The Return of Kanryu Takeda
Part III
by
Chibijem
Disclaimer: See Part I
A/N: This part is dedicated to Shin/Nee-chan. She gave me the idea for Saitou badgering Misao. For being a great friend and for all your help--here's to you!
Aoshi sat back in his chair, closed his eyes and pondered the problem. The morning had been filled with meetings and briefings. He and the Battousai had informed the others of the nights information gathering. Okina had just nodded and Yamagata had silently taken in the information. Aoshi sighed, he could barely stand the thought of Kanryu Takeda being in Kyoto; it was taking everything in him and his self control not to stalk down to the hotel and just...just. Iie, no matter what, I will not tread that path again. I must leave Takeda for the courts. I promised Misao and the others...He heard a light footfall outside his office, "Come in, Misao." The door slid open to reveal his salvation; she was carrying a tray with what looked like medicinal supplies and tea.
"Since the others are taking a break from all this planning, I thought we could share tea and I could change your bandage." Misao told him, setting the tray on his desk. The aroma of the tea was just what he needed and was relaxing him already. Misao nudged at his chair and he moved back, she settled in his lap--a favorite position of hers--and began to pour tea and serve a snack. She studied him as he sipped, "You look...troubled, anata."
Aoshi lifted his head, "I'm fine, koiishi." At her look he continued knowing she would want his honesty and also knowing she was strong enough to hear it. "I just can't stand this waiting. I want...I want..." He lowered his eyes to study the tea in his cup.
Misao's fingers tilted his head back up, "Aoshi, I know. You wouldn't be the man I love if you didn't. You also wouldn't be the man I love if you gave in. Everything will be fine. You and the others will make sure of it." She leaned down to press a kiss to his lips and cupped his cheek.
He noticed the change in her, "You accept this, then?" He asked, looking deep into her sapphire eyes.
"Hai, I do. This matter needs to come to an end. Whether it be the courts or otherwise, Kanryu Takeda needs to be dealt with. We'll just have to have some faith the government won't make another mistake." She played with the ties to his haori. "I guess I was in shock yesterday," she finished, untying the rest of the fastenings. "Now, we need to change your bandage."
Aoshi smiled, "You just want an excuse to see me unclothed." He teased and dodged her hand as she made to hit him. He shrugged out of his top and held out his arm for Misao to examine.
"Anata, you think you're so funny." She scolded him with a smile; she took his firmly muscled arm and unwrapped the old bandage. She looked over the wound and found it to be healing nicely. She would have been alarmed if it hadn't; Aoshi had always been quick to heal. She picked up the bottle Megumi had used yesterday and saw Aoshi wince. She set the bottle down and picked up a cloth and dipped it into the basin of hot water. She heard him sigh, "I never thought the great Okashira of the Oniwabanshu, Aoshi Shinomori, would be afraid of a little liquid." She rebuked him as she cleansed the healing gash.
"Remind me to get Takani-san to leave some with us and the next time you cut yourself we'll try it on you and see how you feel." Aoshi grumbled. He watched Misao as she applied more of the ointment and poultice and re-bandage his arm. When she finished, she placed a kiss over the area. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other; Aoshi leaned into her and pressed a whisper of a kiss against her lips. "Domo arigato, koi."
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Everyone was enjoying lunch, taking a break from the serious planning and discussion. There had been an ongoing debate on how to handle the whole affair; it was at a stalemate. Yamagata held the final decision and was siding on the 'being patient' end. Aoshi agreed with him to a point, not wanting to endanger the innocent citizenry of Kyoto; but he had made a promise that if Kanryu threatened or endangered anyone, he would take action. The others agreed, this being a defensive move.
Aoshi was sitting next to Misao, head bent, listening to something she was saying when he noticed the Battousai stiffen. He looked up and saw Hajime Saitou and his 'aide' Chou at the doorway.
"Well, well. If it isn't the Battousai and his sidekick the Idiot." Saitou sneered in greeting.
"Hey, Rooster-head!" Chou yelled at Sanosuke.
Sanosuke stiffened next to Megumi, who had put her hand on his thigh, "Who the hell are you calling 'Rooster-head', Broom-head." Sanosuke jeered.
As the two men traded insults, Misao looked up at Aoshi and saw him roll his eyes. She started laughing with the others.
Kaoru leaned across the table to Megumi, "One big happy family together again." She told the older woman as the squabbling continued.
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Misao sat next to Aoshi in his office, listening with one ear as she read reports. It seemed Aoshi's little mission the previous night had not gone unnoticed. Saitou was complaining Aoshi may have ruined another investigation with his reconnaissance.
"Couldn't have come to me and asked, could you?" Saitou asked, puffing away.
"I saw no reason to. I had no knowledge of any investigation you had ongoing. And you never come to the Oniwabanshu, don't expect me to reciprocate." Aoshi retorted, waving a hand to dispel the smoke.
Misao smiled to herself, no one ever got the better of Aoshi. She coughed a bit as more smoke wafted her way; she looked up in annoyance at Saitou, who just smiled at her. "If you want to be a chimney, you should go outside where the rest of them are." Misao told him, squinting at him.
"Still as rude as ever, eh, Weasel?" Saitou replied, blowing more smoke in her face.
Just as quick as her nickname, Misao reached across the desk and plucked the smoldering cigarette from Saitou's lips and dropped it in his tea. "Don't call me a weasel." She ordered, sitting down again.
Saitou calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out another and lit it, blowing smoke towards Misao and Aoshi. He studied the quiet Icicle and his weasel-girl. "You know, you two suit each other perfectly," he told them over the glowing tip of the offending cigarette.
"That's enough, Hajime," Yamagata's voice rang out the order.
Saitou just shrugged his shoulders and smiled thinly at the couple seated across from him. He then noticed the Battousai and the Idiot watching him with some contempt and thought he'd better quit while he was still breathing. He sat up and began giving his report of the layout of the hotel where Takeda was staying. "As you know, he's well guarded." He finished, lighting up again.
"Are they the ones who worked for Shishio? The Owls?" Aoshi asked as he watched Misao reach over, take the package of cigarettes, walk to his window, slide it open and with the brush of cold air, heard the splash as the package landed in Okina's koi pond.
"What the Hell?" Saitou exclaimed from the window as he saw his package floating in the pond before it sank. "You really need to put a leash on the Weasel, Shinomori."
"She is fine." Aoshi replied, smiling gently at Misao, who returned by laying her hand on his thigh.
"She still needs some instruction." Saitou grumbled. Before he knew what happened, he was struggling for breath as Aoshi had a hand wrapped around his throat.
"You need not concern yourself. Misao is Misao." Aoshi's harsh voice echoed in the room, his eyes like green fire.
"And he calls me the Idiot." Sanosuke said to no one.
"Now, now," came Kenshin's rational voice. "Though he is vexing, he has provided vital information and may prove to be useful later." He reasoned, trying to get Aoshi to calm down. Everyone in the room was in a bit of shock, never seeing Aoshi react thus. Of course, no one had ever been rude to Misao in his presence either.
Misao's voice came from his shoulder, "Let the jerk go, Aoshi. Like Himura said, we may need him later. I'm fine." She implored him softly, tugging on his arm.
When Aoshi let go, Saitou cleared his throat. "Yes, the Owls are the ones protecting Takeda. Though they are diminished in number."
"Do you have any information about these men, Shinomori-san?" Yamagata asked. He had sat quietly throughout the exchange between Aoshi and Saitou; he knew the men in the room were a deadly bunch if riled enough, especially when protecting their own.
"Supposedly they're the best of Shishio's men, but you couldn't prove that to me." Okina said from where he sat near the fire. He, too, was pondering Aoshi's reaction to Saitou.
"I was told the same, but like Okina, I was not impressed." Aoshi concurred.
After the meeting ended, with Saitou's promise to start inquiries into the strength of the Owls, the others dispersed, leaving Aoshi's office. Misao was pulled into Okina's sitting room. "Misao, is he all right?" Okina asked, with Kenshin, Sanosuke and the others looking on. "He's never reacted like that. He's never reacted, period." Okina finished, worry evident in his question.
"Hai. It's just the waiting, Jiya. You know Aoshi." Misao replied, trying to reassure everyone.
Kaoru stepped up to her, "Maybe you need to get him to take a break, He's been planning and going over everything since we arrived." She suggested.
"Kaoru is right, Misao. It's not just Kanryu's escape, he has other things on his mind." Kenshin added.
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Misao watched as Aoshi meditated, or tried to. She watched as he moved, he seemed agitated. "Aoshi," her voice quiet. She heard him sigh and saw his shoulders slump as if in defeat. "Daijobu desu ka?" She asked coming up behind him and kneeling, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaning her head against his.
"Hai...Iie. I don't know. Saitou..." Aoshi shook his head slightly.
"Nani?" Misao encouraged, feeling his soft hair against her cheek.
"I've never lost control like that." Came the soft reply. "I don't know why..."
Misao moved to kneel before him, lifting a hand to brush his bangs away from his downcast eyes. "Aoshi, anata, you've had a shock. The return of Kanryu Takeda is stirring up a lot of bad memories for you, for everyone. It's no wonder you're feeling a bit out of sorts. It's understandable." She told him, cupping his strong jaw.
"I'm supposed to be stronger than this. I'm Okashira. I'm not to show weakness." he argued.
Misao sat in his lap, facing him and pulled his arms around herself. "Your are just a man, anata. Don't be so hard on yourself. You're a man who has feelings, who feels love, happiness, anger, sadness. You're a man of great intelligence, who protects those he loves. Just a man, anata." Misao told him, pressing a kisses against each eyelid, cheek and finally his lips. She felt his arms tighten around her as he buried his head in her neck.
"A man who loves you, Misao."