CHAPTER 2: Unknown Relations

"Ahh… soo ka. Sure, you can stay."

They were in the Kamiya Kasshin dojo, since Sano insisted that she stay over there for the night. It was a good thing that Megumi and Genzai-sensei were there, and her wounds were cleaned and bounded with soft bandages.

Meiou smiled gratefully at Kaoru and her friend, Kenshin Himura. "Arigato gozaimasu. I promise, I won't bother you at all…"

The red-haired samurai known as Kenshin smiled at her, "Oh, you're not a bother. It's good that we have another person here at the house."

"Are you sure that you don't want to board here while you work for Lenny's?" Kaoru asked.

Meiou shook her head and said, "Well, I'm still not sure if I'll be able to board there. I'll stay if I can't…"

The two girls who were sitting near them jumped up with glee. The one named Suzume touched her hand and said, "Nee, Meiou-san… will you play with us if you stay here?"

She smiled at the young girl and touched her hair, "Of course, I will."

Suzume laughed with her sister, Ayame, as they ran out the door screaming, "We have another friend!"

Kenshin smiled at her again, "You're very good with children. Are there any other chores you can do?"

Meiou shrugged, "I can do any chore you tell me to…"

"That's great!"

Meiou looked at Kaoru as she asked, "What's great?"

"How would you like to work here? You can baby-sit the kids when I'm gone."

Meiou's eyebrows rose, "I… don't think I get it…"

"Kaoru-dono teaches most of the time. She teaches her Kamiya Kasshin technique to kids all around this area." Kenshin explained, "Unfortunately, I have chores to do here at the dojo and I sometimes have a hard time doing my chores and taking care of them at the same time. I was kind of hoping that you'd be able to help while I do my chores. Do you think you can help?"

"Oh… uh… sure. But I have to make sure that I'll be able to keep up with my schedule at the restaurant." Meiou said nervously.

Kaoru waved a hand and said, "Oh, you don't have to worry. The head waitress is our friend. I'm sure she can give you a good schedule."

Meiou released a sigh of relief as she said, "Arigato gozaimasu."

"Well, it's getting late." Kenshin said as he stood up, "I'll go start cooking dinner."

Meiou stood up with him and said, "If you'd like I can do the cooking for you…"

Kenshin smiled as he nodded, "I almost forgot that you're a waitress. Okay, if you'd like you can do the cooking for tonight. We would also appreciate it if we can taste your cooking."

He led her to the kitchen where she immediately started dinner. She made sashimi and sushi for everyone, as well as some rice. Kenshin helped her during the chopping, but he gave her freedom when it comes to the cooking. He admitted that she had great cooking techniques, and soon enough, their dinner was ready.

Sano, Megumi, Doctor Genzai and the children decided to stay over to taste her cooking. And since she cooked enough food to feed eleven people, everyone was pleased and full when they finished.

"Ahhh! That's the best meal I've had in ages!" Yahiko exclaimed as he lay back to rest his full stomach.

Sano smiled at her through his bangs as he gnawed on a fishbone, "I guess it can be expected. She is a waitress, you know."

Megumi nodded in agreement, "This is amazing! There's even some flavor in the rice. Where have you learned to cook?"

Meiou smiled at Megumi's compliment, "My Aunt Maya and I studied Chinese cooking a few years ago. I learned a lot and also learned to make better food by experimenting."

"That must be the reason why you cooked so much stuff. It's wonderful! I've never had such a great meal!" Genzai-sensei commented as he laid back.

Meiou looked around and said, "Wow, everyone seems so full! I know just the way to help you." She then went to the kitchen and took out a pot of tea and some cups. "My aunt always told me that a cup of tea always does some good during the digestion. And we could sit outside while we wait for its effect."

Megumi smiled as she took a cup with her, "That would be a nice idea…"

"And while we're outside, we have discuss about some of my patients, Megumi." Genzai-sensei added as he also took a cup. The both of them went out to the garden.

Meanwhile, both Yahiko and Kaoru stood up and took the dishes. Meiou immediately reached out to help them clear the table, but Kenshin's hand stopped her. "Let them do it. You've done enough today. Why don't you go to your room and rest? I'll ask Sano to accompany you."

Sano immediately came forward, "Hai! I'll accompany you to one of the guest rooms…" He said as he hoisted her bag to his shoulder, "I'll take these so you don't have to worry."

"Ahhh… demo…"

Kenshin waved off her protests as he gently pushed her towards the door. "We'll be fine! Just go ahead and rest. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

Meiou nodded shyly to Kenshin, "H…hai. Arigato gozaimasu…"

"Oyasumi nasai, Meiou-san!" Ayame and Suzume cried before Kenshin closed the door.

Meiou smiled as she turned to Sano, "Where is my room?"

Sano pointed to the nearby building just behind the dojo, "It's that way, that's where they all sleep. Let's go, I'll show you to your room."

They started walking towards the house, with Sano leading the way. The moon was shining brightly and Meiou kept looking at it. Finally, she stopped, "Oh… kirei…"

Sano turned back and asked, "Nani?"

"The moon… it's so beautiful here. I've never seen it so… huge before."

He smiled at her and asked, "Why? Isn't it beautiful where you came from?"

Meiou smiled as she looked down sadly, "The moon in Shimabara is just as beautiful, but…" she sighed, "I really can't look at the sky from there. It brings very bad memories."

Sano's eyes widened at her words, "You're… from Shimabara?"

She nodded her head and looked at him, "Hai… Why? Have you been there?"

"Uhh… hai. I've been there with Kenshin…"

Her blue eyes turned to him. He noticed that fear and a hint of embarrassment coming from her eyes, "Then… you know about… Shogo and Sayo Amakusa…?"

He nodded again.

Meiou became silent for a while, before saying, "I was… there… when Shimabara burned. I saw…everything…" She swallowed, "I know what they went through. I knew it was painful to see their parents murdered for their beliefs. And coming back for revenge. My own parents were murdered that night, and I also want revenge, like Shogo did. I mourned when Shozo told me Sayo was dead and even more when I heard that Shogo was exiled… I knew everything about them, and I loved them both like a family."

Sano's brown eyes widened even further, "How would you know such things? And how come you could say that you loved them like a family?"

Meiou raised her eyes to Sano again, and he saw that they were filled with tears, "Because they ARE my family… They were my cousins."

"NANI!"

"Hai… she told me herself."

Sano had just returned from the house after showing Meiou her room. After what she told him, she became silent and shy again and only said "arigato" when he left her room. He had just broken the news to the group, and all of them were shocked.

"How can that be! I though that there were only two Amakusa's?" Yahiko asked suddenly.

"Apparently, we didn't check out his family tree. I guess he had an aunt or uncle with the name 'Seishiro'". Kenshin said as he thought about what his friend told him.

"Hmmm… I guess so."

All of them became silent before Kaoru said, "It must be horrible for her to lose her cousins like that…"

Yahiko thought for a moment before saying, "I wonder if they were even close."

Sano nodded, "Oh, they're close alright. Shogo left her a necklace of his with that weird cross. He said he gave it to her before leaving Japan to be exiled."

"Oh, that makes sense." Megumi said as she sipped the last of her tea, "Her knowledge from China and her necklace. It's her last remembrance of them. No wonder she doesn't want to lose it."

Kaoru's brows furrowed as she thought of something, "Wait a minute… she said that she still have a relative, her aunt up in Shimabara, that took care of her. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"

Sano shook his head as he answered, "Nope… not unless her aunt adopted her after Shimabara's burning…"

Silence reigned the group again as they continued to think. Finally, Megumi said, "Well, I suggest we all get some rest. We don't have to stay all night here just to think about this. We'll just ask her tomorrow, after her work at Lenny's. Does that sound good?"

Kenshin sighed before answering, "I guess it's a good idea."

Sano got up from where he was sitting and said, "Okay, fine. Let's just ask her tomorrow."