Author: Well, turning point in their lives O-o And Misao's going to be OOC again because of, well, you'll see. And a bit of bad language.
-IMPORTANT- I'm going on a vaction tomorrow, so I might not update that often. BUT, that doesn't mean I haven't written the chapter yet. I only means I have trouble finding computers to upload. (too busy shopping I s-ppose) Oops, I'm rambling on.
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-Charmed Wolf - thanks! Ah, motivation keeps me going (wheeeeeee)
-Yuki- I thought you like oranges better?
-Nevaeh Azalea- (squealing like an excited child) yeeeeeeee new reader! Thanks. I am not infected with the deadly disease of writer's block yet. So I'll update as soon as I can!
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Disclaimer: I down own RK, though I have a weasel and icicle plushie (blink)
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Chapter 3 Sayonara
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Himura Kenshin woke up from the sound of ruckus ringing in his ears. He brushed his red hair out of his eyes as he pushed himself off the futon, grasping for his sakabatou.
His body felt stiff, but otherwise great. He can only conclude that he had been unconscious for so long that even these hideous injuries had healed. He slid open the shoji, breathing in the morning air, simply enjoying the sense of peace. The Aoiya seemed a little different de gozaru. It looks new. Judging from the noise downstairs, Sano, Yahiko, Okina-dono and Kaoru-dono must be fine. Oro? Megumi-dono is here too? No one can heal me as well as her, I suppose. Where is Misao-dono?
Kenshin descended from the stairs, his foot steps even lighter than a cat's, walking towards the room that produced that loudest racket.
He stood at the open door, smiling, "Ohayo de gozaru – OROOO?"
A flying projectile smacked him in the face, and he found himself lying face up with swirling eyes.
"Kenshin! Look what you've done you brat!" There's no doubt about it, it's Kaoru-dono's voice. And Yahiko seems to be the one throwing…… the shinai? No wonder it hurts more than a flying sandle.
His eyes snapped back to normal as he gazed into Kaoru's concerned eyes, and felt himself relax in her warmth.
"Daijoubu de gozaru. Sessha is fine," nodded Kenshin and stood up, looking around the room.
Sano looked like he was in the middle of bickering with the fox doctor. Kenshin's assumption is right; Megumi-dono did come here. No matter how much they argue and tease each other, there was no denying how close those two are. Kenshin smiled lightly and saw Yahiko looking sheepish, and trying to glare at Kaoru at the same time.
Kaoru stuck out her tongue at Yahiko, smiling broadly, seeing that her Kenshin had finally woke up; it was as if a heavy weight was lift off her chest.
Okina was singing with Shiro and Kuro, and Okon and Omasu seemed to be in a deep conversation about, ahem, Hiko Seijuro.
"Ooooh! Kenshin, you finally woke up, you! Don't want to make jou-chan any more nervous, would ya?" Sano gave Kenshin a typical greeting, which involves Kenshin choked in a deadlock.
"Tori-atama! Don't be so rough with Ken-san! He just woke up, remember?" scolded Megumi, pulling on his ears.
"Himura-kun, want ter sing ne……next?" Okina's voice slurred, swinging around a bottle of sake.
Himura sweat-dropped and laughed nervously, "Sessha will decline de gozaru." He felt that something was wrong, something amiss from the picture of happiness. The jubilant voice he was used to hearing wasn't present.
"Ano, Kaoru-dono, where is Misao-dono?" asked Kenshin.
The room had gone quiet instantly. Kenshin didn't beat around the bush, his face became serious, "Did something happen?" Was she injured? Is she okay? It would be my fault, dragging her into this in the first place…she should be okay de gozaru. Aoshi said he was coming back. Maybe she was with him? Why hasn't anybody answered?
The sound of the back door creaking open broke the silence, and Kenshin craned his head, seeing Misao walking towards them.
She is alright de gozaru. She is…hunh?
He looked at the patch of bandage covering her left cheek, half covered by her long hair, which was out of its usual pony tail. Her aura was nothing like he used to know, and instead a stifling, gloomy shroud covered her.
A flash of relief glinted in her eyes as she saw Himura, but was quickly replaced by pain. She smiled nonchalantly at him, nodding her head in greeting, and continued to her room.
Kenshin was completely puzzled; he had expected Misao to execute her Demon Bird kick on him. It was like she was a complete stranger.
"Kenshin, let's go to the garden," Kaoru said quietly, and Kenshin understood.
Yahiko watched them go. Kenshin better not let guilt take him like it did Sano. I guess Icicle's…death…is going to effect weasel for a long time… isn't there any way to let her relax? He remembered a vile tasting liquid that caused him to pass out all these weeks ago, and glanced at Okina's sake bottle. An idea formed in his head.
Misao looked out the window, her eyes clouded with emotion. She hated to let them see her like this. She hated the way she acted. But every time she tried to grin and bounce like she used to, she just couldn't, unable to summon up the energy.
She felt so guilty that every time the rest of them are having fun, she would always manage to bring them down. It wasn't that she doesn't appreciate their concern, it was just that she loathed to be the cause of unhappiness.
She gasped as sherealized that she was the source of all this. Her mother died protecting her, and her grandfather and father died trying to fend those intruders off. She didn't stop Hannya-tachi from leaving; hell, she was sleeping soundly when they left!
Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the last time she saw Aoshi-sama. He told her to get lost and never appear in front of her again. These words had paralyzed her, and she couldn't speak. She did nothing as he walked by. She didn't stop him.
Oh gosh…… I have to get away. I can't stay here anymore. I am better off alone. They all deserve happiness, without me weighing them down. Jiya almost died, and I won't let that happen again. This place held too many memories for me. Didn't Kenshin say so? He had wandered for ten years after the Bakumatsu, helping people in need, seeking answers, and he did.Perhaps I will, too……
With that thought in mind, determined, she fell into a fitful sleep.
Kenshin could only stare at Kaoru after she explained everything. Shinomori Aoshi……dead? Misao-dono……what do you think of sessha now? I can't even hold up a promise. I am so sorry……
"Kenshin! Everyone's going to have a feast tonight, to celebrate your recovery! Can you go get weasel girl? Yahiko insisted that she should come, even if you have to drag her," yelled Sano, running to the garden. He scratched his hair, muttering, "What is that kid up to? There's no way she would come, unless we gag and tie her."
Kenshin nodded his head in understanding, thinking Yahiko was had a plan to cheer her up, "Sessha will go tell her, Kaoru-dono."
When he reached her room, Kenshin wasn't sure what to say; the former hitokiri was nervous of speaking to her.
"What is it, Himura?" Misao's soft voice came from inside, and Kenshin was slightly surprised that she knew it was him.
"Minna are going to have a feast tonight, Misao-dono. Yahiko insisted that you come de gozaru, and we all do," answered Kenshin calmly, though already knowing what the answer is going to be.
"Very well, tell them I'll be down in a minute," came Misao's faintly wavering voice, and Kenshin was again, surprised.
When Kenshin's footsteps faded along the hallway, Misao slid down the shoji floor, her energy spent. Well, it would probably be the last time I saw them……might as well having something to remember them by.
"Yosh, the plan is in motion," smirked Yahiko, handing cups of tea to the rest of them, and Shiro, Kuro and Okon brought out plates of food, setting them on the table.
"Wow, I was starving, but THIS is worth it!" Sano grinned, reaching his hand out for the beef hot pot. Megumi shook her head exasperatedly.
Misao's eyes glazed at the cup of tea, her Aoshi-sama's favorite beverage. She remembered that once, when she had brought him tea, he complimented on it (by smiling lightly) and thanked her for it. Looking at his composed visage, she had felt whole and safe, wanting to be with him forever. It was then she realized she loved him. Nota sisterly love, but something else. She was too young at that time to understand her foreign emotion, but as she grew up, she knew. Tea will always be my favorite beverage, too, I suppose.
She closed her eyes and took a sip, trying to mimic Aoshi-sama. The tea tasted funny, she decided, but maybe it was because she hadn't drunk it for so long that she must have forgotten how it tasted like. The more she drank it, the more she wanted it. Wow I never knew tea as something I could be addicted to. Gradually, she couldn't think straight, and barrier she had carefully built up slowly crumbled with each mouthful.
'Ne, Misao-chan, do you want some tempura?" Kaoru lifted the plate up so it was within Misao's reach.
"Get me……more……tea…tea," her voice slurred indistinctively, her quavering hand trying to grab the tempura but failed miserably.
Her face was flushed red and her eyes dilated, with a mad grin plastered on her face.
"Oh Misao-chan…are…are you drunk?" Kaoru gasped, shaking the girl.
"No, of course not...hic...I drank some tea is all...hic...see!" giggled Misao between each hiccup,flinging the tea kettle up and down, and Kaoru was silently glad that it was empty.
Sitting opposite of Misao, Yahiko chuckled evilly at his brilliant plan.
'What was that, Yahiko-chan? Did you give Misao-chan sake?" Kaoru's voice was dangerously sweet, taking a sniff from Misao's cup and immediately knew the cause.
'Well, I…at least she's talking now, isn't she?" Yahiko gulped, pointing Kenshin, who laughed uneasily as Misao let out a string of colorful curses about not bringing her tea, and shaking the poor rurouni so hard that he seemed like a blur.
Sano commented playfully, "Ya know, weasel, I'd say you want more sake, doncha? Let's have a contest, then."
Two kunais flew by his head, pinning his head band into the wall, dangerously close to his temples.
"Don't call me…hic…hic…weasel…hic. Just bring mi sone tea or sa… sake … whachamacallit…, and make it quick……or I'll…I'll castrate you, skewer your miserable hideand kick your sorry ass," her words were barely understandable, though rather horrendous for every breathing males in the room,as she clenched her fist, bringing three more kunais.
Sano gulped, his face drained of its color.The weasel had a scarier temper when she's drunk. Feed her more 'sake' and get a even more violent weasel, or don't do anything and...Sano shivered. For the first time in his life, he was afraid of a girl.
Okina holded his arms angrily, glaring accusingly at Yahiko, "How could you feed my little angle sake, Yahiko-kun?"
"Maa, maa, Okina-dono. I am sure he meant her no harm," Kenshin chuckled, and Yahiko smiled at his rescuer, "Yeah. Look at her. She's loosening up!"
Okina muttered something about underage drinking, but a small smile formed on his lips as Misao aimed an especially powerful Demon Bird Kick at the terrified ex-gangster. Ah poor Sano. He made a good target though. He slamed into the wall, Misao screeching in victory, and Megumi calmly sipped some NORMAL tea.
Suddenly, Misao whirled around, wobbling a little on her unbalanced feet. A crazed glint flashed dangerously in her eyes, and she growled darkly at Kenshin, "It's all your fault, damn you. You friggin' promised me, that you'd bring him back! How could you? Why didn't any of you save him back then, help him when he was so injured? I waited and waited, and what did I get? He's buried under all that crap, forgotten and no one to grief for him. I really did believe in you. I was stupid, wasn't I, trusting your lies, and now you won't even let me DRINK SOME DAMN TEA!"
She tottered backwards, collapsing in a heap, snoring loudly.
Kaoru laughed nervously, "Kenshin…she didn't mean any of that…… she was drunk…"
Kenshin sighed, guilt evident in his amethyst eyes, "Iie, Kaoru-dono. What she wanted to say was brought out by sake. She just didn't want to say those words aloud. I don't blame her de gozaru. I did fail that promise."
"Kenshin…"
"I believe she would feel better in the morning de gozaru. She had nothing to hide now. Sano, I will drink with you," grinned Kenshin, trying to get the others back in their mood. Sano threw him a disbelieving glance before taking up the offer. Soon, they were both laughing boisterously, swinging sake bottles with Okina, Shiro and Kuro.
The night passed by smoothly after Misao's outburst. Okon and Omasu tucked her in, kssing on her forehead before rejoining the others. It was the last they ever saw of the ninja girl.
"Who are you? I know you are here, come out," Aoshi hissed threateningly, half not understanding how he had known, and half feeling his blood boil at the sound of the voice.
"My, my Shinomori. I see You have not learned respect yet even after all these time," a man with oily hair and slightly misshapen face sneered, one hand readjusting his glasses, the otherhand a glowingcigarette.
About thirty or so samurais surrounded Aoshi, some holding leashed to enormous, vicious looking dogs.
Aoshi did not know why, and how he knew the name, but he felt such deep hatred towards the man in front of him that he actually growled, ferociously, "Takeda Kanryuu."
The man jeered, "I am so honored that you remember me, Okashira-san. Thanks to your useless henchmen and that samurai, I had to spend most of my savings to get out of prison. Now, time for revenge. Attack!"
Aoshi was surprised at how smoothly he avoided their knives and katanas, spinning around, occasionally punching them. Some passed out promptly, and some collapsed after the satisfying crack of broken bones.
He wasn't scared of their clearly advantageous numbers; he was confident, all this fighting so normal and easy for him.
He cuffed some dogs, and flung them on some samurai. The dogs then bit the unfortunate victim instead. They were even trained properly, Aoshi mused.
One samurai caught his attention. The sword he was holding was too short to be a katana, too long to be a tonto. Withoutany furtherthoughts, Aoshi knocked the weapon out of his hand and caught it, marveling at how right it feels in his grip.
He punched another one holding the same weapon, and now he had two.
Knowing itas he knewhow to breathe, he didn't hesitate as the rest rushed in for a combined attack.
"Kodachi Nitou Ryuu, Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren!" shouted Aoshi, and six slashes went through the ranks of his enemies, the sickening spurt of blood sounded right to his ears.
The once snarling dogs ran with tails between their legs, leaving Kanryuu alone to fend for himself.
Kanryuu stuttered, his hands trembling, his cigarette long forgotten. He brought out a hidden gun, aiming at… nothing.
"Kodachi Nitou Ryuu Onmyuo Kousa!" Kanryuu's head fell down on the grass with a soft thump, blood dying the grass crimson.
Aoshi glared coldly at the lifeless body, feeling that, at last, he had avenged his fallen comrades. Comrades, who?
An image of a young girl stood in front of him, her large, shocked eyes staring in his frozen ones. Aoshi shook his head, and ran. He had to get away. He had to wash away the blood. Otherwise, the girl would continue to look at him that way, and he didn't want her to be afraid of him. Although, his grip did not loose on the two kodachis.
I have to find out. I need to know her name. I need to find her, If that's the last thing I ever did.
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End of Chapter 3 Sayonara
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Well, I thought Misao was a little irrational, but it's thetea (coughsakecough).And yes, Aoshi IS that strong. And this part of Aoshi killing Kanryuu may be very important in the later chapters...peels your eyes open for hints!
It was fun writing Kenshin, with his oro and de gozaru. I love him, so him getting hit in the face was, ahem, purely out of accident! Blame Yahiko for that!
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Again, REVIEW (flashing the kodachi...plushie?) (dancing around the Aoshi plushie)(yeah no apples this time Yuki)
-Kaco-