Beneath the stars
She panted slightly. The length and distance was beginning to trouble her feet. She had been running non-stop for two or three days. Stopping wasn't an option for Akiko. Tanaka had finally let her go to Tokyo; he treated her like a little child! Soujiro was out there somewhere! She knew he would not leave Japan, but Japan was rather large…
'At least Sensei gave me a feminine name… Even if he was naming me after his only daughter due to lack of originality. Tokyo is the capital so I have the best chance of finding Soujiro there.'
"Excuse me young lad?" she heard a croaky voice ask. She stopped her running to face her. The old lady smiled gingerly at her as if she were about to ask a huge favor.
"Please help me get my Nekomaru from that tree." She held a shaky, wrinkly hand to point to a seven meter's high tree. She gave a low whistle.
"Sure Obaa-chan." She dropped her bag on the floor and scaled the tree. She was extra careful not to climb too skillfully, doing such would attract attention and you can't tell when someone's watching you. She faked a few slips as she clamber up, gripping lower branches for support.
Nekomaru (apparently the cat's name) had perched himself quite close to the top. Akiko could almost see the sky. She reached a hand out to the cat.
"Come here Nekomaru." She repeated the sentence over and over. But the fat cat wouldn't budge. He opened one eye, then shut it and dozed off again!
"Ne-ko-ma-ru!" She said menacingly. She attempted to move closer on the branch but she was sure that the branch would collapse and fall. She drew a deep breath. She grasped the kitty by its stomach by leaping onto the branch.
"Got-ya?" The branch began to crack. She sweated as the cat glared at her as if to say 'this is all your fault'.
"Now I'm pissed."
She free fell all the way to the ground and something caught her eye. In town there was a street brawl. The people in question looked tough. She was absorbed by thought until her sleeve caught on another lower branch and held her suspended four feet from the ground.
"My goodness! Thank Kami-sama that you're alive! Thank you so much!" Akiko handed Nekomaru to the old lady.
'It'd take more than that to hurt me. A whole lot more…'
"Hey. Obaa-san?"
"Yes?"
"Could you tell me how to get over there?" Akiko pointed in the direction she saw the street fight occur.
"Just follow all the signs leading to Midori Shika. (Green deer)" She nodded and grasped her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
"Thank you as well. Bye!" She waved to the lady and strode towards the town. She decided on first thing she had to do in town.
Take a damn shower.
---------------Later----------------
"This feels so much better!" her clothes had been hung to dry and she adorned a pair of shorts and a comfy shirt. She stretched her arms. She leaned out the window to watch the ruckus.
"I'll defeat you all!" The largest man shouted at the top of his voice.
"Screw you!" many yelled as they charged at each other.
'The large guy looks like he has no skill. But… There is a lot of brute strength in his moves. Could I defeat a guy like that?'
"Any others want to challenge me! Ha! I guess you're all just weaklings." He laughed confidently while flaunting a pair of gauntlets that covered his wrists. Three men were injured to the point of collapse. Other observers backed away, obviously intimidated.
Akiko raised her hand high above the crowd.
"You there come out where I can see you!" He yelled more causing the crowd to look nervous and step hastily away from her.
"So… All but a little boy are too scared to take me on?" She twitched in annoyance.
'Why does everyone mistake me for a guy?' Her face displayed a slight resentment at his comment as she glared at him.
"For your information I just happen to be a girl." She emphasized on the girl.
"A girl? Even more of a laugh!" He laughed haughtily as she gritted her teeth.
"I'm afraid you're about to be beaten. Mr. Over-confident." She charged toward him making it seem like a frontal attack. He held his arms in front of himself to block her attack. She grinned.
'At least he knows a defense stance. Maybe he isn't so dumb…'
She halted as she was about to release her ready fist into his gauntlets and drove a fist into his side. The man looked as if a fly had hit him.
She smiled.
'My really weak attack didn't work on him… Time for something a tad stronger…' She twisted her body into an ark shape as she back flipped and launched herself into the air above the combat uniformed man.
"Kage Kitsune! (Shadow fox)"She let out a cry.
"Goufubaka!" He positioned himself to lung at her neck to hit with bicep.
She held a half open palm toward him in her launched position and thrusted her other with great force at the man. The move generated a large amount of wind and forced him to shield. His eyes widened at his mistake. He left himself unguarded! He attempted to change his position but could not. Shadows had crept upon his body in the form of foxes. Their teeth bared.
The crowd was dispersing and Akiko found that clever. After all…
"What sorcery is this?" Her lips twitched as she descended near him.
"No sorcery. A trick of light. You're name is Inui Banshin correct?" She took pleasure in his shocked expression.
"Oh… That's right you haven't told me yet have you?" She gave a low whistle.
"My mistake" She gave a smile.
"Who… What are you?" she huffed.
"I already told you that I'm a girl. People these days have such poor memories." She placed a hand on her cheek with a fake guilty expression plastered on her face.
"Ah Well… I'd like to know if you know a boy… I mean a teen called Seta Soujiro."
"I heard of him. Part of the Juppongatana! I'll tell you how to find him if ya release me." She pondered on this.
'Well… Soujiro does come first…'
"Ok" She held her right hand toward him with her fingers curled. She stretched them slowly and Banshin gasped for breath.
"Tell me about this Juppongatana." He gave an angered look.
"Don't get so cocky! Where have you been anyway? Everyone's heard about them!" She jabbed a finger at herself.
"Do I look like I know?"
"Well… No but- and you-"
"Go on then." She prodded.
"They're this group of people who fought the Battosai" Akiko's eyes shone brightly.
"You mean my Sou-Chan is a hero! That's fantastic!" Banshin's face fell.
"Not exactly"
"Huh?"
"He's supposed to have been arrested."
"What!" Her yell almost broke his ear drums. He covered his ears hastily.
"Damn you! Battosai convinced them he was innocent and they convicted the Juppongata. Battosai even told Soujiro to take a long walk and never come back!" He smiled inwardly as she absorbed his every word. He hated to admit it but she was strong. She may even help him beat Sanosuke.
"But… Soujiro he wouldn't run away. He'd face his problems like a man! Anyway… Where's this Battosai guy anyway? I wanna kick his ass." She gave off a wave of fury.
"I just happen to know exactly where his is…" Banshin recalled his days with Enishi.
"Just follow me…" She followed him as if she was oblivious to the fact that you're not supposed to walk with strange men, especially if he's twice as large and street fights. Then again, she was 17 and knew how to take care of herself.
"I was also hoping you'd help me defeat this man called Sanosuke." But…Then again…
"Sure" Maybe she didn't.
-----------------another flash back…Sorry I love flashes!------------
"Sooo… If I run head first into a wall it really hurts." Soujiro nodded. His head was bandaged with gauze. The night sky made it hard to see his injuries. The stars above shone some light upon him.
"Can I try?" He stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"It hurts if you do that."
"So?" he sighed and pulled her to sit in front of him.
"It would hurt much more than this," He pinched her arm. "Isn't it painful?"
"Is it supposed to be?" She asked curious.
"Can't you feel it?" She tilted her head in a confused way.
"What happens if I say no?" Soujiro's eyes widened he held her hands in his.
"You really can't?" He looked so sorry for her that she found herself speechless. Was it some sort of crime? He looked so worried.
"I think it does hurt." Aching…
"Where?"
"Right here…" She gripped her yukata with a tight fist in the middle of her chest.
"I think I should tell you…"She looked at him. His eyes full of caring.
"That's the worst kind of pain."
The worst kind of pain,
Feeds on shame,
Muddles your brain,
Makes you die,
Loves your cry,
Continues till the end of time.
---------end of flash back-------------
"Soo… It's called The Kamiya Kasshin Dojo? He runs a dojo?" She looked at him incredulity.
"And that's where we're headed."