Author's Note: Thank you so so so much for the reviews you guys! I don't care how much or how less I have, all that matters is that I have people that like this fic and would love an update! So that's enough for me thanks again! Please read and review! Enjoy!
lol oh yeah, and for those of you who love fluff, all of that coming up in the next chapter! Squee!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter Four: The Burden is Never Fully Lifted
Misao tensed up and her eyes glazed over for a mere second in horrific familiarity. She remembered a time when she was no different then the men standing right in front of her. Stole money from the innocent, fought people from the darkness of the trees, and didn't even bother to listen to pleas from anyone.
Misao inwardly shook her head and grit her teeth, 'But... that was different... I was looking for Aoshi... and needed their money to travel.' She tried to convince herself. That was in the past though, and she was trying to forget it all. She wanted to. She had Aoshi now, and she was sorry for what she had done. It's all in the past now.
The bandits moved in closer to attack.
One man in particular stood out from all the others as he made his way to the front, whom Misao immediately assumed to be their leader. She rolled her eyes, 'Well duh, of course he's the leader. He's the ugliest, fattest, and stupidest looking one of them all.'
The leader instantly gloated and puffed out his chest in triumph at seeing Misao as his supposed opponent, "Well well, take a look at this, boys. Look at her prepare to fight, the girl thinks she's strong enough to take us on." The leader said in a gruff and deep voice of which Misao instantly despised of. She narrowed her eyes and prepared herself. The leader brought up his hand and snapped his fingers. When he did so, the others around him right away made their move to attack.
Misao dodged all their arrows, kunai, daggers and other weapons. Some of the bandits were too shocked of her ability to fight back and just gawked like idiots. She noticed this and couldn't believe they would just let their guard down so easily like they were now. Makes it hard to fathom that they would actually be skillful fighters. However all she knew now was that she needed to take advantage of that and make her moves.
Misao was about to attack in combat when the leader spoke, "So, what makes you think a little girl like you can take on a bunch of strong guys like us?" He wasn't startled because he didn't pay attention to her until now.
She jumped up and did a roundhouse kick, productively knocking out three men which were approaching her from all directions. She landed in a tuck and looked to her right, seeing one of them pull out a knife and run toward her. Misao remained in her tuck and stretched out her leg, now swinging it across as she leaned her hands on the ground for support. She kicked his shins horizontally, tripping him and then jumping up to punch him in the gut.
The next two charged her as well, but with katanas. Misao now pulled out two kunai and as fast as lightning, threw them at her enemies and watched them fall. The last three just charged at her blindly, angry that their comrades were taken down so easily and didn't want to have the same pathetic fate. But as they ran too, they just proved Misao's view of them being as stupid as the others that fell before her. She threw three kunai at them and as they still stood, she did another spinning kick and took them out.
Misao did a back flip and landed right in front of the leader. "Because I did that." She did not smirk in triumph or gloated with pride, but with hate in her eyes as she had indicated her words to the fallen victims of her rage.
The leader was so astonished and speechless that Misao scowled and punched him square in the face. 'This has got to be the most disrespected and pathetic group of bandits ever.'
Aoshi was slightly surprised to say the least. He didn't know she had progressed so well. He smirked right then, 'We taught her well.' He remained in his hiding place; he did not need to assist Misao at all.
"Hideki, are you alright?" Misao was breathing very heavily. She hadn't handled ten bandits all by herself before in so long and it exhausted her body so much that she just collapsed to her knees on the ground next to her friend.
"Y-Yeah.." He said, still in surprise. He looked at his wounds as they continued to bleed.
Misao's eyes widened, "Oh! We have to get you to the Aoiya quick and cover your cuts before they get worse. They look quiet deep." Misao said, trying to stand.
Aoshi decided to make himself known and walked to them from the trees that were on the other side from where the bandits had attacked. "Misao." Aoshi said as he neared her struggling form.
Misao jumped at the sound of his voice and looked at him with wide eyes. "Aoshi? What are you doing here?" She asked, now more curious and happy than exhausted. She stood up quickly to go to him, but then noticed her weariness as she stood too quickly and almost fell against him. She was a small girl after all, she can fight well but in the long run it takes a toll on her body. 'She needs to meditate more often than just spar.' Aoshi thought.
He hesitantly held onto her arms so she wouldn't fall, "Let's get you home." He nodded to Hideki for him to come too as he dropped down to one knee and moved to carry Misao on his back. As Aoshi did so, he eyed the men on the ground that lay with dislocated limbs and bodies pierced with their own weapons. He looked away and began to walk back to the Aoiya with Misao in tow.
The young woman stirred lightly on his back and she groaned when she tried to laugh, "Aoshi, did you see the bandits attack?" She asked in a much wavering voice as she closed her eyes and leaned her head more comfortably on his shoulder.
Aoshi decided not to lie to her, well, at least not about the seeing the battle between her and the bandits. He saw no reason for it. If she desired to know the truth about it, then it would be so. "Yes, I watched from a distance to observe you." He said in his quiet, calming voice.
She did laugh this time, "Oh, so, in other words, you just saw me kick their sorry asses?" She asked smiling.
"Yes I did." Aoshi said as he almost chuckled, "It seems you've progressed so well in your training that you didn't need my help."
Aoshi suddenly felt a faint tug to his heart; she really didn't need his help. She is growing up before his eyes and he appeared to be missing it. In a weird way, a part of him didn't want that, at least not yet. However, his other side is saying, everyone grows older. Heck, he did, why can't she?
He was interrupted from his thoughts when Misao moved on his back a little, 'why the hell do people keep calling me little?' She wanted to shout, but her low and tedious voice wouldn't let her. Misao resented being called 'little', that much about her did not change. 'What a venomous word', she thought with a scowl.
Hideki walked beside them, feeling admiration for Misao. He could very well defend himself. He just felt that he didn't get the chance to. Misao handled them all and he smiled at her. She was superior to him in combat, he knew. But that didn't stop him from admiring her strength and ability regardless.
Misao yawned, keeping her eyes softly closed. Her body was regaining its strength and didn't feel numb anymore, but she enjoyed being so close to Aoshi. So she did not bother to stop him and ask that she be let down.
Sometimes, Misao knew not of why she loved Aoshi so much. Whatever it was that drew her to him, she was glad, because it's what makes Aoshi his own special self that she loved with all her heart.
As Aoshi, carrying a supposedly exhausted Misao, and Hideki walked in the Aoiya, they headed for the medicinal room. Aoshi set Misao down and oddly found himself suddenly missing the warm feeling that was there. Misao went to retrieve the right medicine for Hideki's cuts. Just then, Okina came to the door. He looked as though he had been searching for a certain someone around the Aoiya for some time now.
Misao had a worried look on her face as she had opened the cupboard where the bandages were, with a turn of her head she was looking right at Okina.
"Aoshi, it is critical that I speak with you right now. Come to my study room immediately. We need to talk." He said frighteningly serious, and left without giving Aoshi a chance to reply in any way.
There was a short silence in the room before Aoshi turned to look back at Misao, "I'll be back soon." He said and left down the hall to where Okina had gone.
Misao nodded and watched him leave. In a way, she sensed something was wrong. 'I wonder what Okina is going to talk to Aoshi about. I hope it's nothing bad.' She sighed and then walked back to Hideki, who was in more need of medicine and bandages for his minor wounds. 'I guess I'll find all that out when he returns.'
Once in Okina's study room, He took a seat behind his desk and motioned for Aoshi to sit across from him. The room was a bit dim, only granted with light by few tall lit candles and a half open curtain from the window. It was sort of comforting, but it wouldn't matter in a minute. Whatever news Okina was going to tell Aoshi, it wouldn't be anything remotely close to comforting. And so, Aoshi decided to bring up the 'Misao dating' matter for another day.
Not wasting any more time, Aoshi got to the point, "What is the meaning of this Okina?" He asked gravely, ready for the worst news to hear. He didn't know what he was expecting Okina to say, and yet his heart already did. 'This can't be good.'
Okina did not falter as he raised his voice slightly, "There is information from the government of a possible new dangerous threat to the entire country of Japan." He stated solemnly as he held a hand on a small stack of papers.
Aoshi seemed unphased by this, however it wasn't something he was quite expecting. He inwardly sighed, 'Again? Why? After the fall of Shishio by Kenshin and the rest of us, who would think they could achieve the same goals as he and not fall as well?' he critically wondered.
So many morons trying to take over Japan, so little time.
Don't get him wrong; Aoshi did not want any of these disastrous things to happen to the country he lived in. But for heaven's sake! He was sick and tired of all this 'evil' around that he wanted to travel the world and destroy it all.
Aoshi nodded, "Explain the details, everything." He said, wanting to get this over with so he could continue to live peacefully with Misao and the others. He of course knew it wouldn't be that easy.
Okina understood why Aoshi appeared to give off a hint of exhaustion. He too was tired of all the people trying to take over Japan. Okina went on nonetheless, "His name is Lord Matsuo and he is rumored to supposedly be more powerful than Sishio was." Okina said. Aoshi nodded in understanding, "Do Battousai and the others know?"
Okina nodded his head, "They are on their way here as we speak." He said serenely.
Aoshi looked down at the desk, thinking now. Surely Kenshin had still kept up with his training even though Shishio was no more. If the wanderer didn't bother to train as half as much as he used to, Aoshi would be pissed off beyond belief. And if that were true, which he highly doubted, he would think of another plan to take down this new threat to their country by himself.
Aoshi sighed once more. Damn, his schedule just got so much busier.
Misao was wrapping a double bandage on the last of Hideki's three cuts. The young man actually felt kind of guilty and foolish, he should have helped her at least once, but only froze up like a coward. Hideki sighed and shook his head. Misao put her medicines away and sat in front of him, "What's wrong Hideki?"
He didn't look at her, only at his hands in his lap, "I should have helped you Misao, but I guess I just, froze." He said, lightly embarrassed as he now rubbed the back of his neck.
Misao placed a hand on one of his to comfort him, "Don't worry about it. I know how good of a swordsman you are, have you been practicing lately?" She asked now very curious about her long lost friend.
He looked even more embarrassed at this, "Well, I know all the basics of course, and all my techniques, but I haven't practiced in a little over a year." He said miserably at the last statement and hung his head down.
Misao smiled, "Well, then you'll have to train again as soon as you can." He looked up at her as she squeezed his hand a little tighter, "You don't want to be walking around with a sword and not no how to use it, now do you?" She giggled as she stood up and smoothed out her blue kimono. Hideki stood up also and smiled at her. Even still, Misao always knew how to cheer him up.
Misao looked at him, "Are you hungry? We could go ahead and get something to eat if you'd like." She offered politely.
He nodded vigorously and she giggled again as she led the way to the kitchen. As they entered the kitchen they were met by Omasu and Okon. Misao sighed in annoyance and knew they would almost certainly ask questions that they shouldn't be asking.
Omasu smirked, "Hey Misao, is this Hideki?" She asked, knowing that Misao would be getting irritated with her for prying into her business.
Misao rolled her eyes, "Oh lay off already Omasu, you know who he is." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked the other way. Omasu stifled a chuckle and looked toward Okon, "Come on, these two want to eat alone I'm sure." She winked and her and she giggled in agreement. "Yeah, we should go. I'm sure they have so much more catching up to do."
Misao practically growled and raised a fist to threaten them, but all was soon forgotten when Aoshi walked into the kitchen and found Misao and Hideki just standing there. Well, Hideki was just standing there; Misao was scowling and looked as though she were going to pounce on someone with blind fury.
Aoshi assumed it was Okon and Omasu's doing, but shook his head to dismiss it and now looked at Misao, "I need to speak with you along with Okina in his office Misao, it's urgent." He said rather sternly, to let her know this was very serious.
Misao replaced her scowl with a look of worry. She did not dare ask any questions, "Yes, right away." She nodded and walked to him. She suddenly turned around to look at Hideki, "I'll have to see you later, goodbye." She said and walked away following Aoshi into Okina's study room.
Hideki sighed and gradually stood up, "Bye, Misao." He murmured softly to no one. He left the Aoiya, planning to return soon. 'I hope everything is ok.'
As they entered the study room where Okina was already situated in his chair, Misao immediately noticed that the older man didn't look pleased at all. Misao sat next to Aoshi and they both looked at Okina. Misao looked at both of them, waiting to be told something, anything to rid the horrible silence that filled every inch of the room.
"Well? What is it?" She asked quietly. Suddenly she knew this would be bad news. Okina then sighed deeply and explained to Misao the same thing he did Aoshi. They both saw the look of shock, exhaustion and annoyance grace her features.
"What! Again?" Misao stood up from her chair, nearly making it tip over backwards and fall. "How can this be? Why would this guy think he could get away with this when Shishio could not? Is this man so deprived from society's news that he has not heard at all from anywhere that Kenshin totally defeated Shishio?" She asked desperately looking at Aoshi now.
"I thought the same thing." Aoshi said to her and motioned for her to sit back down again.
Misao still stood looking at him, and her shoulders drooped, all her energy visibly leaving her. She couldn't believe this. Shishio tried to conquer Japan, now this guy is too? Even though it happened almost two years ago, it remained very fresh in Misao's mind. This made her think about when Aoshi fought Kenshin and was practically on Shishio's side. She just got Aoshi back, and now they have to go into battle once more? All Misao wanted was to live peacefully with her friends now. She knew Aoshi was thinking about this too when she saw the look in his eyes that he gave her.
Misao sighed and at long last sat down. Her voice was quiet, "And… this Lord Matsuo thinks he is superior to Shishio?"
Okina nodded, "I believe so. Kenshin and the others will arrive tomorrow. We'll discuss our preparations then."