Author: Waaaaaah where did Misao go? (someone smacks the author) Er, right, I should know, since I am the author. And what's with the chapter title? Weasel back on her feet?
- IMPORTANT- thanks for your patience (hides from flying projectiles) I had a really hard time finding a computer that can actually log on to the internet. I also have a thing with public computers. Can't work with'em. Well, here's chapter4...not really that long of a chapter, is it? (And I didn't proofread, so pardon any mistakes --llll
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-Charmed Wolf- Your review always cheer me up even in times of a pre-writer's block symptons. Thanks, you cured me O.o
-Yuki- (speechless) I'll pardon that threat, Yuki. And I'll bring you a souvenir. So no blade pointing
-MmindloveM- I promise I'll read and review your story when I'm back from vacation. (tears) It's always exhilarating to have a new reader.
-animefan3534- Sorry about that...Aoshi is not remembering any time soon (bad author). Remember the proplogue...hint...three years...O.o
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Disclaimer: ……………..zzzzzzzz……huh? Right, don't own RK zzzzzz
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Chapter 4 Resolution
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Kaoru opened her eyes groggily, trying to remember anything that might help her. She felt some thing warm breathing beneath her and she almost screamed.
Her face darkened in embarrassment when she discovered herself snuggling in Kenshin arms. Clothes intact? Check. No other inappropriate positions other than sleeping comfortably in his chest? Check. No sign of waking up? Check. Anybody staring at her? She looked around, finding herself surrounded by the rest of the gang, drunk and deep asleep. Check.
She eased herself out of Kenshin's arms, careful not to wake the sleeping rurouni. He has such a peaceful face. One could never tell he used to be the Hitokiri Battousai. Well, he's our rurouni now. She glanced his slightly parted lips, and shook her head. Bad thoughts, bad Kaoru! She resisted the urge to slap herself and decided to go upstairs, where she could sleep without ending miraculously in a certain red-head's arms.
As she passed by Misao's room, Kaoru remembered how drunk Misao was and wanted to check whether the ninja needed buckets.
She was careful to slide open the shoji, peeking in. She found an empty room, neat, and the futons stacked in a tidy pile. Wow, did she go to the temple already?
As she was about to leave, something shiny caught her eye. She hurried in, forgetting privacies for a moment, and saw Misao's long braid cut, lying neatly on top of the futon.
What…? Misao loves her braid. Why would she cut it? Inspecting the room more carefully, she realized that all of her possessions were gone. Oh no…the kodachis aren't here! Don't do anything rash, Misao-chan!
She dashed downstairs as fast as she could, and almost sped past by an open door. Isn't this the Okashira's room?
Curiosity for the best of her, and she plodded inside, finding Misao's ninja uniform Oniwabanshuu uniform stacked neatly on the desk, with a letter on it.
"Minna! MINNA! Wake up! Misao-chan's gone!" Kaoru cried, grabbing pillows and threw them wildly, connecting the faces of Yahiko and Sano accurately.
"Keep it down, would ya, Jou-chan, some people had headaches ya know," muttered a sleepy-eyed Sano, massaging his imaginary bump where Kaoru hit him.
"What about Misao-dono, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin was up immediately, rushing to her side.
Everyone woke up due to a very loud, complaining Yahiko, and Okina yawned, "What is it, Himura-kun? What about my pretty Misao?"
Kaoru handed him the letter, her face anxious, and Okina read it aloud:
Ji-ya, Minna, I am deeply sorry of all the inconveniences I've caused you for the last few weeks. I did nothing but destroy your moods, especially when you are finally together again. Sano, Himura, I really didn't mean what I said yesterday; I don't know what caused me to say all that, it was tea after all.
Kyoto was my home, my everything, therefore I must leave; I cannot stay any longer, for other reasons I am still trying to figure out. I do know, however, that it hurts so much, so much that it feels like my heart's about to burst. I don't understand why I feel this way. It is too difficult. Everything makes me think about him.
Do not look for me. I wish to wander, and help whoever and whichever way I can. Maybe I'll find myself again, and perhaps I will come back. Until then, please forget about me. I don't want to ruin your lives. And I am also very sorry of not being a good Okashira, even for a short time. You are right, I am not strong enough nor do I have the experience; it is one of the other reason I want to journey, to acquire strength.
Sayonara, minna. You've been like a third family for me, but I still cannot forget Aoshi-sama and the others. I wish you all luck; be happytogether,Himura dn Kaoru-san.Daisuki, minna. I'll try to forget this place, though I will not forget any of you, and all the kindness you've offered.
Makimachi Misao.
Nobody spoke, the slience buzzing loudly in their heads. They stared at the piece of paper in Okina's hand, willing it to magically disappear.
Misao groaned wearily, leaning against a tree in the middle of nowhere. Traveling long distances when you have hell of a hangover isn't smart at all, (though she still had no idea why. Maybe she is allergic to ceratin teas?). Most of her possessions are some childhood gifts Aoshi-sama, Hannya-tachi and her parents had given her, and her kunais. The most valuable of all, are, of course, his kodachis.
I'll need to learn how to use it. I've watched Aoshi-sama many times in the past, but that isn't enough. Wonder what everyone's doing right now? Have they found my letter yet? Are they mad? Of course they are, I left without a word……and note to self, never drink tea again unless I make it myself. About time for Himura and Kaoru to get together, ne? And tori-atama and Megumi-san seems to get along just fine. Well,I wish could meet that Tsubame-chan of YOURS, Yahiko-chan. Great, first day of travelling and I am talking to myself. I'll have to make sure I don't start 'oro'ing.Now, where am I?
She dragged her feet forward, and burst into a jog. She saw a houses ahead. Ah, what a sight for an exhausted weasel! Snacks, restaurants, just what she needed. She had brought all of her savings with her, but she reminded herself to be cautious of spending it.
"Ano, excuse me, obaa-san, what is this city called?" Misao called out to a group of passing by old women.
"You are at the Nagoya, young'un," one of them grunted, trying to haul up their heavy loads.
"Ah, I'll help you with that, Baa-san," said Misao hurriedly, eyeing the heavy loads these obviously worn-out ancient-looking women shouldered. Not only women, but men and children were carrying huge sacks, loading them up in several carriages.
What's going on? Why are they letting these old, fragile elders doing such heavy labor? Misao fumed inwardly, glaring at the ones with whips, clearly the 'slave' drivers. They arrived at a more secluded area, tall tree limbs casting an ominous shadow over them.
"Hey you, you are not one of the workers," growled an especially massive man, towering above her like a boulder.
"She knows, Bart. We can't let her live. Too bad, she's just a kid, too," drawled one of them, grinning his yellow, missing teeth at Misao.
"KID? KID? I am sixteen you morons! And what do you mean I know?"screamed Misao, red blinding her vision, reaching in her robes for her kunais. The only thing that pissed her off further than being called a weasel is this. The rage scale bursted open like a volcano.
(She wore a blue shirt with long, loose sleeves, and a pair of grey hakama that samurais wore. She stole those somewhere along herway, and a few, er, coins.Not as practical as her Oniwabanshuu uniform, but still good enough.)
The boulder man, Bart, snarled, "Who are you calling a moron, you bitch? Let's get her, Daigo, she can't live now that she knows!"
Knows what? I'll just have to beat it out of them, then, smirked Misao, flinging her kunais accurately at Daigo, pinning and immobilizing him against a tree. Misao dodged an awkward punch thrown at her, and delivered an uppercut expertlyat Bart's jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Misao grinned, Sano-like, "These punks are nothing, thinking they could beat me……."
Pain exploded in her right shoulder, and she staggered forward, never experiencing this kind of pain before. Blood gushed down rapidly, and she barely leapt to the safety of the trees when several gunshots ran out again.
"Keh, missed her. Everyone, go look for that kid and kill her as soon as you see her! Roku, Membo, Renpo, you stay and guard these workers!" ordered a man wearing a western jacket and boots, puffing on a cigar. He held a silver gun in his stubby fingers, jewels glistening in the sun.
Some of them stopped shooting, and Misao was horrified to see several bodies lying motionlessly on the road, blood pooling around in a sick flow.
"Eh, they can always be replaced. They are not that efficient anyways," the headman shrugged carelessly.
Shit, they had guns…Damn, I'm seeing black spots. What should I do? Aoshi-sama, Himura and Sano can easily defeat these slugs. But I am too weak…I can't do anything… it's my fault… Guilt invaded her senses, and she struggled not to vomit, these poor workers are dead! And I couldn't stop them……if I had never came here in the first place, they would still be alive…oh kami…
Tears threatened to fall as she rested against a tree branch, a piece of fabric tied clumsily around her still bleeding arm.
"Hakujin no Tachi!" a familiar voice yelled out, and a snake like silver blade flew at the commanding man, slicing the gun in half and wrapping around him.
A yellow broom head appeared in Misao's view, and she gasped. Chou the Sword Hunter? What's he doing here? He's with the police?
Dozens of police officers surrounded the mob and quickly suppressed them. A tall man with a gaunt face, bright but narrowed yellow eyes puffed out a ring of smoke and smirked all too familiarly, his casual voice making Misao want to, well, let's keep the violence level down.
"Congrats on your first job, though I expected you to do it without casualties," leered Saito Hajime sarcastically, his wolf eyes locking almost hungrily at small puddles of blood on the road, and the bodies.
I can't hide that well now…he's gong to find me! The last thing Misao wanted was to be dragged back to Kyoto by the Wolf of Mibu.
Chou twirled his long, thin blade around his torso and put on his shirt, ignoring Saito completely.
"Oi oi. Not very polite now, is it? Be grateful; you wouldn't be here if it weren't for me," Saito folded his arms, face smug.
Chou's broom head seemed to lengthen a little bit. His Osaka accent reduced his furious tone, just a tiny bit, "It's not like I want to help you or anything. Now that Shishio-sama's dead, I have nothing to do anyway. And there is NO casualty here, can't you see? They are all fine, even those snotty kids," the sword hunter still didn't like children.
Saito observed the now jubilant laborers almost boringly, and smirked again, "Well, at least not amongst them. I think I smell a weasel, but I won't know why one is doing here anyway."
Saito's eyes seemed to lock with Misao's for a second, and he looked away, throwing his cigarette onto the ground. Misao shivered.
Saito smirked again, "And how about them? They are dead, aren't they?" He jerked his gloved finger in the direction of the piles of bloodied pieces.
"They were dead before I arrived. It's not my fault anyway, those people sure moved fast. Whether they transported opium or not isn't my concern. I just need an interesting job," the former Juppongatana rested one of his katana against his shoulders, looking uninterested.
Why you……these people just died! Misao had to restrain herself from screaming at them.
"Sir, all of them are arrested and restraint," one of the officer saluted to Saito, looking at him expectantly.
Saito paused, cocking his head towards Misao for awhile. She stopped breathing. Saito smirked one last time before going with the officer, Chou not far behind.
Misao let out a trembling breath. She didn't help anyone. Instead, she helped them dead.
A Juppongatana, now government spy or not, stopped those creeps so easily! And he didn't even care! There was no denying it; they were all strong, strong enough to be that Shishio Makoto's henchmen, powerful enough to destroy the Aoiya, skills sharp enough to almost killing Himura, and……
Misao stopped right there. She told herself not to think about that anymore. She must get proper training. She had to surpass them. And she would have to find a suitable teacher.
Talking about teacher, she quickly dismissed the idea of Hiko Seijuro, and she cannot imagine herself using Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu anyways, not that she could learn it.
A punch flew against a boulder, which busted into dusts; an arrogant laugh followed, and she could almost see the fishbone sticking out of his mouth……
A man wearing weird clothing suddenly appeared behind her, a strange fabric covering his eyes, the words 'Eye of the Heart' on it. He smirked, holding a spear, ready to pierce through her……but the weapon shattered into dirt, a colossal monk with muscular arms stood beside her, glaring at the offending man with his dark, sinister eyes…….
Then she remembered. When she was still moping in the Aoiya, an officer had came and inform the rest of them about the rest of the Juppongatana. She was only half-listning, but she had caught the crucial information. At least it was to her now. She had made her decision.
Misao grunted in a pain as she brought out her emergency bandages, wrapping it tightly around her arm. Well, I'd need to get that looked at…
She glanced at the blood on the ground, and the bodies, nodding resolutely, I'm not going to seek death anymore. My life is precious. The life Okaa-san, Oto-san and Oji-san gave their lives protecting, the life Aoshi-sama raised. I am going to live up to my greatest potential.
She leapt from tree to tree, and, for the first time in weeks, she felt alive and free. The wind blew softly against her shorter hair, hardly past her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with barely any hints of sadness.
I will not forget him, never! But i will try to move on, Aoshi-sama. I will not let the spirit of the Oniwabanshuu die in me. Well, I guess I am going to Hokkaido, then……
I can't go to Tokyo. For some reasons I was afraid to, and same for Kyoto. Why is that? Aoshi drank tea in a random restaurant in Kobe, finding a few coins in his trench coat.
He had been having nightmares ever since the...trash was killed. Nightmares involving four people killed by a gatling gun. Their faces were blurry, though. He wandered on, not sure where to go, and he found himself in Kobe, and thristy.
His appearance looked a little haggard; his trench coat worn and cut in several places, not to mention dried blood crusted on it. He left as soon as he finished his drink, not wanting to attract unwanted attention.
It wasn't that he was inconspiscious; many women eyed and oggled him when he walked by, licking their lips lustily. He did not enjoy their attention at all; whenever he saw them, he automatically replaced the images with the smiling Braid Girl, as he had come to temporarily named her.
He liked tea. It gave him warmth, not the beverage itself, but the feeling; it was something he had been missing, and he craved for more.
His instincts told him. He wanted to go to Kyushuu. A faded memory of a tall woman with his same icy blue eyes came to his mind, and he madehis decision.
I am going to Nagasaki. Perhaps, the mysteries of the Braid Girl can be solved…….
Unknown to the two soul mates, fate was pulling them further and further apart; a determined girl going to the north for her future, and a confused man going to the south for his past.
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End of Chapter 4
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O-o what do you think of this chapter? (sniff, dabbing eyes with handkerchief) Yeah, I know it's moving along rather slowly, but it's very important. I know I am a sadist, being so cruel to them ( ).
Well, I know the typical bad guys have weird names. I'm very picky; some names sounded way too cool for little characters. And Saito? I love him all too much, and using his sarcasm to the fullest potential seems to be a good way (?) to express my fondness (?)
Next chapter………
Enemies reappeared, or do they?
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Find out by, er, reviewing first.
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-Kaco-