The Return Of Kanryu Takeda

Part VII

by

Chibijem

Disclaimer: See Part I

Misao slid the door closed behind her and found Aoshi in a position that had become very familiar the past few days. Since his...blowup with Yamagata three days before he had holed himself away either in his rooms or this office. He had even gone to the temple a few times. Her worry for him increased by the minute; she watched him retreat into the man he once was---quiet, uncommunicative, solitary. "Aoshi, anata?" She quietly prodded setting down the tea.

He turned slightly but said nothing. I'm worrying her, he thought looking back out his window. When he felt her hand on his arm, he looked down into her worry filled eyes and gave her a sad smile. "Time for morning tea already?" he asked softly. He let her pull him to the table and sat while she went through the steps of tea.

She studied him while he blew across the tea and gingerly sipped the hot liquid. He abruptly looked up and their eyes met. She saw sadness as well as tension in his emerald gaze. "Let's go out." She suggested; at his look she went on the explain that Omasu needed to go to the markets to shop for the Aoiya.

Aoshi pondered the sheer idiocy of relenting but also realized he could not keep everyone cooped up. It had been days since the last sighting of Kanryu and maybe he could learn something by accompanying them. "Alright, when do the two of you want to go?"

"Really, Aoshi, we can go? I thought..." Misao asked, eyes sparkling.

"I can't keep everyone tied to the Aoiya. At some point we need to get back to a normal schedule." He replied, finishing his tea. He watched as Misao scrambled onto her feet with excitement and ran off to tell Omasu. He felt lighter knowing he had Misao happy and also knew he would be giving in to her many times more this day. A trip into the markets for Misao meant sweets for her sweet tooth.

A half hour later, Aoshi came down the stairs dressed in his onmitsu uniform to find Misao dressed similarly but in her winter one, giving into the late fall temperatures. Okina was in discussion with Omasu as well as Okon giving Omasu a last minute list. Okina seeing Aoshi, went over to him, "Is this wise Aoshi?"

"Am I to keep everyone a prisoner here?" Aoshi retorted slipping into his coat, concealing his kodachi. "If I were to, Kanryu Takeda wins and I will not hide nor let him win."

"I see you're going prepared. Whom are you taking with you?" At Aoshi's raised eyebrow, "Just in case."

"Just the three of us. Misao can take care of herself and Omasu is well trained. I think we can handle whatever may come." He sent Okina a look when the elder man was about to argue as Misao came up to him. "Ready?" he asked softly, smiling gently at her enthusiasm.

"Hai," Misao smiled at him. She looked over him and noticed what most people would miss. "You're taking your kodachis." A statement, not a question. He nodded slightly, "Just as well, if anyone gets between me and Master Yugi's you're going to need them." She told him very seriously.

"Misao, I would not dare interfere in your objective of sweets. I think you can handle anyone getting in your way." He replied, feeling the tension easing. She always knows how to put me at ease, he thought as they left the Aoiya, he following the two women.

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As Aoshi trailed Omasu, carrying several parcels, he listened to Misao as she told him of the local gossip in between bites of her sweets. When she put a piece against his lips, he opened them obediently and felt his taste buds flood with the taste. It had been their first stop in the markets, "I don't think she'll ever grow up at times, Aoshi-sama." Omasu had told him as they had watched Misao flit from display to pretty display.

As he waited for Omasu to arrange for delivery of several items, he felt the presence he had been waiting for. Misao noticed the change in him and laid a hand on his arm. "Misao take Omasu back to the Aoiya and tell the Battousai that Kanryu is here." He ordered flatly, already preparing for a confrontation.

"Aoshi..."

"Please do as I ask." He told her looking down at her. "Omasu will need help taking these things back," he said handing over the packages he had been carrying. "I'll be fine until you get back." At her hesitation, "I promise." He watched at Misao went to Omasu and nodded at the older kunoichi when she looked to him and as they left the markets, he waded into the sea of people.

"Misao, I can take these things. Go back to Aoshi." Omasu told her. "I'll tell Mr. Himura and the others," she said, taking the parcels from Misao. "Go!"

"Arigato, Omasu-san." Misao set off in a run. When she arrived back in the markets, she could not see Aoshi anywhere. She scoured the immediate area for her tall Okashira and landed on another tall man, "It would be him, with my luck." She muttered under her breath as the man made his way to her.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Weasel." Was the greeting along with the accompanying cigarette smoke.

"Saitou," she answered sourly.

"I thought Shinomori was keeping you all locked away." He came to stand next to her, facing the crowds.

"We came to shop for the Aoiya," She started and explained that Aoshi had felt Kanryu's ki and had ordered them to return for help.

"Still can't follow orders, I see." Saitou smirked.

Knowing Aoshi's life may be in jeopardy, she swallowed her pride and dislike. "You know, Yamagata has forbidden him from taking this into his own hands. Help me look for him?" She asked.

Saitou nodded, crushed his cigarette underfoot and went into the flowing crowd, Misao following.

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"OKINA!"

Everyone hastened into the kitchen to see Omasu dumping her parcels onto the table, laying a hand against her chest to catch her breath. "Aoshi...Misao..."

"Something has happened?" Kenshin asked.

"Everything was fine and Misao told me Aoshi had ordered us back here. Kanryu is somewhere in the markets. I told her I would come back and she should find Aoshi." Omasu finished.

With that one statement, Kenshin, Sanosuke and Shiro ran out of the kitchen to get their weapons. A minute later they headed out, Okina and Kuro to stay and watch over the others.

"Hey, Kenshin. You don't think Icicle will do anything rash, do you?" Sanosuke asked.

"Aoshi-sama is not a rash person." Shiro answered firmly.

"He is not that, but the circumstances have changed him, Shiro-san, that they have." Kenshin added. "At least Yamagata-sama finally received word from Tokyo that Kanryu Takeda is to be dealt with any way possible."

"Should've been done the first time," Sanosuke grumbled as the three men slowed as the markets came into view. "Oh man. Not him." He added as Saitou came into view with Misao trailing him.

"Battousai, Idiot, Shiro-san." Was Saitou's only reply.

"Look can we skip this nice little chat. We need to find Aoshi." Misao interjected, worry in her voice.

Kenshin turned to her, "Miss Misao, do you feel Aoshi near?" He asked, resting a concerned hand on her slim shoulder.

Misao shook her head, worry and frustration evident in her movements. "Iie, he's masking his ki."

"Hey, Kenshin. Should we split up?" Sanosuke asked, eyeing Saitou angrily.

After splitting up, Misao walked around not paying attention to any of Shiro's comments. She was concentrating on trying to feel Aoshi. She wondered, faintly, how the others were doing. She scanned her eyes to the right and something caught her eye; she made her way quickly, dodging other shoppers, Shiro following. Misao knelt down and rubbed her finger over the small gash in the wood of the stall. "It's fresh," she said absently, standing and looking down the alleyway. She turned to Shiro, "Go find the others."

"Misao-chan," Shiro started. He looked into her eyes and saw her determination and knew he wouldn't be able to sway her. "Hai," he answered and slipped back into the crowds. She is so like Aoshi-sama, he thought looking for two tall men and a shock of red hair.

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Misao quietly made her way down the alley, looking for more marks. It was a technique from the old days of the Oniwabanshu, one Aoshi had taught her. A simple and well hidden way to leave a trail to either follow back or to follow with. She passed fewer and fewer shoppers as she made her way down several alleys, still following the markers she knew Aoshi had left. She finally came to a door that had the marking for the end of the trail and pondered her options. Should I go in or wait for the others? Aoshi's in there.... That last thought made up her mind and she stepped into the darkened interior.

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Shiro, followed Kenshin, Sanosuke and Saitou, began following the gashes made by Aoshi. "It's an old way used by the Oniwabanshu. Aoshi taught Misao and the rest of us after he came back." He told the others as everyone helped look for them.

Sanosuke turned to Saitou, "What were you doing in the markets?"

"We've been doing some investigating and found some of the warehouses and abandoned buildings have some rather interesting owners. Some of them had ties to Takeda or are suspected of gun running and other illegal activities. Seems Takeda was keeping his hand in even from the government holding facility." Saitou answered as they all continued following.

"So you have your answer to how he managed his escape" Kenshin finished.

"That matter has been taken care of, Battousai." Saitou answered, fingering the hilt of his sword.

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Misao let her eyes adjust to the darkness and saw footsteps in the dust covering the floor. She kept to the shadows and saw more footprints and smiled slightly to herself: Aoshi. She heard a muffled creak coming from the floor above her and stopped to listen. She could hear nothing other than the muted noise from the market. She continued and slowly made her way up the stairs and at the top saw Aoshi's tall figure and the gleam from his eyes as he turned his head sharply to see who had come up behind him. She, silently came abreast of him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

He told her through hand signals that she should not have come and she replied in turn she had no other choice. She also relayed that Kenshin, Sanosuke and the others were following but were several minutes behind her. Aoshi shook his head at her in exasperation. She leaned up to him, "I had no other choice, anata." She whispered in his ear. She saw Aoshi close his eyes in acceptance and kissed his cheek. He started his hand gestures and told her he followed Takeda to this building but had no idea which room he had ducked into. He 'told' her to be careful after she made the suggestion that she help him search.

They had gone through one hallway and were starting down another when a hail of dust and debris rained down on them from the floor above. Misao followed Aoshi as he sprinted on silent feet to the stairs. As they reached the top of the landing, Aoshi noticed a thin wire glinting in the dim light and threw himself at Misao as gunfire rang out.

End Part VII