Best of Intentions: Chapter 18
Aoshi lifted the water globe in his hands and watched as the white particles flittered onto the jasmine flower inside. It was quite enchanting. It was also distracting. It was due to this distraction that his senses were not as sharp as they were usually. As he turned the corner leading out of the alley he collided into a figure of similar stature.
The two men stared at one another in silence. The apology Aoshi felt obligated to mutter remained unsaid as he stared at his mirror image, free hand automatically reaching for one of his swords. He had always heard that everyone had a twin in the world, but until this moment he never believed it.
"Apologies," the aristocratic man spoke with a clear Austrian voice, causing Aoshi to leave his weapon sheathed. He tipped his cap at the stunned ninja and then walked briskly past him, disappearing down the alley. Aoshi turned to stare after the man. After seeing ghosts and mysterious old women he really shouldn't have been too surprised at seeing a doppelganger.
He took a deep meditative breath to regain his cool composure. The eerie feeling of seeing icy eyes identical to his own was slowing growing dimmer. Maybe he should go back to the old woman and ask her if she knew of any clones walking around that looked like him. She seemed mystical enough to know. As he was about to turn to walk back to her store his logical reasoning caught up with him. It must have been in his head.
He reached up to feel his forehead. It was certainly warm. He must have caught some sort of virus that had put him into a feverish state and making him delusional. Once more he shook the water globe and watched as the white flakes settled upon the flower. All he wanted at that moment was to return to the restaurant and enjoy a few sane moments in the company of his traveling companions.
When the waiter led him to the table he was disappointed to see that they were enjoying their dessert. He hadn't expected that he would miss the entire meal. Kaoru smiled invitingly at the stoic man and Yahiko moved away from her, making room for the ninja to sit.
Aoshi took the offered position. Introductions were made. After he was soundly greeted he gently nudged Kaoru in the side. She smiled at him, fork just reaching her mouth and depositing a sinfully rich piece of chocolate cake.
"Hold out your hands Kamiya," Aoshi spoke softly. Kaoru set her fork down and did as requested. The weight of a heavy object was placed within them. She looked down and her eyes grew large with wonder at the strange gift.
Yahiko bent across Aoshi's back to see what Kaoru held. "What's wrong buso? Are you speechless for once or is your mouth just full?"
Kaoru swallowed and accepted the wineglass that Aoshi held out for, seeming to read her mind. She lifted the object up and watched as the snow fell upon the jasmine flower. "It's beautiful," she whispered awed.
Aoshi fought to keep his lips from foolishly curving at her genuine enthusiasm over his gift. "Not quite as beautiful as you," he murmured, growing uncomfortable when the two teenaged girls across from him both awed in unison.
"A snowdome! That's so original!" Janette exclaimed.
"Can I see?" Yahiko asked eagerly. Kaoru handed the object to him and he shook it with childish delight marveling over the small wonder. "Wow iceman you did a good job on this!"
Aoshi tried valiantly not to take the bait. But really his elbow moved on its own accord as he rammed it into the youth's side after taking the globe out of his hands and giving it back to Kaoru. She didn't seem to notice Yahiko clutching his side, her eyes were focused on Aoshi and the smile she sent him caused him to forget about the odd incidences from just a few minutes ago, at least for now.
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"Please," Sano grabbed hold of Kenshin's sleeve. "Don't force me to do that again!" He glared back over his shoulder at the evil train that he had narrowly escaped a fiery death. "That monster is possessed!" He cried.
"You didn't have to come," Kenshin deadpanned, fighting the amusement he felt at his friend's irrational fear of technology.
Misao stood silent on the other side of Kenshin, not talking to anyone. For the entire train ride she had remained silent. It was as if Kenshin's harsh words to her had somehow triggered a mute button. He was not about to allow himself to feel guilty about that though.
"So, do we start looking for this prince now?" Sano asked, straightening his white coat and trying to walk away from the train as fast as he could.
"No," Kenshin answered.
"What do you mean no?" Sano cried. "I thought that was the whole reason why we came here!"
Kenshin turned to him, but didn't say a word. They both know that was hardly the reason they came. It was only an excuse.
"We're here looking for bait then?" Sano queried. He ignored Misao's indignant huff at his inquiry.
Sensing tension rising amongst the ranks, Soujiro interjected, trying to keep his pleasant smile in place. "I suggest that we split up, it will make the mission run smoother."
"Very well." Kenshin began to walk away from the other three and Misao made to follow after him. She was stopped by a firm hand grasping her collar.
She turned to glare at her capture, only to be surprised that it was Soujiro and not the rooster-head. "If you don't mind Misao, I'd prefer enjoying this beautiful city with you by my side." Her scowl was quickly replaced by an unexpected blush that she tried to ignore by looping her arm through his and dragging him in the opposite direction of Kenshin.
Sano watched as Kenshin walked one way and the other two walked the other way. It looked like he'd be making sure his friend didn't do anything un-Rurouni like. Not that he'd been making a habit of that lately or anything. Sano swung his big arms behind him and popped his neck on either side to loosen his joints, grateful to be off the train. He could handle whatever this town threw at him. And he vowed to himself that he would do all within his power to prevent Kenshin from disemboweling Shinomori.
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Megumi walked solemnly along the streets of Prague. The man beside her didn't say anything. No idle conversation was had between the two. The night before had been a mistake. The grief from discovering with finality that her family was gone had devastated the strong doctor.
She just needed to be held. She needed to be reminded that though her family had moved on into the afterlife that she was still alive. She glanced at the drunkard from the corner of her eye. He looked as if nothing had transpired between them.
She could still feel the warm trace of his lips over skin. The feel of his hands as they took her to a place she had never been before. The texture of his thick, silky hair as it slid through her fingers haunted her. The way it felt to be held close in his strong embrace was something she had never experienced before.
And then that morning she woke up in a strange bed. Alone. Her clothes were not scattered upon the floor but folded neatly at the foot of the bed. The only evidence was the soft indenture his head had made in the pillow beside hers.
The next thing she knew they were on a train headed for Prague.
"Are you hungry?" Hiko asked. It was the only time he had spoken to her other than when he had told her of the train they had to catch for Prague.
Megumi turned to face him; he was standing so arrogant and indifferent. To him last night's actions were probably something he did all the time. Megumi may have given off the impression that she casually enjoyed the pleasure of men. But that wasn't quite true. She had only been with men whom she was deeply involved emotionally. Of course, all those men were dead now too.
"No." She answered sharply. She just wanted to return home to Japan now. She no longer wanted to be around this cruel man. She wanted her friends. They were all she had left. She almost laughed at herself because she wanted to talk to Kaoru more than anyone at the moment. If anyone knew the pain of having the man you "cared" about being indifferent it would be the silly little tanuki.
Maybe if she was pathetic enough Yahiko would stand up for her like he did for Kaoru. She smiled sadly at the idea. She would have loved for someone to stand up and defend her.
She was surprised when Hiko took possession of her arm. "Even if you are not hungry, I am." He pulled her alongside him, ignoring her feeble protest until they were outside of a small café. She indignantly pulled her arm from his grasp and gingerly rubbed where his large hand had been. There would be bruises, no doubt.
Megumi saw that the café was busy with people. That was good. At least she wouldn't have to be alone with the cruel man that had guided her halfway across the world only to destroy whatever hope she had for happiness.
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Sanosuke stopped in the middle of the busy intersection riveted by the site across the street. It was impossible. Kenshin noticed the lack of his friend and quickly pulled him out of the path of a hustling carriage. The two men ignored the driver that cursed at them in the foreign language. Both men were watching in disbelief.
Exiting a small café were Megumi and Hiko. Never would either of the men have pictured those two traveling in one another's company much less in the same city half-way across the world as them.
"What's the fox doing here?" Sano mumbled to himself.
Kenshin was more interested into knowing why his old master was there. However, it was the rest of the scene that unfolded that caused his curiosity to pique. Hiko was trying to say something to Megumi but she was obviously irritated. She began to walk away, only to have her arm taken hold of by the older man. He forced her to face him and he bent low, to say something to her face.
"What the hell!" Sano roared as he just watched HIS Megumi being kissed by Kenshin's old lecherous drunk of a teacher.
The sound of his voice seemed to shatter whatever moment the two were having. Megumi reared back her hand and slapped Hiko hard on the cheek before turning towards Sano, the look of relief in her eyes at the sight of Kenshin and the former fighter-for-hire was beyond words.
The normally composed woman looked so absolutely overwhelmed that both men were caught off guard. Sano and Kenshin had taken off at a run towards the two and now stood beside them. Megumi had launched herself into Sano's arms, murmuring something about her family, but he really couldn't understand what she was saying as it was muffled against his chest.
Kenshin's attention had been upon Megumi's wrist. When he had offered his consolations with an awkward pat on the back he had noticed the recent bruising that looked about the size of a certain master swordsman. His gaze was then directed towards Hiko.
The arrogant man stood with a large impression of a red hand emblazoned upon his cheek and without a care in the world it seemed. "What brings you to Prague, master?" Kenshin asked his voice deadly cold.
Hiko's emerald eyes narrowed at his former apprentice. "It hardly concerns you."
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"What shall we do on our last night in Prague?" Kaoru asked as they departed the company of the British family. "I'm sure the theatre is quite good here."
Yahiko pretended to gag at the idea. "Right, let's go listen to some music in some language none of us understand. Great idea!" He answered sarcastically.
"No need to be rude about it," Yutaro reprimanded politely. He looked over at his two older companions. Their hands were clasped together and both had a peaceful expression on their faces. "Hey Yahiko, why don't you and I go ice skating? Miss Kamiya and Mister Shinomori can go to the theatre."
Yahiko's brows drew together. He really didn't want to go ice skating, but he'd make the sacrifice if it would keep that doped up happy expression on Kaoru's face. "Fine," he agreed.
Kaoru turned towards the boys with surprise. "I don't have to go to the theatre! Really, I was just making a suggestion is all."
Yahiko stood to Kaoru's side and pulled on her earlobe. "Look Kaoru, I'm only going to say this once. But when I give you an excuse to be alone with the iceman try not to make it look like I'm doing it on purpose."
"But," Kaoru tried to interject.
"Now shut up and have fun," Yahiko ordered. He and Yutaro took off toward the large lake that was now a winter ice skating ring, leaving Kaoru and Aoshi to watch them in silent bewilderment.
"That was obvious," Aoshi stated releasing Kaoru's hand to put his arm over her shoulder.
Kaoru stepped into the warmth offered and turned her face to his. "What do you mean?"
Aoshi only shook his head. "Do you really want to go to the theatre?"
"It was only a suggestion," Kaoru mumbled, glancing back towards the two young men that were quickly disappearing from view.
"If we could, I'd rather return to the hotel and sit by a warm fire," Aoshi confessed. He squeezed her against him a little tighter. "Sit by a warm fire with a blanket and warm woman in my lap, playing with her water globe." His eyes lit up for a moment and Kaoru smiled warmly at him.
"Sounds good to me," she agreed. "I can tell you of the stimulating conversations you missed out on at dinner as you share your adventure to the vendor for the snowdome," she suggested playfully.
A shadow passed over Aoshi's face as he remembered his strange encounter outside of the trinket store and of the old woman's ominous words regarding his payment for her gift.