Know Why the Nightingale Sings
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the obvious, the rest belongs to JK Rowling and Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Author's Note: Thanks for the wonderful reviews, you guys are the best! Also, I know Aoshi might be acting slightly weird at the beginning of the chapter, but I just wanted to show that he wasn't always the icicle we all love today. Further messages at the bottom of the chapter, otherwise enjoy this chapter!
Thanks to my good friend and beta, Paladin Steelbreaker. I am also sorry that this is so late, which is mostly due to problems with the computer.
Chapter Two:
"AOSHI-SAMA! HARUO-SAMA!" the shout was the first thing which greeted Haruo upon exiting the Aoiya and entering the back garden. The next thing he knew he was almost bowled over by a six-year-old Misao as she threw herself at him in a bear-hug. Before he could quite comprehend what the hell went on and hug her back, she had moved on from him and to Aoshi.
"Good morning to you too, Misao-chan." Aoshi said and patted her back lightly.
"Good morning you two!" the hyperactive girl bounced up and down between them, her hands grabbing one of theirs as she jumped. "Are the new Oniwabanshu members arriving today?"
Haruo nodded with a smile. "Hai. They should arrive around midday, isn't that right Aoshi?"
The other man simply nodded and allowed Misao to drag him to the room where they usually had breakfast.
"What're their names?" the girl asked as they sat down by the table.
Okina entered at that moment and sat down at the table himself, followed by Doppo-san, and Yukiko-san and Akaki-san who were carrying the breakfast itself. "Kuro and Shiro are two," the old spy said. "The other two, I believe, are called Okon and Omasu. At least that's the names that we'll know them under. Only Aoshi will know their true names until the four themselves decide to give them to the rest of us."
"But what will happen to Akiko-san, Yukiko-san and Doppo-san?"
Doppo smiled widely at the girl. "I have been given a nice little farm outside Kyoto to retire to, and Yukiko-san is coming with me. And I believe Akiko-san has received an offer of marriage." The woman in question blushed slightly, but grinned happily as well.
Misao squealed. "SUGOI (wonderful), AKIKO-SAN!" she jumped up and hugged the older woman.
Haruo smiled. "Congratulations, Akiko-san." Then his smile turned into a playful grin. "The groom wouldn't happen to be a certain young man named Eijiro, would it?"
"Eijiro?" Misao blinked in confusion. "You mean the one who was selling us those kodachi a couple of months ago?" The green-eyed man nodded and winked, and Misao squealed again and hugged Akiko again.
Aoshi leaned over to Haruo who was sitting beside him. "I think Misao has been taking hug-until-death lessons from Okina." He remarked dryly, and it was true. Akiko was slowly turning blue and was trying to get the hyper Misao off of her without any luck. Haruo nodded and sighed. Now they had to avoid two hug-crazy people, something he was certain would take all of their skills as shinobi. But still he couldn't help but smile. The Oniwabanshu was one hell of a family to be a part of, that was for certain.
Looking around he noticed that four of the Oniwabanshu members weren't there. "Where are the others?" he asked Aoshi.
"Hannya is out spying as usual. Beshimi is out gambling I believe, and Hyottoko and Shikijo are at the market." Came the reply. "Do you have any special plans for today?"
Haruo shook his head and grinned. "Nope, not unless the Aoiya becomes so busy that I'd have to help out. Otherwise I was thinking of lazing about the entire day. The same thing I've done every single day this week." There was a short silence between them as Haruo grabbed a few mouthfuls, before he put his bowl down again and sighed. "And I am completely and utterly bored." He admitted. "I wasn't made for this quiet life. I'm so used to being kept on my toes that now I feel as useless as a some of those rich, lazy good-for-nothing gaijins (foreigners)."
Aoshi nodded in agreement. "How about a spar later on? Both to give us something to do and to make sure you don't get too fat. I don't want my only field-doctor and explosives expert to not be able to keep up with the rest of the group on upcoming missions."
With his eyebrow twitching, Haruo glared at the other man. "You still on about that happening?" he demanded. "I told you a thousand times before: I was leading them away giving you and the rest of the group time to get away!"
"It happened three days ago." Aoshi pointed out. Then he poked the green-eyed man in much the same way Haruo had poked him the first day they had met.
"I am NOT fat!" Haruo growled. "And I don't see you getting any thinner either, Okashira!"
"It is dangerous to delude yourself, as a ninja you should know this. Either way, I am here if you want to talk about it." The two looked at each other for a moment, then Haruo burst out laughing. The only sign that Aoshi was just as amused as Haruo was, was the slight relaxation of his facial muscles and the almost unnoticeable twinkle in those usually inexpressive ice-blue eyes.
The others around the table looked at the laughing Haruo, then shifted their gaze to Aoshi, and again back at Haruo. Finally they shrugged and gave up trying to find out what was so funny. None of them had heard the quiet conversation, and quite frankly it wasn't such an odd sight either to suddenly have Haruo burst into laughter for apparently no reason at all.
Okina was quite proud to say that his little Haruo was as insane as he was, and let it be with that.
Life was good.
…----…
The next couple of weeks after the four new Oniwabanshu members arrived and the three old ones left, Haruo watched as everyone got used to new faces around the Aoiya and helped the four new ones get settled.
Okon and Omasu were two kunoichi, two female ninjas, and both had looked forwards to finally relaxing from the war, and to have nothing to worry about except the occasional mission and the running of the Aoiya. Shiro and Kuro had always been partners since they joined the Oniwabanshu, and when one decided to do something the other would follow. Besides both males needed to relax as well. Actually, when Haruo thought about it, most of the Oniwabanshu members were starting to go into retirement and were finding other occupations now that the war was over. They weren't abandoning the Oniwabanshu, but most had hinted or out-right told Aoshi to not call them back to duty unless it was one of those end-of-the-world-save-the-nation situations. They just wanted to live in peace with their families and preferably forget the horrors of the war.
"Not everyone was made for combat like we are," Haruo had said to his best-friend and leader. "Let them go and live their lives in peace. That's what we fought for all these years, isn't it?"
Aoshi just 'hmm'-ed and Haruo didn't know if he should be worried as he couldn't figure out of that was a negative or a positive sound. That was odd, as he was the best one amongst the Oniwabanshu at reading Aoshi's body-language, which was one of the reasons he was the second in command.
Hannya, Hottoko, Beshimi and Shikijo started spending more and more time at the Aoiya, making the days pass either by helping to run the inn or teaching Misao tricks of the ninja trade. Misao herself was completely overjoyed that all her favourite people in the world were there with her, and that there was no mission to take them away from her again – at least as far as she could see.
However, Haruo wasn't so sure about that. Aoshi had been walking around in a thoughtful silence for the past couple of weeks, and Haruo had observed the man stop and stare at the others living at the Aoiya as if weighing the pros and cons of something. He would often just stand and watch when someone sparred or were busy teaching Misao how to do something.
Haruo sighed and couldn't help but wonder what went on in the Okashira's head sometimes. Right now Aoshi was watching as Beshimi was being thoroughly pummelled by Hannya who was one of their top hand-to-hand combatants.
"I see you're worried as well." Okina said as he stepped up beside his adopted nephew.
"I am." Haruo confirmed. "Usually I have an idea of what's going on with Aoshi, but not this time."
"If he does decide to leave us, you will join him?" it was more of a statement than a question.
He snorted. "I will. I have a promise to keep after all." Thinking back on said promise, Haruo smirked and shook his head.
… – Flashback – …
Aoshi had just been made Okashira of the Oniwabanshu onmitsu at Okina's recommendation, and the leaders of as many of the Oniwabanshu-branches from around Japan had showed up to see their new leader and to receive any new orders regarding the branch under their jurisdiction. Not only that, but a few of the shinobi from both Iga and Koga had arrived as well. They were all outside waiting for Aoshi to appear and murmuring quietly amongst each other about this child-genius who had become Okashira at only 15 years of age.
Haruo was standing guard by the door while Aoshi was being lectured by the former Okashira's advisors. Okina was in the room as well, and seemed to have a jolly good time watching the teenager trying not to kill the older three men lecturing him. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the three men stopped babbling, and Aoshi headed towards the door where Haruo was standing.
Just before the blue-eyed teenager could open the sliding door, Haruo grabbed his wrist and hissed. "I promised to protect you with my life, and I will. But know this: the second you do something stupid – or get a big head because of your position – I won't hesitate to beat you into a bloody pulp of goo on the floor. Got it?"
Aoshi didn't indicate that he had heard anything Haruo had just said. He calmly slid the door open and stepped out to gaze over the bowed heads of everyone gathered there.
There hadn't been any festivities. Rather, the ninjas had quietly congratulated Aoshi on his appointment, and had disappeared into the darkness after getting their orders. But one thing Aoshi made sure to do before everyone left, and that was to fire the three men that had served as the former Okashira's advisors, and reinstate a shocked Haruo as his second in command.
… - Flashback fin. – …
Haruo sighed. "I have kept that promise for three years, and I don't intend to stop now."
Okina nodded his head marginally. "Misao will be enormously disappointed."
"I'll send letters to the Aoiya as often as I can get away with it." Haruo promised.
"You do that, and I'll have other members keep a discreet eye out for you."
Haruo nodded as well and went back to watching both Aoshi and the spectacle that was the fight.
…----…
"Misao's sleeping," Haruo reported as he stepped up behind Aoshi. It was a surprisingly clear night; the stars dotted the sky like fireflies, and the moon was less than half-full. "When she wakes in the morning she'll be very sad when we're not there."
It was also the night they were leaving the Aoiya.
"Are you sure that you want to leave, Haruo?"
Haruo smiled. "I made a promise to you the day you were made Okashira if you remember, and I don't intend to break that promise so this is the only way. I can't keep an eye at you when you're on the other side of the country. Besides, I'm not the only one." He added as Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko and Shikijo stepped out of the shadows.
"We're coming too!" Beshimi said with a grin.
"And you aren't going to convince us otherwise." Hyottoko declared as he slung his enormous backpack onto his back.
Aoshi still looked like he was going to argue, but Haruo beat him to it. "Listen Aoshi, we all know that the capital city of Japan isn't going to be Kyoto anymore. They've moved it to Edo, and renamed the city to Tokyo. Nothing is going to be happening here in Kyoto anymore, and that which does happen, well, Okina and the others will be able to deal with it. And you know me, I love moving around, and I won't do much of that if I stay here at the Aoiya, now will I?"
The Okashira sighed. "Alright, I expected as much from you Haruo. But the rest of you, are you sure that you-?"
"Will you stop it already?" Shikijo smirked.
"There will be no working with customers here," Beshimi smiled.
"Not only that, we'll only be in the way," Hyottoko added.
Hannya stepped up. "We're low-lifes…" the masked man said. "As Haruo-sama said, all we can do is fight. In these times of peace, looking for trouble is all that's left."
"You aren't going to discourage any of us, Aoshi," Haruo put a hand on the man's shoulder. "We'll follow you to the end of the world if we have to."
Aoshi stared at them for a moment. "In that case…" he took a deep breath, "Very well, I'll say no more. Let the six of us mark the end of the Oniwabanshu – gloriously – by proving ourselves the ultimate killers." He turned and started walking down the street, and the other four followed.
Haruo wondered for a second if he should be worried about Aoshi. If only the man had said 'fighters' it would have given Haruo more peace of mind than 'killers' ever did. Oh, well, he shrugged it off. They had all killed in the past and didn't have any inhibitions of doing it again. It was their job after all. He was sure there was nothing to worry about at all.
With another sigh the green-eyed man ran to catch up to his comrades before they disappeared into the night.
…----…
For seven years they travelled around Japan taking on odd jobs here and there. Haruo dutifully sent letters to Okina as often as he could, which was surprisingly few times. Perhaps four or five letters each year, most often less than that. Even Beshimi, Hyottoko, Hannya and Shikijo sent letters back to the Aoiya, but Aoshi didn't unless it was to give an order, and then only through a chain of Oniwabanshu members. Haruo watched as Aoshi became even more stoic and even more expressionless than he had ever been before, if that was even possible. Haruo tried to keep the man from sinking completely into himself, and it had worked so far, but the seven years on the road had changed all of them and given them new scars. The green-eyed man was definitely getting worried, and he wondered if it wasn't time to take a break and settle down for a few months – without having to worry about some mission or other.
"It doesn't even have to be at the Aoiya, Aoshi," Haruo told the other man. "We can settle down in Hokkaido, or on some remote mountain top, or a temple, or even China if you so wish, as long as we can all relax for a few months. We all need it!"
"Not now, Haruo, I just got word from a certain man named Takeda Kanryou. It seems he needs bodyguards, guards and assassins. And him being the high-profile person he is… well, we're bound to get into some good fights."
Haruo was rather surprised. "Takeda Kanryou? The Takeda Kanryou! The guy who deals opium on the black market and whom even the yakuza and the politicians keep far away from?"
Aoshi nodded.
"Why would he suddenly need more bodyguards when he already has a private army at his disposal?"
"He has apparently discovered a new way of making opium which takes – if one listens to rumours – half the cost to produce, but gives twice the profits."
"But-"
"He has offered to house us and feed us as long as we work for him. We can relax then."
Haruo shook his head, his face grave. "I highly advice against this, Aoshi. We should take time off for at least a month, then we can go to Takeda and join his forces if you absolutely want. We're bound to get the position either way as there is no one out there better than us."
"This is a one-time deal offer, Haruo, we cannot let it pass."
"Yes we can, Aoshi. You're the only one who cannot let this go. Out of all of us, you're the one who needs to relax the most. The title of the strongest isn't going to run away form us!"
"It will if someone else takes it form us!"
"Aoshi-!"
"Stop this right now, Rihito Haruo! I am still the Okashira here, and although I appreciate your advice I am still the one who takes the final decision." The two of them stared at each other for a moment.
Haruo bowed his head slightly. "Hai, as you wish." His voice was devoid of any feeling, and his face was just as expressionless. It was clear that he strongly opposed this, but that he had no choice.
"If we leave for Tokyo tomorrow, we'll be there in a week's time at most. Just around the time that Takeda is expecting us. Now, go tell the others to pack up."
"Hai, Okashira." Haruo bowed slightly and left the room without a sound.
And this was how, a week or so later, the Oniwabanshu found themselves working for Takeda Kanrou and guarding the producer and mixer of the valuable 'Spider's Web' opium: a young, spirited doctor.
A female doctor named Takani Megumi.
…----…
Right-o, another chapter outta the way. Once again, this damn thing ended up as a rushed filler chapter :sweatdrop: I really thought I was going to get further in this chapter :sigh: Anyways, to answer some questions and concerns.
Yes, Haruo will meet up with the entire Kenshin crew and the rest of the shebang. Wouldn't be 'Rurouni Kenshin' without it. About his magical abilities, well, all I am willing to say is that they will be exposed soon enough, and Haruo will go back to the future, but not quite yet. About everyone's age, well, although my calculations are a bit off with the timeline (as it has been pointed out), I assume that Aoshi and Haruo are around 27 or 28, the same with Kenshin. Although I think I read somewhere that he was a year older than Aoshi. Then again, I did say that this was slightly AU in the Kenshin-universe, and definitely AU in the Harry Potter-universe.
As for Harry's Japanese name, well, I really didn't have any meaning in mind. I just wanted to find something that sounded close to 'Harry' and not copy 'The Itch's 'Haku' from their Harry Potter/Naruto crossover.
While we're on crossovers, I have ideas for both a Harry Potter/Inuyasha crossover, and a Harry Potter/Naruto crossover. I don't think any of the ideas have been used before, so please tell me which ones you want first. I'll start it as soon as I finish writing 'Saga 4', which will be soon enough I believe.
Another bad piece of news. This Sunday I'm off on vacation and won't be back until either the 17th or the 18th of July. So, unless I am able to update 'Rings and Medallions' before that – which I highly doubt seeing as the chapter isn't even written yet – don't hold your breath. Sorry mates.
Anyways, please review and tell me what you think of this chapter.
Thanks to:
Iridescent Twilight, ApocSM, Kaaera, Numb Soul, A-Brighter-Dawn, Allyanna, thelordofelves, Leia125, Sweet-single, Firehedgehog, Hero Girl Of Brien, Jujuberry, Kordolin, Sweetest Thang, tomboy101, AzureKita, Alowl, Fate, nabiki, mental.girl.on.sugar, Jagare, Chara13, Wren Truesong, Digi Bonds, Sarah R Potter, chaser1, Aryx, MetalinoLukaret, Ayan, applebottoms, gaul1, merdragon, diablosdarkness, Rayna, Meanthis, Delinka, korrd, Tenshi Youkai no Yugure and insanechildfanfic.
