away with a sweep of his coat, the reminder he had never completely gotten rid off. Kaoru hurried after him, and a perplexed Yahiko trailed. Sano nodded to Megumi and they, too, followed.
It was a picture of the height of their hope, drawn in the watercolors of the morning as the group of friends walked briskly and steadfastly toward their goal.
A/N: Okay, now truthfully, who figured out where Naruku was being held before I actually said so? Who figured it out during Enizu and Soujiro's conversation?
I'm worried about the organization of the next few chapters. As you can imagine, there will be a lot going on. Don't worry, I'll figure it out.
Wow! Great turnout for last chapter. Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I really appreciate everything you say.
Zioncross: It was actually really easy making Enizu as evil as he is. My only worry is that he's too sadistic, and that will make him either unrealistic or the kind of character that gets swallowed up because he doesn't have enough of a persona. Hopefully I'll be able to dig into some of that during a certain fight he'll have. :cough: Naruku had to go through a lot last chapter (and I feel so bad for it now!) Her torture, though, is only beginning. Yes! I got the response I wanted for Rokuro. Everyone seems curious, which is how I want them. He's definitely different from Enizu or even Soujiro. Thanks for being so observant all the time! I love your reviews.
Another Baka: it is, isn't it?
Liem: You'll never know how much I love having you back. Flames are always fun, as a certain reviewer of mine can attest. Rokuro isn't exactly a gentleman…he has the very bare amounts of manners, but he's definitely very different from Enizu. I'm glad you approve of Naruku's kidnapping scene…it was difficult to write. Baka, Liem, get your mind out of the gutter, Naruku was taking a bath on her own freewill because having Enizu touch her in any sort of way is just gross. Hm…It's so hard to check for typos, but I'm now alerted to the fact that I have a few so I'll be on the lookout. Thanks, Liem! I love that quote too…am I allowed to, seeing as I made it up? Kenshin might need someone like Naruku…you're right. But I don't know, I'm just a fanfic writer!
Yuna: I don't think Rokuro is either good or evil. You'll see more on that, though…
Leona Westley: Rokuro is an odd character…and Enishi is truly a Sadist. Thanks so much!
Question Marks: Yeah, you were a few chapters ago. Of course you hate Enizu—you're supposed to! I'm glad that you do. Hm…Enizu dying in the end? Well I already figured out how he was going to end up almost immediately after I thought him up (that was actually how I thought up Naruku.) I hope some of your questions about Soujiro were answered this chapter. Even more next chappie. I'm glad you liked Rokuro.
Cathy Mark: I know, she's going through so much. Last chapter was kinda short, huh? Oh well.
Long Island grace: Aw, Sa-chan, you changed your penname. And just so you know, I'm not the amazing one, YOU are. That review was…MONSTROUS! I love it! Thank you sooo much! And congrats for getting to summer! I'm glad you liked all my "vignettes" that were tangentially related to the matter at hand. Yeah, I know, I dunno what happened with that fight, but hopefully I'll get my act together for the next fight. WoM was weird, I finally realized I don't need to have a billion fight scenes for this to be an RK-esque fic. Oh…I think I'll have to apologize in advance for something that happens regarding Kenshin and Naruku later. You'll see what kind of casualties there are…I like your assessment of Rokuro's character, and I think you've pinpointed the reason why he seems like he doesn't belong in Rurouni Kenshin. He doesn't care about anything! What you said about his relationship with Naruku is pretty correct, too. Wow. Quite passionate on the Enizu subject, aren't you? You're right, Enizu existing creates a gap between Naruku and Kenshin. I don't want to spoil anything, but that isn't going to change anytime soon, either. Wow…oh my god…Biiiig hug for that analysis on Naruku and Kenshin. That was wonderful. You made my day! I am actually currently writing a fic that will end up highlighting EXACTLY what you said about Naruku. The fact that she bounces back. Enizu…Bondage/discipline? You're scaring ME now. Isn't that odd though? Naruku is being tortured by a man she used to love…the way life is, huh? I'm glad you liked the end piece for Kenshin. You had the right reaction to it, so I feel accomplished. Oh, and thanks for that e-mail, very good idea, I'll think on it.
Anonymous Freak: Good title, huh? Well, I had both Ao/Kao and Mis/Sou in this chapter, so I hope you're happy!
Whisper of the Wind: Poor Naruku, right? Thanks! Glad you like Rokuro…he's been getting a lot of positive feedback.
"Oro" Object: 'course I updated, I always do! You'll see about Naruku and Kenshin at the end. And yes, a one-on-one battle is coming soon.
Thank you all so much…I really do appreciate it a lot when you send reviews. Keep that constructive criticism rant from last chapter in mind. It does wonders to leave a perceptive review for me. I like to think that my writing is sophisticated enough to be analyzed intellectually. Thanks for everything, see you next chapter (when it will finally be summer for me!)
