Chosha's Notes
OMG! I mean OMG! I actually updated! Hey there! Welcome back minna-san! I am So, so soooooooooo sorry that this chapter took as long as it did. First I get the dreaded writters block (argh!) then I lost half my stuff (dumb floppy disk) and then I thought stuff it and continued with my other stories cause I'm a lazy git. But, after years of waiting, here it it, the next chapter!
Shinya: finally!
CK: bugger off! You know that I could just stop the story altogether!
Shinya: (wide eyed) you wouldn't!
CK: not when I have so many people who don't want me to stop, but you have been warned, Shin!. Anyways, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last time, if you remember who you are, anyway after so long (blushes) for your reviews. Also, to anyone out there who's reading but not reviewing, thanks for watching out for this chapter!
Shinya: they still aren't reviewing though. They might hate it.
CK (bonks Shinya on the head): Shut it Shin! They're still reading and that's enough for me! If they hate it, they could always complain... actually, I'm surprised I haven't had any major complaints with Fading Futures. For a fist time story, I'm impressed!
Shinya (rubbing his head): before she starts rambling, lets get the party started!
Disclaimer:
Shinya (helps Nii-chan to hold back a struggling Chosha Kurenai): Look, she doesn't own it! Now scram before I set her on you!
Solicitors: scarpered.
Last time on Fading Futures:
Finally, they arrived in Kyoto and, after bumping into Aoshi (literally), they set off for the Aoiya. But Kenshin has something to think on after he meats up with Saito again.
Chapter Seventeen
Yoake
The inn was a large building in a traditional Japanese style with sliding doors and a tiled roof. Above the entrance hung a sign that pronounced 'Aoiya' in large kanji. It also had the look of a rather newly made and fashionable building. Misao slid open the door energetically. "Hey Gramps! We're back!"
An oldish man with a thick moustache dressed in a man's kimono and a sleeveless haori turned to them. "Misao! Aoshi - welcome back." He turned his eyes on to the Kenshin-Gumi standing in the doorway. "It's good to see you again. I'm glad you accepted the invitation to come, especially you Himura-kun. It's been so long. Misao, go fetch the others."
It wasn't seconds since the words left his lips that two girls and two boys burst through the doors into the room. When they saw them, their faces broke out into happy grins. "Kaoru! Himura! Everyone, you came! It's been ages!"
Shinya made sure he backed off hastily with Ayame and Suzume before the four other Onmitsu piled onto the Gumi and they got crushed, finding himself standing next to the stoic Okashira. He watched as they greeted each other energetically with a small smile. "Well, they sure don't lack the energy, huh, Shinomori-san?" He glanced up at the other man.
Aoshi snorted. "True"
Shinya suddenly found himself dragged into the crowd by Kaoru. It was only by sheer will power that he didn't blurt out an Oro in shock. Happily, Kaoru waved he hands at Shinya and the girls. "Those two are Ayame and Suzume - Dr Gensai's granddaughters. And this here is my newest student, Shinya Harada.
Everyone turned to look at Shinya. Nervously, Shinya raised a hand in greeting. "Er... Hey?"
Sanosuke gave him a glare. "Don't play shy and innocent, Ko-oni! Shin may look clueless, but he's the devil incarnate, I tell you."
Shinya glared. "Hey, I resent that comment! In no way do I look clueless! Stupid rooster."
Yahiko laughed. "Note he didn't deny he's like the devil incarnate."
Shinya blinked at him, trying to look innocent and failing miserably. "What's to deny? Innocent until proven guilty, Yahiko-chan"
"STOP CALLING ME CHAN!" Shinya just shrugged over-dramatically.
The Onmitsu laughed at the exchange. Finally, the man Misao called 'Gramps' spoke up. "Then I guess I'll have to introduce myself. I am Nenji Kashiwazaki, once one of the Oniwabanshu. However, I am referred to as Okina." He gestured to the other spies behind him. "Those two are Okon and Omasu." The two girls - one a tallish young woman with long hair and the other a little taller than Misao, hair tied into a bun - waved and said hellos. "And those two are Shiro and Kuro." Indicating the two boys. One was tall - about the same size as Sanosuke with a slim, muscular form and spiky hair, while the other was a broad Onmitsu with a strong jaw, who was even taller than the first male Onmitsu. "Of course, you have already met Misao and Aoshi."
Shinya decided to try and make a good impression. With a small bow, he said, "Thanks for the invite, Okina-san. I've gotta say, your inn looks great, even if it is only partly used for that."
Okina seemed to swell with pride at that. "Well, I must say it has been much better since it was rebuilt-"
"Well, it should!" Misao piped up. "We spent ages fixing it after those Juppon Katana attacked."
"Hm, I was told about that." Shinya said, "But you guys must be really strong to beat them, from what I heard."
"Yeah!" Misao made a victory V. Shinya grinned. Her hyperactiveness was infectious.
Okina turned to them again. "Anyway, you're just in time for lunch. Shiro and Kuro have made a feast in celebration."
Sanosuke and Yahiko were gone. Shinya sweat-dropped. "...I do hope you realise that if we don't hurry after them, there won't be a feast to see, let alone eat."
Everyone looked at each other for a second, before they bolted after them, Kaoru screaming "Don't you dare start without us you Jerks!" Shinya snorted with laughter as they scrambled, falling over each other, while Aoshi watched impassively, but his eyes somewhat warmer than before. They followed swiftly behind.
o0o
A cloaked figure stood at the top of a hill overlooking the bustling streets of Kyoto, the wind blowing the cloth to make billow around the person impressively. The face was covered by a wide hood, so only the mouth and chin could be seen, while intense, dark eyes glinted from the shadows and round the figures neck was a thin scarf of a deep, blood red. Beside the hooded figure stood three men. One of them was large and muscular, his biceps bulging without the presence of sleeves in his dark blue gi. Strapped to his back were two katana, that criss-crossed each other. The other two men were covered from head to toe in black gi and hakama, kneeling a little further back than the man and the other figure, their heads bowed, but they watched the figure carefully, to respond if the figure gave the order. But for now, the figure ignored the two servants and the man. The glinting eyes followed the movements of a group of people as they chatted and walked through the maze like streets. After a little while though, a smile graced the face, but it made the two kneeling men shiver.
"So, they have returned," the voice wasn't deep enough to be a man's, sounding a silky purr from within the cloak. It would have sounded seducing, able to talk birds into the figures hands if she wanted it to, yet it also sounded as deadly as a blade cutting through the air, skin and bone. "I have been waiting for this day…for so long…"
The man beside the figure inclined his head. "They have all returned, just as you had predicted."
The smile widened. "You do not know how I have longed for this day, the day I finally bring my plans into action. To take from them as much as they took from me…"
Suddenly, the figure threw back her head and laughed, causing even the largest man of the group to cower at the voice. This was not the sound of a humorous, warm laugh, but was as cold as ice and dark as a tomb. It was a laugh that sent the fear of the gods running through these men who served the dark cloaked figure. When the person laughed this laugh, it was like hearing the final bell toll. When the person laughed like this, it was a sure sign that someone was about to die a slow and painful death…
The figure snapped round, a cold fire blazing in those intense, raptor-like eyes. "Now is the time. Prepare your men. Our plans are set in motion tonight!"
They bowed low. "Shujin!" and all but vanished in haste to fulfil the figure orders.
The figure turned back to look down on the crowd again, watching as the group came to a halt by what looked like an inn of some sort. The smile was sinister. "You will be mine," she purred. "Come, come to my arms. Come to the arms of death."
The figure laughed once more before turning on a heel, the cloak billowing around her like a shadow as the figure descended down the hill into the shadows of the coming night.
o0o
"Wow! Shiro-Kun, Kuro-kun, I never knew you could cook so well. This stuff is great!"
Shiro grinned at the complement. "Thanks, Shinya-kun, but I've heard that you're quite the chef yourself."
Shinya snorted. "Maybe. I can cook some stuff, but ask me to cook anything else and I'm buggered."
The other's laughed. It was then that Shinya spotted Sanosuke eyeing the remaining rice ball on Shinya's plate. He snatched it up just as Sanosuke dived for it, sending him head long across the table and landing with a crash on the other side. Everyone went silent, until Sanosuke emerged from the other side of the table, glaring at Shinya. The boy just grinned and stuffed the rice ball in his mouth before Sanosuke could make a second attempt. Sanosuke gaped at him.
"Again! You did it again!" he cried, exasperated. "How the hell did you find out this time, Ko-oni?"
Shinya laughed. "Oh, please, what do you take me for? You do the same thing every mealtime. You're so predictable!" he patted the rooster on the head. "Now, if you're a good little rooster and be polite, I might let you be nice and get one next time."
Sanosuke growled obscenities under his breath.
Shinya's eyes widened. "Golly, I didn't think you knew that much stuff. I'm hurt that you would think of me like that Sano. I'm shocked, I tell you – shocked!"
Sanosuke sat there gaping like a fish. "How…How the hell does he do that! I wasn't even speaking that loud!"
Shinya smirked. "That's for me to know and you to go crying every night 'cause you'll never find out."
Misao laughed and high-fived the boy, who laughed along with her. Kenshin sweat-dropped. "He's just like Shishou, de gozaru…"
"Anyway, You guys have been really secretive yourselves," Kaoru said to the Onmitsu all seated round the table. "What have you all got planned for us anyway?"
Misao jumped to her feet. "Today we'll do it all in Misao's personal guided tour of Kyoto's greatest sights, because someone-" she gave Kenshin and Kaoru a hard look, causing the former to 'Oro' and the latter to blush. "Decided to disappear off back to Tokyo before we got to do it last time. Remember?"
Kaoru prodded her fingers together. "We already said we were sorry…"
Shinya grinned. "Sugoi! I've never been to Kyoto before. It's a good thing they didn't last time. Now I get to go too!"
Misao cheered. "All right! That's cool. We'll show you all the best sights in Kyoto!" she pulled out a bunch of papers from within the folds of her gi-like shirt and threw them down on the table. Shinya blinked and craned his neck to try to read then upside-down papers and almost sweat-dropped. Each and every one of them was guidebooks of one type or another.
Okina and Misao jumped at the guidebooks and pored over them with great glee on their faces. The look was sort of scary.
"Oooooo! The Temple of the Golden Pavilion! I wanna go there!" Misao proclaimed, loudly.
Okina shook his head. "No, no, I told you last time, Misao, the Silver Pavilion is much more elegant."
Misao pouted. But the look didn't last long and she was soon grinning again. "Oh, Lookie, Lookie! I wanna go there!" she jabbed at the map excitedly.
Sanosuke covered his ears with his hands. "Ugh! Someone tell the weasel-girl to shut up! She's so damn loud!"
Without looking back, Misao punched him over the head, but was obviously too excited about the trip to say anything in return. Okina was looking over her shoulder at the place she was pointing to. "Much better. The Katsura detached palace is meant to be very nice to behold, 'specially in spring-summer time. How about Kyoto imperial palace - Oo, and the Nijo castle?"
"How about you, Aoshi-sama?" Misao piped up, holding up the guidebook in front of Aoshi's face, who jerked back at little, blinking in surprise. That made Shinya blink too. Aoshi had actually made an expression! It was like, I don't know, the sky falling in!
Aoshi just nodded and pointed to a dot on the graph. "There, then."
Misao flipped the book to see where he was pointing. "Another temple, Aoshi-sama!" She said, half in exasperation. Aoshi's eyes seemed to shine with amusement, even though his face did not twitch. Shinya couldn't help himself.
"Were you just joking, Shinomori-san?"
Suddenly, about five or six hand's went to Aoshi's head, as if checking his temperature. Aoshi just glared.
After much debating and even a few scuffles about where to go, The group now headed out into the busy streets of Kyoto, with a very hyperactive Misao and Okina in the lead. Unfortunately for Okon, Omasu, Kuro and Shiro (though this was debatable) were busy running the Aoiya, so had to apologise that they could not come with them. However, Misao and Okina were more than ready to make up for it all. The way they were acting then, you could just tell that they were related. It was actually rather funny, watching them strut through the streets, pointing out some of the sights.
Apart from seeing some of the greatest things that Kyoto had to offer, the day passed rather smoothly until they came close to finishing their last destination for the day. Once more, a fight had broken out between Misao, Sanosuke and Yahiko about which they should see before they headed off home. Megumi, rolling her eyes, apologised to passers by who were looking rather shocked at the cloud of dust and fists that was forming behind her, while Okina sweat-dropped at their actions. Kenshin was Oroing, and Kaoru looked close to losing her temper. Shinya laughed at it all…
Until it hit him.
The sick, unnerving feeling of detachment fell over him, making him hurt all over and feel like he wanted to throw up. He staggered back into the wall, clutching his head and whimpered. Lights seemed to flash behind his closed lids.
Kenshin was the first to notice something was wrong. Hearing the quiet whimper, he looked round to see Shinya looking stark white, his body shaking as he held onto his head as though his life depended on it. Kenshin's eyes widened. He had never seen Shinya look so…so weak before.
"Shinya?"
The boy's eyes flew open and he gasped for breath, as if he hadn't been breathing at all. "Shinya? Daijobu de gozaru ka?" he reached out to touch Shinya's shoulder, to see if he was feeling okay, but to his surprise, the boy flinched away and straightened, Amethyst locking onto his own. His eyes seemed to flash with some conflicting emotions – was that fear he could see? But before he could properly register them they were gone. "I…"
Kaoru suddenly seemed to have caught onto the fact that not all was right and she came up to check the boy. "Is everything alright? You look a bit pale."
Shinya looked at them for a second, before seemingly pulling himself together and straightening, though Kenshin was a little unnerved by the amount of weight he rested on the wall, as if frightened he might fall over. "I'm fine…"
Kaoru peered into his face, a little concerned. "Are you sure? I've never seen you look so white."
Shinya nodded and forced a smile onto his face, though it didn't stay put for long. "It's okay, It happens a lot, I'm used to it. I…I think I just moved to fast. It happens sometimes."
Kenshin wasn't so sure about that. Sure, people get dizzy if they stand up to fast, but Shinya was already standing and he looked close to fainting. However, Shinya looked very uncomfortable with the attention. He decided to drop it…for now. "Well, If you're sure you're all right…"
Shinya nodded, glad that he was taking his word for it. He couldn't tell them what was really happening. That he was vanishing because something was about to happen…or not happen. However, the moment of danger had passed. He could feel himself whole again. The last thing he needed now was Kenshin and Kaoru getting suspicious of him. He knew he was looking a little stronger now. Plus he didn't feel like he needed to hold onto the wall to keep him on his feet. He smiled. "Hai! Daijobu!"
"Hmm…" Kenshin looked a little unsure, but dropped the matter
However, a sudden scream jolted them all from their thoughts – even Sanosuke, Misao and Yahiko stopped fighting mid punch to hear. Shinya frowned to Kenshin and Kaoru, both of whom looked startled, the whole thing they had seen seemed to have been swept from their minds. Ayame and Suzume clutched hold of Megumi's kimono in fear. "What was that?" Shinya asked.
Aoshi looked around, his eyes narrowed. "Trouble." He noted, his hand going to his sword tucked within his trench coat.
They didn't need to ask what the trouble was. The screams grew louder and the crowds parted in fear as a woman ran through the streets in a panic, her dark hair streaming out behind her. "Tasukete kure!" she shouted. "Please, please help me!" She caught sight of the group. Her eyes rested on the weapons they had – Yahiko with his Shinai, Shinya and Kaoru's Bokken, Kenshin's sakabato. She came to them and threw herself at Kenshin's knees. Kenshin Oroed loudly. "Please help me! There are men back there – they're trying to kill me!"
The words were barely out of her mouth when at least twenty men stormed across to them, swords drawn. One, who appeared to be the leader of then group, pointed his blade at them. "Give us the woman, and we'll let you live, little man." He growled. Kenshin's face was quite cold.
Kaoru pulled her bokken out. "What do you want her for?"
"Why the hell should we tell you. If you value your lives, you'd better give that girl to us or else!"
The woman shrank back and whimpered, tears of fear and panic running down her face. Yahiko growled. "As if, you big ugly!"
Sanosuke cracked his knuckles. "It ain't nice to demand stuff of other people by pointing a word at 'em. It makes me sick that you'd pick on a girl 12 on one don't seem like fair odds if you ask me."
The man looked as if he was about to chop Sanosuke's head off, but the glares of the other Oniwabanshu made him hesitate for a second. He snarled. "Fine then. You can just die with her!"
They pounced. Kenshin and Aoshi rushed forward and steel met steel. Shinya and Yahiko pulled the woman to her feet and told her to go with Megumi and the girls. Shinya turned to Yahiko. "We've gotta keep them of Megumi and the others."
Yahiko smirked. "Don't worry. Yahiko Myojin won't let them get past him!"
Kaoru brought her bokken down hard on the head of a man who tried to get past her, but had to dodge as another swung at her head. Kenshin and Aoshi had managed to hold off most of them, but these guy weren't just a bunch of thieves or bandits. They were trained and very strong – and seemed to know well how to launch group attacks. Misao kicked one in the head as he missed Kaoru, sending him crashing to the floor in a trail of dust. Okina smacked another in the face with his nun-chucks, but still they did not pull back and some slipped through towards Megumi, the girls and the strange woman. Ayame wailed. However, Shinya ducked a sword swing and caught the man in an upward swing of his bokken, smashing his jaw and sending him toppling backwards, but a second man thrust his sword towards his chest.
"Woah!"
Shinya spun to avoid it, the sword slicing through the material of his gi, but missed its target. Yahiko struck the man's arm away from Shinya, before swinging it hard at the man's legs. He stumbled long enough for Shinya to thrust his bokken at the man's exposed chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a cut off cry.
All in all, It had taken them all about three minutes or so until Kenshin had sent the last man crashing, unconscious, to the ground. They hesitated, waiting to see if any of them would rise up to fight again, but it seemed they were all down for the count. Around them, the people were crowded, looking confused, scared and were talking in hurried whispers. Kenshin turned to the nearest group. "Would you please fetch the police? These men will need to be taken in, de gozaru"
The group froze for a second, before hurrying off in the direction of the police station. Kenshin was sure that Saito would want to question them.
Meanwhile, Shinya approached Ayame and Suzume, who had their faces buried in Megumi's kimono. When he came close, they peered out at him, eyes shining fearfully.
"Have the bad men all gone?" Ayame asked waveringly.
Shinya nodded and ruffled the little girl's hair. "They're all gone now, they aren't gonna hurt anyone. Ken-nii has made them stop. It's Okay, you can come out now."
Ayame nodded tearfully and Shinya gave them a quick hug to comfort the frightened children. Beside them, the woman stood shakily to her feet. Shinya glanced over at the woman. She was quite tall – about the same height as Megumi, with long, dark hair that fell in waves down her back, though some of it was gathered in a knot behind her head, held back by an elaborate looking pin. Her Kimono looked as if it was made of fine silk of high quality – a jet black in contrast to pale, snow-like skin, an eastern, ruby coloured dragon wound it's was up her thigh. The obi was a dark crimson colour, like flames, tied in an intricate bow around the back. Round her shoulders was a blood-red shawl. However, what Shinya noticed the most was her eyes. Jet-black and dark as pitch, he felt he was looking down an endless tunnel. Cold and empty. Shinya couldn't help it. He shivered to look at them, the sick feeling close to the surface again. Ruthlessly, he pushed the feeling away again before it became another full-blown fit, but harder was it to push down the dark feeling of suspicion that had taken hold the moment he met the woman's eyes.
Sanosuke turned to the woman, his expression mirroring Shinya's feelings. "So, what the hell was that all about?" he kicked the nearest attacker with a toe. "Why were these guys chasing you?"
The woman turned to Sanosuke and shook her head slowly, tears forming in her eyes. Shinya immediately felt guilty for his suspicions of the woman...almost. But somethingat the back ofhis mind kept nagging at him. "They've been after me for some time now…" she said. Her voice was smooth, like honey. "My husband was a wealthy merchant, you see, but he died some time ago under mysterious circumstances. Since then, these men have been trying to attack me. I think it has something to do with gaining my late husband's fortune…" She bowed low to them. "Thank you so much for rescuing me. If it weren't for you, I might have died." She glanced at Yahiko and Shinya. "And how young some of you are – just children, yet so skilled."
Shinya blinked. "Hang on, how old do you think I am? I'm fifteen, you know."
Everyone face-vaulted.
"W-what!" cried Yahiko. "I though you were my age!"
"What!" Shinya spluttered. "Like hell I am! What doi you mean 'The same age as you!'" dammit, he hated when people thought he was just a little kid. He got it enough back home.
"Yah! First Himura, then his Shishou, now Harada-kun - What going on!" Misao whaled
Kaoru was the first to recover. She turned to the woman "What do you mean, for you're husband's fortune?"
Yahiko pointed to her. "Um…who are you, anyway?"
"Yahiko-kun!" Okina sounded scandalised, either by Misao's rudeness or the fact it was the fact the woman she was being rude to was stunningly beautiful, Shinya wasn't sure.
However, if the woman was displeased, she didn't show it. In fact, she took it quite good-naturedly. "The least I can do for my rescuers is to tell you my name." She said. She smiled. "My name is Yoake - Yoake Isuzu. Pleased to make you're acquaintance."
Shinya wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a rather malevolent light flash in those pit-like eyes and he shivered. Was it just him, or was their something strange about this Yoake character…?
TBC
Chosha's notesUgh! Sorry, sorry, sorry! I was having trouble with this chapter, so, as previously said, I apologise for the seriously late update on this. So don't hurt me if this went badly. However, please review.
To be honest, I'm not so fond of this chapter, but you'd skin me alive if I fiddled round with it any more. But I promise that I'll try better on the next chapter!
By the way, 'Shujin' means master (as in servant to master, not master of martial arts, etc). 'Tasukete kure' is basically a cry for help.
Next time on Fading Futures
Yoake invites the gang to her mansion on the outskirts of Kyoto for the festival! Woah, living the life of luxury. However, It seems the boys are feeling a little uneasy with the whole situation…next episode: Isuzu mansion
Ja ne for now!
Chosha Kurenai xXx
