Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Watsuki-sama does. I'm only borrowing his characters for a while.

Chapter 3 – Premises of a conflict

1864, a few months later

After the Ikedaya affair, suddenly, it seemed that the Ishinshishi had vanished from the surface of the Earth. People were breathing again and it's seemed that life had found its way back.

But wise persons said that it was only a momentarily break, not the end. It couldn't have ended so easily with one single strike. Ishinshishi would come back. In the meantime, the Shinsengumi could savour their victory, but they had to be ready for the second showdown.

When does one start seeing everything in black? At the first offence? When he starts loosing control? When he finally decides to go on the path of war? Or when he continues on the path of war, even if it hurts more day after day?

There might be no decisive breaking point and it might be a long process, slowly hardening one's heart. It is also true that changes occur slowly, whatever the reason or the outcome is. You don't directly switch from white to black. There are all sorts of grey. One thing is sure though, a succession of deceptions must have marked one's life when you almost reach the bottom.

People of Gion could see such a girl go by, in the district. She always had a frown and a decisive look on. Slowly, with each passing day, she appreciated less and less the beauty of this world. Seeing this district, going to her lessons she once loved, didn't soften her heart at all. Everything only made her think of the unfair way her life had been destroyed. She used to love seeing other geishas perform, but now she only founded it grotesque. Everything here was a lie and she wondered how long this masquerade would last.

Yes, behind their masks, behind the white make up, geishas were all hypocrites ready to stab you in the back at the first occasion. She had always suspected it and she knew it for sure now. Everywhere she went, she saw fake amiable tones, and she saw the show they all put on twenty-four hours a day. But were all rotten.

Tokio had been deeply hurt and the healing process would be long and hard. Does one ever heal from such wounds? Maybe not. Probably not, in fact. With time, you can make the better out of it, but it will always be there, as a reminder of your past.

Tokio was far from being healed, but there was still some hope for her. Sometimes, she could still hear the little voice inside her, pleading her to stop. But it was a very rare occurrence. And, absorbed in her dark thoughts, Tokio didn't listen to it.

But even through this state of mind, she had strangely kept her sanity. She knew precisely what she was doing and why. She had a goal, a purpose, and that kept her alive. But her heart was hard and cold as a rock.

Everyday, she walked in the streets, paying visits here and there, trying to be invited to zashikis. It wasn't easy at first, but slowly, with the help of one teahouse gentle owner who had took her in pity, she found some job and her evenings off were now rare.

She forced herself to laugh and chat, to please clients, but her eyes remained very distant. This added some charm to her aura of mystery. And slowly, they started asking for her presence. She was still far from being popular, and it would surprise her very much if she ever got popular, but at least she was earning some good money.

She had checked the records with a very surprised and suspicious Masako, to see where she financially was. She had discovered that, during the last year, far from decreasing, her debt had slightly increased. She had not made enough money to cover her meals and her other expenses. She would have to change that and fast if she wanted to leave the district one day.

So she paid even more visits, hoping to get more invitations, and walked back and forth many times a day in the district, her frown and determined look on. She never closely observed her surroundings and failed to notice that the streets were filled with men in light blue haoris who definitely had the control of the city for now. Something was going on, something was taking place right under her nose, but she was too blind to realise it. She was only focused on herself and on her goal.

"Still mumbling? What can possibly be on your mind...? I wonder..."

"Nothing. Just leave me alone, Yumi." Replied Tokio, gazing out and not paying too much attention to the other girl.

"Nothing, really? You spend days and days mumbling, and you constantly count your incomes, something you never did before... You really think I'll believe that you aren't planning anything? Come on, Tokio, we have known each other for nine years. Maybe you can fool that brainless Aki, but I know you better than that..."

Tokio looked at her and sighed. Yumi wouldn't leave her alone so easily. It's true that her new behaviour could seem strange. She had never worked harder before, as she had never really cared about her situation. But now, it was very different and of course, Yumi had noticed. She wasn't dumb.

"You are right, I am planning something."

"What?"

"Gaining my financial independence before you take control of this house. I won't give you the pleasure to boss me around..." mockingly answered Tokio, eluding the question.

Yumi frowned and had a faint deceived smile, but kept her composure and replied anyway.

"Say what you want, but I'll find out. Yes, one day, I will find out. You can't hide anything from me, Tokio, and you know it very well."

"Hum... Investigate if you wish. But I'll give you an advice: don't loose too much time because you better watch your back. I may as well soon bring more incomes than you are to this okiya."

"You are still far from that..."

"Maybe... But a reputation can be so easily lost."

"I have nothing to reproach myself."

"I know. Not for now. But, I'll keep an eye on you. Just in case..."

"You'll wait all your life." replied Yumi before proudly leaving.

Tokio gave a wicked smile. She might not wait all of her life. If she went on like that, Yumi wouldn't last long in the district. She had already made some enemies and her flashy behaviour granted her some hostile looks. You had to be very prudent during your career, taking care of where you exactly set your feet and to whom who were on a friendly basis. Support was important, yes, but not just anyone's support.

If Yumi messed up, maybe there was a chance getting the atatori title back, which meant more money and a future. Besides, Masako suddenly looked very old and tired: she already almost had a foot in the grave. The day of the succession might come faster than everyone had thought. Better be ready.

Yes, if she played her cards well, she would regain the favour she once had. She didn't intend to lose.

Once more, Tokio granted the passers-by with her frown and decided look. She had better things to do right now, but because of that incompetent Aki, who was hiding somewhere and couldn't be found, she had to go shopping, being the next person on the list in these cases.

Aki should normally start attending zashikis in two years, but it looked like that changing life event would probably be postponed as the girl's behaviour more matched the one of a six years old. Exactly like if she had learned nothing at all during those years at the Isobe okiya.

She passed near two Shinsengumi members, discussing, but unlike the other citizen, she paid no attention to them. She only minded her own business, eager to please Masako. Her arms were already full of purchases when she entered the third shop on her list: the last one. She took a look around, spotted what she wanted, and asked for the merchant's help. Finally, she declared.

"Just put all of this on the Isobe okiya's bill, please."

The merchant suspiciously observed her before declaring.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I'm afraid I don't know you. Aki usually comes on the Isobe okiya's behalf. You'll have to pay now."

"Aki couldn't come today, that's why I'm here. You can trust me."

"I don't really want to take any risk. The Isobe okiya is one of my best clients. I'm not sure I want to take the chance."

Tokio closed her eyes, trying to control her growing anger. She knew that people were watching them and she also knew that having a scene in public was not the best way to keep her reputation, or to get more invitations. After all, gossiping was one of Gion inhabitants' favourite activities.

If only Aki wasn't so childish, it wouldn't have come to this. The little girl had better stay hidden somewhere, if she didn't want to be scowled.

"I'm not lying. You won't have any trouble, I give you my word of honour." said Tokio, in a more pressuring, but still gentle, tone.

She sensed that the people in her back were slowly passing their way, as there was not much to see. She was very relieved about that and now, if the merchant could just act sensibly, all would end well. By chance, she had controlled her temper.

"Well... I'm still not sure... It's true that I could track you down, but... You know."

Tokio closed her eyes once more. She was trying to search for the best way to solve this case when she suddenly felt a presence by her side. She opened her eyes and looked up. She immediately understood why the crowd had left the place. She hadn't paid much attention to the war going on, but had realised that generally, when people spotted a light blue haori, they generally rapidly went away. She had been foolish to think that the crowd had left for any other reason: of course, a gossip was still a gossip.

"Is there any problem, sir?" asked the newcomer, and as his strange amber eyes flashed, Tokio knew for sure that either the merchant or her was now in trouble. Or maybe both.

"I don't think so. No everything is going fine."

He quickly grabbed the products Tokio had long requested, handed them to her. With a victorious smile, Tokio quickly left the place, the man following her, a few steps behind.

Once they were far enough, she turned around.

"Thank you for intervening in my favour."

"I don't think I intervened in anyone's favour. You were both troubling the peace and I found a good way to solve this little problem, that's all."

"Well, thank you anyway." said Tokio, bowing, before leaving.

For a few minutes, she thought about the scene, but she rapidly forgot everything as she spotted Aki playing with a few kids in a side street. She had more important things to do.

That's how, only a few hours later, she wouldn't even had thought mentioning the incident if someone had asked how her day was. But of course, no one ever asked how her day was... She really had no idea that, years later, this little encounter would serve her.

Days slowly passed and Tokio suddenly found herself very busy. She was always in a hurry, coming back to the okiya very late at night, and rushing to take her lessons during the day. And that was without taking into account the hours she spent getting ready.

She had clear financial objectives for she wanted to be financially free before her twenty-fifth birthday, which was in eight years. She had wasted a lot of time during the first five years of her life as a geisha, but now she was determined to change that. With a little bit of luck, and if things went smoothly, she would be able to do it even before her twenty-third birthday.

Other people in the okiya noticed that change of perspective and wondered, as Yumi had done, what was happening to Tokio. But they didn't asked, just happy that the girl was finally having some success and brought some money back to the house.

Things went on like that, and nothing faltered Tokio's will of seeing her father. She really trusted him and knew for certain that he wasn't the one to blame.

But life is never easy and some people always find a way to destroy your confidence and try to make you fall even deeper. For Tokio, Yumi was such a person. She had said that she would found out what was the problem with these new resolutions, and after months of sneaking and asking questions around, she had started to suspect the truth. After all, a ton of letters cannot completely go unnoticed...

Tokio was once again calculating her incomes of the week and trying to figure what those of next weeks would be, when Yumi dropped by to say a few words.

"I know why you are mumbling now... And I know why you are trying to gain more money. Believe me, I would do the same thing to any bastard who would have declared himself dead, not to pay me any visits. That is a very cheap shot. At least, he could have directly told you that he didn't want you in his life."

Tokio frowned as she lost the count of her incomes. She finally stopped mumbling and looked at Yumi.

"I don't think that my father abandoned me. He's a man of honour, someone I would trust with my life. Something else might have stopped him. Besides, he completely vanished from the surface of the Earth..."

Yumi sat besides Tokio and looked at her surprised.

"You are a very naive girl. They say that you are very intelligent, but when it comes to your family, you sure can loose your grip. Give me only one reason why in more than ten years, he never came."

"I don't know. He's the only one who knows the answer. Until I see him and ask him questions, I'll keep trusting him.

"You do as you wish, but I personally wouldn't be wasting my time as you are."

"I'm not wasting my time..."

Yumi shrugged before leaving the room, shaking her head. For sure she wouldn't keep hoping like Tokio was, for she knew for sure that her parents would never wish to see her again. She couldn't be a hundred percent certain about Tokio's father, but the facts were there...

Tokio looked at her go away, as indifferently as she could. She resumed calculating her incomes, but she kept making mistakes in the process. Her relative peace of mind had been disrupted.

Yumi's words had introduced a tiny doubt in her mind. This was an avenue she had never wished to explore before. All along the way, she had known that it was a possibility, but she had refused to believe that the truth was as cruel and as simple as that. She still trusted her father with, and as long as she wouldn't hear the bitter words coming from his mouth, she wouldn't believe that he was guilty of anything.

She would keep counting her incomes and looking forward to the day when she would finally be able to leave the district and actively search for him. But, that tiny doubt was slowly making its way through her mind...

After that day, Tokio's behaviour didn't change much. She had about the same goal: go back to her village and find her father. But when she would find him what would happen? Of that, she wasn't sure anymore, but maybe it wouldn't be the happy reunion she had once wished for.

She hoped that Yumi was wrong. She hoped that the little voice inside her was wrong. She wished so hard to have a family again. She wished to have friends, people to speak with. She wished... she wished that none of this had ever happened. She wished that her mother was still alive and that they were all living in the little village near Edo. Maybe she would still suffer from extreme poverty, but like that, she wouldn't have to question the sincerity of her father's words and feelings.

But she couldn't go back in the past. She couldn't change the course of events.

She still trusted him, but... If Yumi had been right... If the little voice inside her had been right, then she wasn't sure she would be able to forgive the lies. She could still remember that rainy day when he had clearly promised, looking at her directly in the eyes, to come and see her everyday. Yes, she remembered.

So just in case, just in case Yumi and the little voice were right, she started opening her mind a little more. She didn't only focus on seeing her father again anymore. Only partially.

She tried to appreciate the things surrounding her, fearing that her future wouldn't be any better than what she had now. She didn't see the entire world in black anymore. She had reached the stage where she could see the world as it really was: shades of grey, for nothing was totally good or bad. She knew for sure that the world of geisha was partially fake, but it was also true that some dance figures were very lovely. And that there was nothing like a shamisen lesson.

Deep inside, Tokio wasn't the same anymore. During the past year, she had grown and she wasn't seeing things with the eyes of a child anymore. Neither with the eyes of the teenage girl she was. This story had helped her mature faster than other people normally do. She was partially grateful for that. But a part of her eyes were now definitely cold and calculating, exactly like Masako eyes were. Probably no one can escape the lessons of the world in which they live in.

The Ishinshishi were gaining power again. They had waited for a while in the dark, but they would resurface soon enough. They had decided that a change of hitokiri was more than welcomed. Shishio Makoto would enter the scene.

To be continued...

REMINDERS

In RK, Tokio's family name in Takagi and Yumi is an Orian. I deliberately chose to twist the reality. You'll understand why later. But trust me, I have good reasons. (-)

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NOTES

Nothing much said in here about the Shinsengumi or the Bakumatsu in this chapter. Soon, Saito and the others will have a more important role. The story's background is completely set, it's time for action...

SPECIAL THANKS

Due credit goes to Firuze Khanume and EEevee, who kindly took the time to pre-read this chapter.

À la prochaine!
Mary-Ann