Chosha's Notes

Konnichiwa Minna-san! Welcome back to Fading futures and the long awaited sixteenth chapter! (Round of applause) Ahem… aaaaaanyway, thank you to Inuwolf04, BattousaiGrl, Sofie, Shauntell, Willow Evenstar, Kristy-chan, Crazy Hyper Lady, HitokiriTaijiya, Lily of the Shadows and Hitokiri Musei for reviewing last time. I'm just sorry it's taking so long to think up a good way to present each part. It's much harder than in RuroKen and the Philosopher's stone, partly because I have to do the entire thing from scratch. I'm really glad you lot have stuck with this. It makes Shinya and the others so happy (sniff). Please, Keep those Reviews coming!

Anywho, enough from me - Lets get this show on the road!

Disclaimer:

(Shinya walks into the room to find Chosha Kurenai beating up the solicitors with a sakabato, who have been hovering over her since she started writing Fading Futures. Shinya looks confused towards Nii-chan, who is edging out of the way.)

Shinya: What's up with CK?

Nii-chan: The solicitors told her she had to do a disclaimer again.

(Shinya double-takes, then grabs Nii-chan, the computer and the readers and pulls them out of the room for there own safety) They have GOT to have a death wish! She doesn't have that big a hold on her temper!

(Solicitors finally stagger out of the room and fall flat on their faces in front of them)

Shinya (to Solicitors): It's your own fault, you know.

Nii-chan (sweat-drops): Er… CK doesn't own RK.

CK (enters behind him, vain throbbing and sakabato in hand, grinning dementedly): What was that, Nii-chan?

Nii-chan and Shinya: Eep!

CK: Good boys. Now… (Snatches back computer from Shinya)

Last time on Fading Futures:

Everyone get on board the boat to Kyoto. Shinya and Sanosuke had problems with a sea sick Yahiko, but later, Kenshin and Kaoru have a little heart to heart and Kenshin is finally able to let go…

Chapter Sixteen

Reunions

Everyone cheered when land came into sight, especially Yahiko, who had spent most of the trip throwing up over the side of the boat. Shinya rushed to the front to get a good look. He was finally going to get to meet real live ninja! And the Okashira at that! Misao and Aoshi were going to meet them at the port. From there, they would take a carriage into the main streets of Kyoto itself. Shinya couldn't wait!

The excitement must have shown on Shinya's face, because seconds later Megumi came up to him. "You look ecstatic," she observed.

Shinya glanced round with a grin, leaning on the metal railings as he watched to upcoming land. Somehow, he didn't feel stupid telling the Lady-doctor. She had grown something of an older sister figure in the little time Shinya had known her. "Well sure I am. I've never been to Kyoto before. Ever since I was really small, I always wanted to travel, see the world. Plus, I've never got to see Onmitsu before, and the Oniwabanshu themselves are one of the most infamous groups of Ninja."

Megumi smiled slyly. "Well, lets hope you don't get too disappointed then!"

"What, me?" Shinya said in mock surprise. "Never!"

The port itself was crowded with hundreds of people. Shinya guessed that the festival was an exceptionally busy time for tourists. Children and adults alike waved up at them as the ship finally came into harbour. Shinya scanned the crowds to see if he could see anyone who fit the descriptions that Kaoru had given him of their escorts, until he realised how stupid it was trying to look for ninja in a crowd in the first place. Shinobi were renowned for their abilities for blending in unnoticed. How else were they to do their jobs as spies?

The anchor was dropped, along with the large ramp and everyone headed towards the exit. Kaoru had to grab hold of Kenshin when something streaked passed her, almost knocking her into the water. She glared as the blur came to a halt – Yahiko had been desperate to get his feet on solid ground, that was for sure! Shinya wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel sympathetic.

Getting off the boat was one thing. Finding Misao and Aoshi…not so easy. The dock was packed with people; it was hard to breathe without knocking into someone. Kenshin and Kaoru had to hold tightly to the hands of Ayame and Suzume, lest they get lost in the crowds, while the others tried to stay as close as possible so they wouldn't get separated. So, it was just Shinya's luck that a large man who looked as if he trained to be a sumo wrestler knocked into him hard, sending him falling into another person, who stopped him landing on the floor with a hand to the back of his shoulder.

Shinya gasped as he rubbed his side where the sumo-like man had knocked him, glad he hadn't fallen or he would have been crushed underfoot like an ant. He turned to thank the person who had saved him from that fate. He found himself staring at a black garbed chest. Looking up, Shinya's amethyst eyes met icy-cool blue ones. He blinked and gasped.

The man had jet-black hair that fell about his rather handsome face, framing it with long, yet somehow neat bangs. He looked down at him unsmilingly, though Shinya didn't get the feel he was angry with him. He was wearing a long, white trench coat over black clothing. Shinya gulped. He had literally just fallen into the Okashira of the Oniwabanshu himself – Aoshi Shinomori!

"S-Sumimasen, Shinomori-san!" He gasped. Aoshi raised an eyebrow. Of course, Shinya berated himself; Aoshi wouldn't know who on earth he was.

"Wow! You look just like Himura!" Piped up another voice. Shinya looked round to find a girl who looked surprisingly like Yukie it was uncanny. Shinya had to rub his eyes just to make sure. She had long black hair tied back into a braid down her back, her young face framed by shorter bangs. She had brilliant green eyes that sparkled with energy and, Shinya noticed, she was around the same height as himself, give or take a few inches. She was dressed in what looked like a short blue kimono-like shirt and shorts lined with white.

"What?" Shinya blurted as it dawned on him what she had said.

"You look like Himura! If it wasn't for the hair – doesn't he look just like him, Aoshi-sama!" Good lord, this girl had more energy than Yukie on a sugar high! Shinya gaped. He had to wonder how someone could talk so fast and still retain their natural complexion at the end of it. Suddenly she seemed to notice something. "Ooo, Aoshi-sama, there they are! Hey you–" and she grabbed Shinya by the ear, dragging him through the crowds towards Kenshin and the others, yelling for them. Everyone looked around, their faces breaking into smiles as the saw the friends long unseen.

"Wow, Himura, I didn't know you had family!" she finally said, waving towards Shinya, who had, by this point, crossed his arms in annoyance, still half bent over as Misao still had a firm hold of his ear.

Kenshin laughed. "He's not, Sessha is afraid. That's Shinya Harada – he's the new student at the dojo that Kaoru-dono told you about."

'Really! Kaoru-san! Your dojo's getting back on track then?"

But before Kaoru could answer, Shinya tugged on the younger girl's sleeve. "Hate to break the reunion… but do you mind… ear…"

"Woops!" Misao let go of him, allowing Shinya to straighten up and rub at the sore appendage. Sanosuke and Yahiko laughed. Shinya glared, but his eyes glittered mischievously.

"Oh, would you like to try it? Here!" Shinya reached up so fast they couldn't stop him and yanked them down by the ears. They squirmed, yelling at him to lay off while the other's laughed.

Kenshin turned to Aoshi, who stood silently near by. "Konnichiwa Aoshi" Kenshin said politely. Aoshi nodded to him.

"Battosai," He acknowledged. Yes, never a man of many words was Aoshi. Still, at least this time he wasn't attempting to kill him – they had sorted out their promised battle on Mount Hiei.

Meanwhile, Shinya was getting more and more nervous as Misao kept comparing him to Kenshin. "I mean, he's got the eyes and everything!" She was saying. She turned to Shinya. "Were did you say you were from?"

"Yokohama…" Shinya sighed. He was starting to wonder how such a hyper girl could be one of the Oniwabanshu. Perhaps she was a better fighter than she was a spy? Anyway, if he didn't want people to get too suspicious of him, he was going to have to move the convocation in the direction it should be going in. "So, Misao isn't it? Apart from the little incident with the ear, It's nice to meet you."

"Oops, yeah, sorry about that…" she said with a small laugh, "Nice to meet you too!"

Shinya turned to Aoshi nervously. Kami, the man just seemed to radiate authority. He was the type of man you felt you had to speak to respectfully. "Um… sorry about falling into you, Shinomori-san. Thanks for the help though."

Aoshi seemed to accept the apology, while Yahiko and Sanosuke stared at him. "You fell into him?" sniggered Sanosuke. Shinya glared at him.

"You try keeping on two feet after getting knocked over by someone who could pass for a sumo, Ondori-atama!" he snapped. He ignored the surprised look on his face at the rather scathing retort. It was way too warm and crowded here and that tended to make Shinya feel a little cranky. However, he tried to liven up a little as Misao got introduced to Ayame and Suzume, who she seemed to take an instant liking to. But unless you had a heart of pure steel, the girls were too cute not to like!

Finally, much to Shinya's approval, they finally managed to get out of the crowds and take a carriage towards Kyoto. Everyone was talking (or arguing, as it seemed to be between Misao, Sanosuke and Yahiko. Mostly it was along the lines of "Weasel-girl" "I am not a weasel you stupid rooster" "She has a point, Sanosuke" "Shut up, Yahiko-chan" "Don't call me CHAN!") about how things have been, except for Aoshi, who didn't say much unless a direct question was made to him. Shinya found he couldn't add much to it for the moment, seeing as he didn't know about some of the things they spoke about, so he mostly listened as he gazed out the window to watch Kyoto making its way nearer and nearer.

Shinya felt himself smiling. This was the place where operation: get together was going to reach its final stage…

o0o

Kyoto, to Shinya, was a labyrinth of walls and maze-like streets that, if he hadn't been following Misao, Aoshi and the Kenshin-Gumi, he would have got lost in ten seconds flat. The streets were full of people wearing traditional Japanese clothing that in some cases looked like works of art rather than clothes. The streets were lined with winding alleys, dead ends and shops of all kinds – tea, fruits, books, tools, you name it, they had it! Everywhere he looked he saw decorations—gaily painted wind socks fluttering in the breeze, little shrines springing up everywhere surrounded with flowers. As they passed neared the river, he could see a long line of festival carts and crowds of children surrounding them. In some of the small marketplaces they passed, puppet theatres had sprung up. Shinya noticed puppeteers were practising. They looked a little like the punch and Judy shows Shinya had seen as a little child when he had gone to England on holiday. He would have loved to stay and watch the miniature samurai and geishas in their old-fashioned dress talk and fight with one another as if they were real, but he didn't think getting lost would help on his first day in Kyoto.

While there were walking, Shinya chatted with Misao. He found out she was a about two years older than him and that she was the kind of person that just seemed to make you more energetic just by being close too. Shinya questioned her about life as a ninja. He had always been interested in Ninja since he was little and his grandpa told him stories about them, but he never knew what it would actually be like to be one (though when he was small he used to pretend). Misao told him all about the Onmitsu: Okon, Omasu, Kuro and Shiro, who he would meet at the Aoiya. As Shinya was showing so much interest, she even stated that he should ask 'Gramps' about becoming one himself. Shinya was greatly tempted, but he knew he couldn't, once his 'job' was finished.

On the other hand, she bombarded him with questions about western things he would have experienced had he really lived in Yokohama. Shinya told her about a few things such as the trains and cameras, but subtly sidestepped any direct questions about anything that got too close to his life before meeting the Kenshin-Gumi. He was sure Aoshi had noticed, but thankfully, he didn't comment.

It was no time at all that Shinya found himself to be friends with the girl. She reminded Shinya more of some of the girls' back home, rather than most of the women who were in this era. He guessed it came from the culture before the Bakumatsu. He had to admit, even though she still amazed him with her hyperness, she seemed like the perfect person to partner up with if he was matchmaking. He seriously considered telling her about the Kenshin-Kaoru stuff.

Kaoru finally turned to Misao. In a low voice, she said, "So Misao-chan, how are things going with Aoshi then?"

This got Shinya's attention, his eyes sparkling. Misao and Aoshi? Somehow, it did seem oddly right, those two together. As they say, opposites attract. Misao's smile slipped a little.

"He's better than he was," she admitted. "At least, he's not spending all of his time in the temple anymore. And he does seem to be a little more open with us now, but… he still hasn't smiled yet! I think I saw his lips twitch a few days ago, but, it could have been a trick of light."

"He could have been," Megumi said, "Though the idea of him smiling at all seems odd to me."

"It so does not!" Misao cried indignantly.

"Have you tried tickling him yet?" Shinya suggested.

They paused for a second, thinking about how that picture would look and burst out laughing, causing Sanosuke and Yahiko to look at them strangely.

Meanwhile, Kenshin had placed a bandage over his left cheek to cover his scar. It didn't matter how long had passed, memories of the Hitokiri Battosai would be fresh in peoples minds. Coupled with the fact that Kenshin had come here to fight once again only a year before, that memory would be even clearer. Somehow he didn't think the stares would let him have a very enjoyable time (he got enough of that with the hair) and that was the least that could happen if someone saw the scar. It wouldn't be hard to put two and two together to find that the red haired rurouni and the Legendary Hitokiri were one and the same. Not everyone would take the truth of his identity so passively as Kaoru, Yahiko and Shinya had done. Even Sanosuke had challenged him to a fight when he first found out – though that might have had more to do with what had happened to Sozo Sagara rather than what he himself had done.

Still, he didn't let that bother him for the moment, as he watched his friends chatting and Misao pointing out different things on the stalls. It was strange, being back in Kyoto again, but what was even stranger and had Kenshin almost reeling was the fact that he wasn't here to fight. Of the times Kenshin had been in Kyoto, once was during the Bakumatsu and once was during the fight with Shishio. Never in his life did he think he would come back again for something as fun and trivial as the star festival. He half wondered whether he should visit his Shishou while he was here, but mentally cringed away from the thought. Last time he had met with him, Hiko had told him not to 'come crawling back to him if he ever had similar problems'. Kenshin didn't know whether the man was joking or not. He never could tell.

Besides, Hiko didn't live as a hermit for nothing.

Still, he might go visit him anyway. Despite the guy having an ego the size of Japan itself, Hiko still taught him the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. If it weren't for him, Kenshin would have most likely died from the bandit attack that had killed everyone else in that slave group. And he wouldn't be here now, watching his friends laughing and joking, or see the radiant smile from the one girl he would give up everything to protect.

As they were walking, Kenshin felt a familiar ki. He stopped and looked down the shadowy alleyway at his side. Leaning on the wall of the ally was a man, dressed in a police uniform, smoking on a cigarette. He had a longish face with dark hair, four thick strands falling over it. Amber, slightly arrogant eyes watched him. Kenshin recognised him immediately.

"Battosai." He said.

Kenshin turned to face him. "Saito. Sessha thought you were still alive. You aren't the type of man who would die in a fire like that." The ex-Shinsengumi captain smirked.

"I never thought I'd see you back in Kyoto, Battosai," he said. "Ah well, I guess all good things have to come to an end."

Kenshin decided to ignore that. If he got angry at everything Saito said, he would still be here by next year, and then some. "What do you want, Saito."

Saito just looked back at him coolly. "I see your manners haven't improved."

"I respect those who deserve it."

Saito just smirked and puffed a smoke ring before stubbing it out on the wall. "I still patrol here, Battosai, because, unlike you, I still have work to do. Kyoto may look safe at the moment, but there are still those who supported Shishio still at large. I'm here to make sure nothing happens during the festival."

Kenshin felt his stomach clench at those words. His eyes narrowed. "What do you—"

"KENSHIIIIN!"

"Oro!" Kenshin spun round to find Kaoru standing with her hands on her hips a little ahead of him.

"What are you doing daydreaming? The others have already gone ahead of us!"

Kenshin glanced round again at the ally, but was surprised when he didn't see any sign of Saito except the cigarette stub still smoking on the ground. He guessed that Saito was not planning to show himself to the others then. He guessed he should feel privileged if the baka didn't annoy him so much. Still, what he said made him feel a little uneasy.

But he didn't have much time to think about that as Kaoru grabbed him by his ponytail and began dragging him painfully after her, mumbling about his daydreaming got them left behind again, which was barely audible over Kenshin's stream of Oros.

It wasn't long before they caught up with the others and closed in on the Aoiya. In Kenshin's opinion, it looked a lot bigger than the first time he had seen it. Then again, it had been knocked down during the ambush of the Juppon Katana members. It was partly his fault, therefore, that it had to be re-built in the first place. However, Misao had said in her letter that the Aoiya was working loads better than before, so he didn't feel so guilty.

Misao looked to Shinya, who looked slightly surprised it was an inn that they had come to. "This is it, Shinya-kun! Welcome to the Aoiya!"

To be continued…

Chosha's notes.

Um… I hope I wasn't too OOC at all. Sorry if I was, didn't mean to be. I just seem to have problems sticking to character, even one of my own. For instance, Shinya was meant to be more like Kenshin, sort of how he is at the start of Fading Futures. Now he's got more of me in than I thought possible!

You know, after I posted the chapter where Shinya hears about the Oniwabanshu and they get the letter and everything, I had someone ask if it would have a Shinya-Misao paring. (You know who you are). But, I think Aoshi-Misao fans would kill me. Plus, Shinya already has a Girlfriend back in his time. Though Yukie was based on Misao a little, with a mix of Kaoru, I couldn't have Shinya cheat on her. I'm not that kind of writer. Firstly, I think Nii-san would kill Shinya if he did that

(Nii-chan: Damn right!)

Secondly, Yukie would kill me and Shinya wouldn't help save me from the violent beating

(Shinya: If I tried, she'd kill me too. S'not my fault you made her so much like Misao and Kaoru!)

Lastly, I'd bodge it up anyway, as I don't want to see Shinya cheat on Yukie – specially since he is uncannily like me in nature!

Reviewer Shauntell did say she wasn't sure about the boat thing, as on the map, Kyoto seems more inland. I bet loads more spotted that as well, so I thought that I'd tell you why I did that. Not only did I get a cute KK moment in there, but I was also partly following the journey that Kaoru and Yahiko made to Kyoto to get Kenshin back. They, on that, took the train (or so it says in the manga for the back trip – I just reversed it) from Shinbashi to Yokohama, then took a ship to Kyoto. (Shrugs) Well, I'm sure Watsuki-sama knows much more about Japan's layout than me, who has never been to Japan, unfortunately, so I stuck with that way to travel. Sorry if I confused anyone with that over the last few chapters.

Anything I missed or you want to comment on? Don't hesitate to review and ask me. I promise to get back to you with any answers you might need. Even if you don't have any questions, please review anyway and tell me what you think.

Next time on Fading Futures:

Shinya gets to meet the rest of the Kyoto-based Ninja clan and they all have a taste of a normal life in Kyoto. But wait one cotton-picking minute – who the hell is she? Next episode: Yoake

Ja ne for now, Minna-san! See you next time!

Chosha Kurenai xXx