The Best of Intentions: Chapter 17
Kenshin glanced over his shoulder at the assembled motley cru. Somehow, he had been influenced to take them all along with him on the international journey. It was almost amusing to watch Soujiro making every effort to keep Sanosuke's person between Misao and himself at all times.
The red haired warrior focused on the sun, judging by its angle in the sky that it was about two hours past noon. His companions didn't complain but he knew that they were most likely hungry and he would need to stop soon. Unfortunately for Kenshin, hunger was no longer something he felt. He was finding it more and more difficult to force down the vital substance into his system. Ever since he discovered his clean bill of health he couldn't help but feel depressed that he wasted his opportunity with Kaoru.
Kenshin ground his teeth together as he tried to control his anger at losing his beloved to a man with a past as blood stained as his own. It was still early in the game yet. An American cliché echoed in his mind, 'All is fair in love and war.'
Certainly no one could best the notorious Battousai in matters of war.
Sanosuke cleared his throat, drawing Kenshin's attention. "So, do you have a plan for finding the prince and protecting him?"
"I was thinking along the lines of using live bait to catch the kidnappers instead," Kenshin answered quietly. He ignored the indignant sputtering coming from Misao's direction.
Soujiro quickly flashed Misao a look, glad that she wasn't focused on him. It had seemed that in the week that they had been working with one another she had taken a keen interest in holding his attentions. He wasn't sure why she chose him of everyone to single out. However, he was grateful that the mere mention of Aoshi, because naturally that was whom Kenshin was referring, could cause her to forget about him temporarily. He was going to ignore the slight inkling of annoyance he was feeling at the same time for being so easily forgotten.
"You can't possibly intend on endangering Aoshi-sama's life!" Misao yelled angrily, hurrying to catch up to Kenshin and grab his shoulder.
Kenshin stopped walking, allowing the young woman to hold him in place. He turned around calmly and arched a red brow. "His life isn't any concern of yours, he made that perfectly clear," was his mono-toned answer.
Misao's jaw seemed to come unhinged at the words coming out of the normally docile man's mouth. Soujiro was shocked, but remained a silent observer. Sano wasn't quite so complacent in sharing his opinions.
"Kenshin, this isn't the time to bring up personal grudges," Sano pointed out reasonably. He understood his best friend's anger and frustration, but it was too unorthodox to see Kenshin being vindictive.
Kenshin shrugged off Misao's hand from his shoulder and continued walking, deciding his companions could do without lunch after all if they had time to second guess his decisions.
Sano glanced at Misao who was standing in shock. He elbowed Soujiro in the ribs and jerked his head in her direction, giving a silent hint. Soujiro took a deep breath and steeled himself. He took Misao by the elbow and walked alongside her, veering a safe distance from the older men.
"It has nothing to do with a grudge," Kenshin broke the silence that had descended upon the travelers. "It is simply the most logical choice of action to take."
"Uh huh," Sano commented, finding himself walking with his legs at full stride to keep up with the quick steps of the smaller man. "You didn't have to say that to Misao."
Kenshin shrugged a shoulder, angry with himself. He knew that he was acting like a sullen teenager, but he couldn't be expected to always be in a happy-go-lucky mood. With his dark past if someone didn't expect him to act a little upset occasionally then they should be committed to an institution for the mentally ill.
"I know you're upset that Kaoru and Shinomori went off to Europe together," Sano started.
"Along with Yahiko," Kenshin interrupted. "The traitor," he muttered under his breath.
Sano couldn't help it. He burst out laughing at Kenshin's tone. The man had seriously lost it. He stopped laughing at the glare the shorter man sent him. Perhaps it wasn't a laughing matter after all. "They are just friends. Maybe nothing happened between them."
"If you mean to present the argument that Kaoru and I lived under the same roof for nearly two years and nothing happened you should stop now," Kenshin stated matter-of-factly. "Nothing happened because I didn't allow it to happen. I was too ashamed of my past and guilt ridden to allow a normal romantic relationship to develop."
"Okay," Sano acknowledged. He opened his mouth to say something more, but was stopped short as the other man continued.
"It seems that Aoshi doesn't share my feelings of unworthiness when it comes to Kaoru. I've no doubt that if she offered him the same love she once offered me, that he would not have trouble accepting it," Kenshin disclosed. "He'd be a fool if he did."
"He did turn down the love of Misao. She's a good woman," Sano pointed out.
"It's not the same," Kenshin argued. He pointed into the south western direction. "We're about two miles north east of the train station."
Sano shuddered. Kenshin may have been having troubles with his love life but it was Sano who was the one suffering. It was as if Kenshin purposely chose to take as many trains as possible just to torture the poor ex-fighter-for-hire. All he did was try to be a good friend to both Kenshin and Kaoru. It wasn't fair that he endure the evils of the steam engine repeatedly.
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Aoshi walked along the long sidewalks of the town. He kept repeating the words in his head that he spoke so casually to Kaoru. He just told her that he loved her! He hadn't even thought about what the extent of his feelings towards her were, and there he was, declaring his everlasting love and adoration.
Oh if his friends could see him now!
He frowned, as he ran an unsteady hand through his dark hair. He didn't really have anyone he considered his friend now. Except for perhaps Kaoru, he hadn't investing any emotional attachment to another person since the deaths of his men. A wrinkle developed between his eyebrows as he reflected upon this.
In the short time since Kaoru had arrived at his home he had become attached to her. She knew things about him that he hadn't dared to share with others. He knew things about her that she hadn't revealed to others. He couldn't afford to lose Kaoru now!
She had become his best friend, his confidant, the light at the end of the dark tunnel that had become his life. Kaoru had become the love that was currently driving him to be a better man. The wrinkle on his brow smoothed out and the corner of his lip curled up in a smile. He was the luckiest man alive!
He approached the vender where the man selling coats worked. "I was here earlier," Aoshi started.
"With the pretty young woman, yes," the man smiled. "What can I help you with sir?"
"I'd like to get something special for that pretty young woman," Aoshi began.
The older man scratched his balding head. "I don't really sell things for women," he frowned, deep in thought. "I know of a trinket store just down the block," he smiled brightly at the idea.
"I don't really think jewelry is the way to go," Aoshi answered. The old man seemed to ignore him and started heading towards the trinket shop. Aoshi had no choice but to follow. He would feel guilty if he didn't after Kaoru's comments earlier that day.
The older man guided him down the winding alley-way before halting outside a dilapidating building. Aoshi's brow went up at the site of the trinket store. It looked as if dirt and rust were the only two elements holding the rotten wood together in the semblance of a building.
"Hello! How may I help you young man?" A frail old woman asked, using a cane to reach the entrance where Aoshi and the other man stood. The vender gave Aoshi a reassuring pat on the back before leaving without another word to mind his booth.
"I need a gift for my," Aoshi paused, unsure of what to call Kaoru. "For my…" he trailed off.
"Special friend?" The lady offered helpfully, an uncomfortable wisdom was reflected in her ancient grey eyes. Aoshi shifted his feet and nodded.
Silently the woman took Aoshi's elbow and led him down a few aisles. She directed his attention to an item he had never seen before. It seemed to be a crystal globe with white flower and vibrant green leaves. The woman picked it up and held it upside down before setting it back on the shelf. There were white particles floating around in some sort of fluid inside the crystal.
"What is this?" Aoshi asked, picking up the dome himself to shake it and watch the white particles suspend in the fluid before setting upon the flower.
"It is a waterglobe of a jasmine flower," the woman explained. She smiled kindly at him, "Your friend will like it."
"I'm sure she would," Aoshi agreed. He set the waterglobe down and looked at the woman. "What is your price?"
"The price is not monetary." She lifted the globe and shook it once more before placing it in Aoshi's hands. "This is my gift to you."
Aoshi frowned and placed the globe in one hand while reaching into his pocket for his money. "I can not accept a gift for nothing. You must allow me to pay you." He held out some bills for her that were probably more than the item was worth. The woman obviously needed the money. If she made a habit of giving her merchandise for free that would explain the poor state she found herself.
She pushed the money back towards him, refusing to accept. "When the time comes, do the right thing. That is the payment you owe me." She smiled serenely at him before ushering him towards the door, waterglobe in his possession.
Aoshi stood outside the door as the woman shut it in his face. He glanced back down at the item in his hand. It was beautiful. The jasmine flower was in an enchanted world of sorts. Kaoru would love it. He reached back into his pocket for the money and slipped it through the crack under the door. He would do what was right when the time came, but in the mean time he would make sure that foolish old woman didn't starve.
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Megumi glared at the back of Hiko's head. They had finally arrived in the village where he claimed to have learned her family was staying. He refused to tell her any details and she was forced to endure his arrogant, drunken, ignorant, annoying behavior as they drudged through the deserted streets.
"Just give me the address!" Megumi demanded, reaching up and tugging hard on Hiko's long hair. "You can leave, just tell me where to find my family and stop wasting my time. Go back to Japan."
Hiko calmly removed the woman's long-fingered hands from his sensitive scalp while sending her a look that would scare the skin off a snake. "Patience."
"I'm out of that."
Hiko felt his heart soften a fraction at the sight of the angry woman. He was about to drop the bombshell on her and he hadn't figured out a way to break the news to her easily. Most of the journey had been spent trying to loosen her up and prepare her for the death of her dream.
He hadn't expected to start to grow attached to the woman. He originally had planned to inform her of the death of her family early in the trip and then accompany her as a guard more or less. A young woman should not be traveling across the whole of Asia and Europe alone. She could easily end up working in some sort of brothel after a run in with the wrong sort of people.
Megumi didn't like the distant look in Hiko's normally arrogant eyes. They seemed darker than usual, as if he were thinking about something unpleasant. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach as she thought about what that look might mean.
"Look Megumi," Hiko began, he took her elbow and led her towards an unoccupied bench in the town square. They were only a few blocks from the cemetery where her family now rested. "I've been avoiding telling you the truth." He looked away from her, unable to meet her gaze. "I didn't want to have to tell you."
Megumi's eyes narrowed, she knew where this line of talk was leading. She was never an optimistic person but now she certainly wasn't one to have hope for a family reunion. "You're taking me to their graves aren't you?" She asked quietly, her shoulders grew rigid as she struggled to keep herself composed.
Hiko closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes," he told her softly. He opened his eyes to see a single tear streak down her dusty cheek as she stared with unfocused eyes in the direction the cemetery was, as if she knew.
He reached over and pulled her to his side, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Suddenly she felt as fragile as glass and turned her face towards his neck and began to cry silently. The little hope she had for a happy life vanished in the blink of an eye. Hiko pulled her closer to him and then finally set her in his lap where he cradled her in his warm embrace. He rested his chin upon her head and held her until the sun went down, neither saying a word.