Misao: Now remember, you promised Aoshi would be in this chapter!
DM: Actually, I only said he'd be here-no promises were made.
Misao: -whips out kunai- You said-
DM: -sigh- He is in this one, okay?
Misao: -settles down and smirks- That's more like it.
DM: Yeah, yeah... okay, next chapter Aoshi is going to be my co-host.
Misao: What!
DM: He won't bother me seeing as how he won't talk very much.
Misao: -glare- I'll talk to Aoshi-sama! He won't let you do this to me!
DM: Okay, as I'm sure you don't want to see Misao's temper tantrum progress, let's continue with the story. Oh, and here's my Disclaimer- Don't own Rurouni Kenshin as it belongs to Watsuki-san, etc. Wish I did, but not all wishes come true, ne? lol
I also wish to thank those who reviewed, I am very happy that you guys like this story! Hopefully I won't disappoint anyone.
--Chapter 2-Itachi Musume no Kokoro (Weasel Girl's Heart)--
A small despondent figure cloaked in moonlight and shadows could be seen slowly making it way down to the docks. The gentle lullaby of the wind and waves caressed her face and ears as she sat on the edge, letting the hem of her dress drape down into the dark salty water.
The dark waves splashed gently and rhythmically against the water-stained supports. Misao softly kicked her heels against the wooden column beneath her in time to the waves' beat. Not even this could soothe her tonight.
Gazing forlornly up at the silver orb set in the center of a raven-black sky, she sighed and fingered the tie at the end of her long ebony braid. Tears gathered in her teal blue eyes as she pondered her fate. "Doushite?(1)" she whispered as crystalline tears threatened to fall.
Misao's POV
'I'm an idiot!' I yelled at myself inwardly. Wiping the traitorous tears away roughly, I glared at my reflection. It glared right back at me, and I found myself almost surprised at how I looked. It's hard to envision myself without a smile... so I guess it's a shock for anyone who knows me to see me glare or frown with any real meaning to it.
Moot point, ne? It really doesn't matter what the others think of me, but I find myself wanting them to think well of me. I'm such a sad person, not shallow mind you! I'm there when my friends need me, and am respected for that. But sometimes, I wish I could express more than just the happy/cheerful side of me and not be looked down upon for it.
Drunken slurs came into my range of hearing. 'Great, drunks... probably sailors.' And me not in my uniform that Okon and Omasu had generously given to me a few years ago. Ah well, they won't be able to do anything to me, even if I'm in this confounded dress.
A smirk played about my lips as I slowly stood up to watch them. Apparantly they had been eyeing me for a while, especially the biggest member of their party. I was so grateful that it was dark, if I had seen them in daylight, they probably would've looked a hundred times worse. Even now I could feel my skin crawling from the lecherous looks they sent my way. There only seemed to be four of them, no problem.
Finally the large brute lumbered forward and leered down at me. "Where ya headed?"
Hnn, it seems he wasn't as intoxicated as his companions. Smiling up at him I answered, "Nowhere with you, ugly."
It didn't seem like he liked that answer too much, because he tried to grab me. Heh, no man who depends on strength alone will ever be able to capture me(2). Like that neanderthal creature could figure it out. I dodged swiftly, and aimed a well-aimed kick at his groin. Now, I know my strength isn't at all where I'd like it to be-but I had developed my skills over the years, and at least my kicks do some damage, as evidenced by the slumped over and groaning sailor.
"Now yer gonna git it!" the rest of the group shouted.
"What horrible grammar! What would your mothers say?" I couldn't resist taunting as I dodged a few more. After evading a particularly close punch, I decided to inflict some damage of my own. Gathering together five or six kunai from the hidden pocket in my sleeve, I aimed. "Kansatsu Tobikunai!"
Every kunai found its mark. The men loosed a loud and long stream of vile curses.
"Tch, is that the mouth you kiss your mother with?" I asked as I quickly retrieved three of the daggers.
Then they decided to rush me. Heh, not good. I could take them if they would just keep apart, much easier. Still, I could take them-they're intoxicated.
A tall, dark shadow quickly appeared in front of me and moved me back.
"Hey! What are you-" I stopped as I noticed the "shadow" as I dubbed the person... I guessing it to be a he- goodness knows I've never seen a woman that tall or built like that-unsheathe a twin pair of kodachi. I got a very good seat to watch as he annihilated the men. Blood and bits of flesh and bone and things I probably don't want to identify, splashed against my face and dripped almost sickeningly down my face and neck. There was next to no noise as he moved like a wraith, killing with no remorse. What kind of person was this "shadow"! I had this feeling that if I knew, I'd probably would be sinking myself into something I would never be able to get back out of.
I then noticed the way the moonlight played against my shadow's hair and face as he turned to face me, calmly flicking the blood of his blades. 'Wow' was the only coherent thought that came to my mind... then my gaze dropped to his eyes. Emotionless orbs of ice blue gazed unblinkingly back into mine. That's when anger kicked in. Who did he think he was?
"What the heck did you think you're doing? I was perfectly fine! And you ruined my favorite dock! Do you realize those bloodstains won't ever go away?" Okay, maybe I was exaggerating a little, but he did ruin my favorite dock. I would never be able to go there again to relax, this would always haunt my memories. Time to pick out another dock to haunt at night.
Shadow smirked at me, not very noticeable, but it was still there. My level of anger at this point was starting to head towards the "danger! do not exceed past this level!" point. Pulling out my last four kunai, I prepared myself to attack. Then, I noticed something.
It was there. Hard to see, especially in the moon's dim light, but it was there. He looked... for lack of other terms-lost and lonely.
I blinked, unsure that I had really seen that. Lowering my kunai, I unconsciously took a step forward to take another look. It was gone, almost as quickly as it had been there. But... I'm sure that I had seen it, hadn't I?
The smirk had disappeared as well. Sheathing his kodachi, he turned to leave.
"Hey! What's your name?" I yelled as his figure started to become swallowed by the engulfing darkness.
Ice blue eyes looked back at me, an almost startling effect against the blackness of everything else. He looked away and continued walking, making almost no sound. 'Just like Himura.' I found myself thinking.
"Shinomori Aoshi." I heard him say softly, yet it carried to my ears as well as if he had been standing right by my side. I couldn't help but find myself liking the sound of his voice. Deep, dark, and mysterious. Hmmm... now, wasn't that part of my "perfect man list"?
"So my Shadow has a name." I laughed softly to myself, then grimaced as he paused a little at what I had uttered. 'Oh dear, Shadow has excellent hearing...' I gathered my courage, pretended I hadn't noticed he had heard me, and yelled, "I'm Makimachi Misao!"
I watched until the darkness swallowed him completely, then pouted at the fact that he hadn't stayed longer. But what was I to expect? I had yelled at the man and hadn't thanked him for helping me-even though I didn't need it. Still-no man had never left me alone! Especially at night, usually they fought for the honor to walkme home. Hmm... this man was interesting...
----------------------------------------------------------------x
I slipped back into the house without any problems. That was fairly normal, there was only twice that I can remember coming close to getting caught. Not fun, I can assure you, it scared me half to death and probably took some years off my life, but I was never caught. Don't plan on starting now, in any case.
Now, before I left, I had arranged my bed and various items to make it seem as if I was sound asleep in bed. As an aspiring kunoichi, taught by members ofthe Oniwabanshu themselves, I was not about to let myself be careless and turned in by that busu of a maid. But, it turns out, she's not very good at her job. She falls asleep very quickly-after studying her sleeping patterns for two weeks, I think I would know. Still, better safe than sorry, right? So, every night I put 'myself' to bed.
Hightailing it to the washroom to scrub off the blood and... you know, I really don't want to think about what I'm washing off. It doesn't bother me in the least, it's just kind of disgusting to think I have pieces of those men on me. Making sure to remove the water myself and pour in fresh water for the morning, I dumped the soiled water out of my window. My room faces the forest, perfect if you like to stare at trees. I've always pictured it as an excellent way to hide. Sometimes when I've had enough from my father I would go and take a short walk in the forest. Needless to say, no one goes there-or underneath my window, so no one will notice anything.
Not bothering to do more afterward than shed my dress and boots, I quickly tossed everything except for blankets and pillows into an old sheet I keep for this and tossed it underneath my bed. Sliding quickly into bed, I snuggled down into the bed and pillows' softness and allowed my imagination to picture ice blue eyes.
Hmmm, Shinomori Aoshi... seems a much nicer guy than Soujiro-san. They both kill, I've heard of Soujiro-san's work, I have my sources both in and out of those I know in the Oniwabanshu.
Father calls Soujiro-san Soujiro-sama... I suppose he doesn't want to get on the wrong side of him. But I wouldn't worry. Soujiro-san is like all men in that he has his vices, but he isn't volatile like my father or people like him. He's actually always been polite to me and my family... I suppose that's why my father thought I'd be happy with him. Or the fact that the man's filthy rich through inheritance alone. Hopefully Soujiro-san will oppose this as much as I do. One can only hope, right?
Turning my thoughts back to Shinomori Aoshi, I tried to decide what to call my Shadow. Then a thought struck me. "Aoshi-sama." I tested aloud. It has a nice ring to it. I'd be able to call him by his first name and still be respectful. Perfect.
I smiled into my pillow as I buried my face, welcoming the escape of dreams. "Aoshi-sama." I whispered again, and giggled a little. Next thing I knew I was dreaming of ebony hair and ice blue eyes. Ah, such wonderful things dreams are.
----------------------------------------------------------------x
--END NOTES--
(1)--A lot of people know what this means, but for sake of those who don't- doushite means 'why?', 'how come?', etc.
(2)--Quote taken from the manga. Vol. 8, pg. 103. That section is so funny!
I decided to play around with a Japanese title... I don't know much Japanese, but I'm trying to learn more. Anyway, the title was what I really wanted to name the chapter-don't ask why, I just became fixated on it-and it sounds much better in Japanese, ne? Gomen nasai for the short chapter, I know I did say that I was going to write longer ones, and they will truly be after this. It's still five pages worth though, so that's not too bad, right? Like I said in my profile, I really needed this chapter to further the story. I was very surprised that I finished it this morning-ah well, I don't think anyone will complain, right? Also I'm not too good at fight scenes... need to work on that.
DM: Yay! 2nd chapter done!
Misao: You need help.
DM: Yes, reviews would help.
Misao: I know that you know that I meant you need mental help.
DM: I was being nice and overlooking it.
Misao: Baka!
DM: By the way, you didn't say anything about Aoshi being in this chapter.
Misao: That's cause I was too busy planning on what I'm going to do in the next chapter. -evil smile-
Aoshi: ...
DM: No romance yet! I need to take things slow at first, it seems more realistic than if they're suddenly smack dab in the middle of a relationship.
Misao: What!
Aoshi: -scarcely audible relieved sigh-
Misao: Aoshi-sama! You can't take her side!
DM: Well, hopefully Aoshi can handle Misao pouting at him. Please review and tell me what you think of the new chapter! Onegai!
Next chapter-- Enter Soujiro! What will Misao do? What can Kenshin and Kaoru do to help? Plans are in the air, an angry kitsune will attack a tori no atama, and more! Ja ne!