Know Why the Nightingale Sings
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the obvious, the rest belongs to JK Rowling and Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Author's Note: BWAHAHAHA! I have finally gotten an English-Japanese dictionary! Fear me all! BWAHAHAHA!
Thanks to my good friend and beta, Paladin Steelbreaker.
Chapter Three:
Takani Megumi was an unusual woman, that was the only way to describe her in Haruo's opinion. She was firm, stubborn, she was more independent than most women of the age, and in the week since the arrival of the Oniwabanshu at Takeda Kanryou's Tokyo mansion, she had tried to escape no less than four times. And Haruo – being the only one amongst Kanryou's men with an acceptable amount of doctorial skills – was assigned (i.e. ordered) to take care of the woman after Kanryou had finished with punishing her. And although Kanryou never went past the occasional slap and a long, boring lecture full of threats and tries for blackmail, Kanryou's men usually took the chance to beat the beautiful female doctor almost senseless before delivering her to their boss.
So, here Haruo was taking care of Megumi's wounds for the fifth time that week. He sighed and put down the washcloth, then took up the ointment that would hasten up the healing of the numerous bruises marring the woman's face and shoulders. Kanryou's little pet couldn't go around in public completely black and blue, now could she? He snorted contemptuously at the thought, and silently continued his work.
Megumi was awake, Haruo knew that by the way she breathed. He also knew that she wanted to ask him something by the way her eyes constantly searched for him, lingered on his face, a slight quiver in her lips, but then her face would turn away as she lost her nerve. However, Haruo worked silently and patiently waited for the young doctor to start the conversation.
Finally, after an hour or so, Haruo was packing away his supplies and was getting ready to leave, when Megumi decided to speak up.
"W-why…" the woman began, then stopped to take a deep breath before she continued. "Why do you do this?"
Haruo didn't look up from cleaning his tools. "Do what?"
"Why do you always treat me after one of my escape attempts? They never did that before…" she trailed off.
"They didn't have anyone able to treat you before we arrived, and Kanryou couldn't just invite the local doctor for a visit, now could he?" Haruo checked that everything was where it was supposed to be, and closed the western-styled briefcase. "Besides, why shouldn't I treat you?"
"But I am an object!" the hate in Megumi's voice was clear. "All I am good for is making the Spider's Web and consequently killing all those people who use it!"
Haruo looked at the young doctor. "You let Kanryou win if you think like that," he said – nearly whispered – to her, his voice harsh and cold. "I believe it was a French philosopher called René Descartes who said 'I think, therefore I am'." (1)
"What does a gaijin(foreigner) have to do with anything?"
"You think for yourself, don't you?" the young doctor was outraged. Talk about mood swings!
"Of course I do! I will not let anyone here tell me what to do!"
"Therefore you are not an object," Haruo concluded and picked up the suitcase. "Kitsune-onna(fox-woman)." He said quietly before he exited her lavishly decorated room and the guard outside locked the door after him.
Haruo headed back towards the corridor where the Oniwabanshu had been stationed, and as soon as he had rounded the corner and was out of sight to the man guarding Takani Megumi, Hannya dropped from the ceiling and fell into step with him.
"Konban wa (good evening), Hannya." Haruo greeted the other man without blinking.
"You shouldn't have done that, Haruo-sama," Hannya said quietly after he returned the greeting. "Excuse me for saying so, but you cannot let yourself become attached to Takani Megumi-san."
"I am not becoming attached to her," the green-eyed ninja replied calmly. "I simply answered a questing she asked, nothing more, nothing less."
Hannya sighed in resignation. "Honestly Haruo-sama, there is no arguing with you once you make up your mind – you an Aoshi-sama are alike in that regard."
The other smirked. "No wonder you think that, Hannya. Aoshi and I practically grew up together."
"Which is why you are the best at reading the reasons behind the Okashira's choices." Beshimi spoke up as Haruo and Hannya entered their room, Aoshi was the only one of the Oniwabanshu who had a room all to himself. "So perhaps you can tell us what Aoshi-sama was thinking when he accepted this job? I will faithfully follow the Okashira to the end of the world, but just sitting and watching a woman being beaten because she wanted her freedom is not my cup of tea."
The others blinked at the 'cup-of-tea' remark, then promptly decided that Beshimi had been spending way too much time amongst the gaijin(foreigners), especially the British.
Haruo shook his head. "For once I cannot answer you, Beshimi, because I myself do not know. Aoshi's thoughts are hidden from me the same way a cloud hides the moon," he sighed. "We have all changed in these past seven years, but Aoshi has changed the most of us all. It… worries me." He finally admitted. Then he shook his head and sent a smile towards the other two people in the room. "Lets not talk about such depressing thoughts. Beshimi, how is your training with Hannya going lately?"
Beshimi groaned. "I swear I'll beat you one day, Hannya-kun!"
"You keep telling yourself that, chibi-ichí(little one)." Hannya replied pretending to inspect his glove-covered nails.
"ARRGH! Just wait until I get my hands on you!"
"Allow me to point out that you still cannot move from our last training session together."
Haruo just watched the friendly argument with an exasperated mien. "Beshimi, the times when the odds are stacked too much against you, perhaps you should consider taking it as a hint?" he suggested then quickly ducked the spiral dart aimed at his head.
… – Three years later, Kanryou's mansion, 1878 – …
In the three years since the Oniwabanshu had started working for Kanryou several things had happened. For one, Kanryou had become even wealthier than before. Two, Takani Megumi had taken Haruo's hidden advice and had become the epitome of a foxy woman. Three, Beshimi still hadn't beaten Hannya in a hand-to-hand fight, though not for a lack of trying. And four, Aoshi had actually started to relax again. Although it was microscopic (to use a western term), the change was still there, and the Okashira was slowly returning to the man he had been before they had left the Aoiya. This had largely helped to lay to rest the fears Haruo had been harbouring, and in turn Haruo felt lighter than a feather. He had really been worried about Aoshi.
Then one day Beshimi came into the room the Oniwabanshu were allowed to use as a meeting room, and announced something which made them all blink.
"You're not going to believe this!" the little man had exclaimed. "I was walking through town trying to pick up news, and what do I hear!"
The dramatic pause was broken by Shikijo's fist connecting with Beshimi's head. "Hurry it up, chibi-ichí!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Will you get to the point, Beshimi?" Aoshi asked without looking up from the game of Go he was playing. He made a move, then said, "Your turn Haruo."
Beshimi glared at Shikijo and rubbed his head, but continued. "I heard that that chap who was pretending to be the Hitokiri Battousai attacked a small-time dojo on the outskirts of town. And here's the real kicker: apparently he was beaten by the real Battousai."
Both Aoshi and Haruo froze. This could not be good news. Shikijo, who had previously worked for the Ishin Shishi, had never seen the famed hitokiri, and had only heard rumours. However, Haruo had seen Battousai during the revolution – he even had a scar on his chest (curtsey of Battousai himself) to prove it – so whenever they caught wind of rumours about Battousai, Haruo was the one sent out to investigate.
"I'll be ready in ten minutes," Haruo said and stood up, abandoning the Go-game.
He had reached the doors, when Aoshi spoke up. "We will do nothing unless we hear another rumour of this 'ture' Battousai. Haruo, you're always the one who tells me that we need to relax, so sit back down and let us finish this game."
The other five exchanged surprised looks, then shrugged and went back to what they had been doing, and Haruo made his move on the Go-board. His thoughts, however, were back in the revolution, reliving the moment he briefly met the most deadly man in all of Japan.
… – Flashback – …
It was complicated, Haruo reflected, and annoying as well. Why the hell did he have to be sent on a boring mission which only consisted of standing guard, looking mean, and trying not to be bored to death by the meeting of a couple of lower lords who were trying to figure out if they were going to join the Ishin Shishi side of the war or the Shinsengumi. So far, as far as he could tell, they were heavily leaning towards the Shinsengumi.
'But why in the name of Kami-sama did they have to meet in a forsaken, old, abandoned hut in the middle of nowhere. The place is surrounded by a thick forest, which will be easy for the enemy to hide in, and the villagers certainly noticed the arrival of five lords in one day. Idiots, the whole bunch of them.' Haruo thought and hid a yawn. 'Well, except Akira-dono.'
Akira-dono was the lord who had actually hired the Oniwabanshu. He was an elder fellow, both kind and wise, and he was the only truly neutral party amongst the lords – in Haruo's opinion. The other lords hadn't even bothered to get themselves professional bodyguards.
"What do you think of the meeting so far, Rihito-san?" Akira-dono asked the masked ninja during a break. All he could see of the young man were unnaturally green eyes which glittered in the weak lamplight.
"It is not my place to say anything, Akira-dono. My opinion may influence yours, and that would be dishonourable, for if it were the wrong choice it could end very badly for many people." Haruo replied, always trying to remain strictly impersonal during any solo mission.
"Very well said indeed!" Akira-dono smiled. "I would be honoured to have you as a son-in-law." The elder man continued in an obvious hint. Then blinked as he saw the seemingly stoic ninja twitch for the first time in their mutual acquaintance.
"I am honoured, but I must decline," Haruo tried not to twitch again. "I am afraid that my profession would keep me away from any potential wife, and no woman deserves a life in worry and loneliness." Akira-dono laughed loudly at that, but didn't push the matter, and instead sat back down in the circle and focused on the meeting.
Haruo sighed and barely managed not to wipe his brow. Why did every man he ever worked for try to push him into marrying one of their female relatives? Aoshi never had to deal with this kind of thing, in fact, the other teen was quite happy watching Haruo being traumatised by both their employers and Okina.
Deciding to escape the meeting for a few moments under the pretence of checking the perimeter, Haruo left the room silently and none of the people inside noticed him leaving. Outside he stretched and yawned and removed the cloth which usually hid his face. He hated the damn thing, it was too hot under it.
'Kami-sama, what a boring ni-' he broke off his thoughts. It was unnaturally quiet in the area. Not even crickets were playing their nightly song. Instincts kicked in and Haruo did a quick search of the foliage with his eyes. He barely caught a flicker as the moonlight reflected on a half-drawn katana, ready for use. That simple thing was enough to send him running back into the hut and disrupting the meeting.
The next few minutes were utter chaos. Haruo's main concern had been to get Akira-dono out of the vicinity, and he ignored the other lords and their bodyguards. Luckily the attackers were too focused on the others to worry about two shadows sneaking away. The attacking force only consisted of two or three men, and yet they moved through the guards like a hot knife through butter. The screams of the dying and wounded men were interlocked with the roars of the attacking samurai, and yet, through all this Haruo managed to lead Akira-dono safely out of the hut and through the forest.
Moonlight reflecting in a drawn katana was the only warning Haruo had before he was viciously attacked. Luckily he had brought his ninjato and the sword (although smaller, weaker and not as well made as a regular katana) served well in taking the killing brunt of the attack. Haruo groaned as the attacker's sword made a slash wound across his chest, and before the other had a chance to attack again, the green-eyed ninja brought out his explosives and threw three of them between himself and the enemy. The place lit up like daylight, and as he looked back Haruo managed to get a good look of crimson hair, amber eyes and a cross-shaped scar on one cheek.
There was no doubt about it. He had just escaped the clutches of none other than Himura Battousai, the infamous hitokiri.
… – End flashback – …
"You were very lucky that time, Haruo," Aoshi's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "If you had tried to fight Battousai any other way than with explosives you would have been dead."
"I know," Haruo replied, made his move on the Go-board and took one of Aoshi's stones. "Are you sure that you don't want me to check this out?"
Aoshi just simply nodded and made his move.
…----…
The rumours of Battousai being in town died down until something happened to the police sword corps. Haruo himself had had several run-ins with those guys, and he would have gladly beaten them all to a pulp, but someone got there before him. All the locals said was that it was a small man wearing a magenta gi, and that he beat up the entire corps on his own before he talked to Yamagata Aritomo(2) as though they were old friends. But the Oniwabanshu wrote it off like the previous rumour. Oh sure, they knew that Yamagata had been in town, but the legendary Battousai wearing a magenta gi? Right, as if!
At this point in time Haruo – being the fastest runner in the Oniwabanshu – was sent off to deliver a message for Kanryou to one of his associates, and by the time he had returned Megumi had escaped, still hadn't been caught and Beshimi had gotten his nose and teeth busted by two guys who had protected the foxy doctor.
"I guess it is my nature as an entrepreneur," Kanryou said as he cut up his steak and ignored the screams from the men being punished for Megumi's escape. "I'm uneasy if I don't immediately get rid of things that are useless. In that regard you are very perseverant, Okashira." The man chuckled.
Aoshi, who was standing beside the table, didn't bat an eyelash as he replied. "I am the commander of the Oniwabanshu, and I will not have you trying to but in."
"I fully understand that. In any case, I have no complaints if Megumi comes back to me."
Without turning the Oniwabanshu Okashira addressed one of his men. "Hannya, you know where Takani Megumi is?"
"Hai, she's in a dojo downtown." Came the seemingly body-less reply.
"Alright," Aoshi said. "You and Hyottoko help Beshimi with his job. And Beshimi? I won't allow for any more mistakes."
Beshimi put a clenched fist over his heart. "I-I shall engrave that thought into my heart." He replied from his hiding place and retreated.
Kanryou smirked. "I am begging you, Okashira. She is my hen that lays golden eggs, and I cannot possibly let her go. Please bring her back to me."
Aoshi didn't respond, instead he left Kanryou to finish his meal in peace and retreated towards his rooms. Haruo joined him halfway there. "You heard?"
The green-eyed man nodded. "Everything." They walked in silence until they reached Aoshi's room. "What are the orders, Okashira? The dojo Hannya mentioned is definitely the same dojo which was attacked by the fake Battousai. What if the rumours are true and the real hitokiri is living there?"
"We shall wait until tomorrow to get Hannya's report about tonight's mission." Aoshi said. "And then we will see where the road leads us. Only one thing is certain: the title of the strongest has never been in closer reach than it is at this moment."
Haruo felt all the forgotten worry well up in him again. Aoshi was once again talking about being the strongest, and with the potentially real Battousai in the vicinity it was an explosion just waiting to happen which was not good.
'Not good at all…'
…---…
And the plot has finally decided to show up! YAY!
Alright. That's that for this chapter. Please tell me what you think. Sorry this took so long. Author was lazy, then school began, then author got sick, got sick again, got Writer's Block, school, you know, the usual. -.-'
(1) René Descartes was a Frenchman living in the 1500ds I believe, so he would have been pretty known by the 1880s. I also wanted to bring into this story a certain amount of culture to show that although the Oniwabanshu are killers, they aren't compete animals. Besides, as it will be seen later on in the story, Haruo has a love for knowledge.
(2) Yamagata Aritomo (1838-1922) was a soldier and statesman, and the chief founder of the modern Japanese army. He studied military science in Europe and returned to Japan in 1870 to head the war ministry.
Concerning the ninjato, I did some research and the sword actually existed. The ninja sword was considerably shorter than a katana, only 24 inches, and the quality of the sword was much poorer. At the end of the scabbard there was a hidden compartment that was used to hide small weapons such as spikes, daggers or small amounts of poisons. Because the blade was not very sharp, the ninja could also use it as a hammer by holding onto the blade (carefully) and hitting with the handle. Also it was common to have the tip of the scabbard come off so it could be used as a snorkel.
I don't think there are going to be any pairings in this story, except the usual ones. I think I'll leave Haruo as a bachelor once again, I have absolutely no idea how to write romance concerning Harry – unless it is slash, which this story will not be – and everything will be explained in time, so no need to rush.
And now for some shameless bit of begging: Please check out my deviantART page and tell me what you think. Link can be found in my bio.
Thanks to:
simpleinsanity, Iridescent Twilight, Jagare, anon, ramen, Aryax, AzureKita, mental.girl.on.sugar, applebottoms, korrd, Kaaera, Kordolin, maleficus-lupus, Marikili68, chibimacha7, chaser1, Shiruba Fokkusu, Firehedgehog, Regal Baring, NamelessHeretic, Twilight Dusk, winterlover101, firephoenix8, A-Brighter-Dawn, Ruby Soul, Night-Owl123, Grey8, Falling Right Side-Up, Himura Arashi, Bob the Almighty, Bobboky, agghashi1004 and Ptath.
AkaRyuu-geji (:hugs maleficus-lupus:) signing off!
