Chosha's notes
Konnichiwa minna-san, and welcome back to Fading Futures. Thank you all who reviewed last time. I'm glad none of you decided to kill me for that very late update (though you were all damn close, I tell you.) But, as you can see, I haven't abandoned the story and hopefully I won't get the dreaded writer's block again. I have, unfortunately, though, started exams (oh the horror!) so I now have that filling up some of my writing time. Ugh! But, anyways, here is chapter eighteen!
Disclaimer: Ugh! Why me! Why me! (Bangs head on table) I don't own either the Manga or the Anime of RK, so bugger off!
Last time on Fading Futures
During Misao's grand tour of Kyoto, the gang saved a woman named Yoake Isuzu from her pursuers, but Shinya's got a bad feeling about this particular woman…
Chapter Eighteen
Isuzu Mansion
After the incident in the street where they had saved the woman Yoake from a rather gruesome death, the Kenshin-Gumi found them-selves back in the Aoiya, trying to work out what could have caused them to start attacking the woman in the first place. At first, Okina had offered to take the woman back home, just in case anything else happened, until a servant of some kind ran up to her and, after giving them a lot of thanks for saving his mistress got her home again. He had said he had got split up from his mistress in the crowd, which was quite understandable – what with the crowds that had come for the festival. However, that was several hours ago and darkness was beginning to fall. Kaoru, Misao, Yahiko and the other Onmitsu (minus Aoshi) had already turned in for the night. Sanosuke was trying to goad Aoshi into playing dice with him, though failing miserably, while Kenshin – who was just too good to play against anyway - sat quietly drinking his tea and smiled at Sanosuke's antics.
(CK note: In the manga, Kenshin always guessed the roll correctly, so I'm going with that, as it looks like Kenshin loses on purpose in the anime. Well, that's what I think, anyway…)
Shinya, however, sat idly staring into his teacup, trying to analyse the strange sense of foreboding he had got from the rich woman. Perhaps it was because he had had another of his fits mere seconds before she arrived, and therefor became a little paranoid anyway, but he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious of her. He sighed. Perhaps he just needed a second opinion…
"Daijobu, de gozaru ka?" asked Kenshin, who had overheard the soft sigh from the younger boy. Shinya gave a start.
"Nani? Oh…no, nothings wrong. Just thinking…" He took at sip of his tea and tried not to pull a face because it was now stone cold. Note to self, he thought as he wrinkled his nose, next time, drink the tea before spacing out. Shinya glanced at Kenshin. Well, he wanted a second opinion on Yoake, so why not ask Kenshin? After all, Kenshin's Ki sensing was twice that of Shinya (who, of course, was not fully trained yet.) so he might have got a better reading on her. Licking his lips nervously, eyes fixed on the tatami mat, he said, "Ne, Kenshin?"
"Hai?"
"Ano…W…what do you think of this Yoake Isuzu person, anyway?"
"Hm…" Kenshin put his cup down and thought for a moment. "Sessha…is not overly sure about her himself, de gozaru." He admitted after a moment. "Why do you ask?"
Shinya shifted a little as the room went quiet as Sanosuke shut up to listen. However, he took a deep breath and decided to tell them of his own suspicions, just in case. "Well…I dunno, but… I just got this feeling off her, when I looked in her eyes. They were…blank - emotionless. Perhaps it was just cause she was scared, but…Maybe its just me, but there's something up with her…"
Kenshin and Sanosuke exchanged a look and, for a moment, Shinya thought they would just laugh at him. However, much to his surprise, they both looked thoughtful. "You know…Shinya does have a good point," Kenshin said after a moment. "There is something strange about her. Sessha doesn't know what it is, though. It was almost as if she recognised us, but Sessha has never seen her before."
"I definitely haven't," Sanosuke said. "Che, I think I'd remember somethin' like that. I haven't heard of the name Isuzu, either." He crossed his arms. "Looks like we're gonna have to keep an eye on that broad"
"I'll have the Oniwabanshu look into it." Aoshi said, causing everyone to jump and stare at the Okashira. That was the most Shinya had ever heard the guy say. "I must agree with Battosai and the child – something seems…wrong with the woman."
"I hope we're wrong," Kenshin sighed, and took a sip of his tea, leaving everyone to be lost in their own thoughts.
o0o
Shinya woke the next morning to a loud commotion coming from somewhere down stairs. He blinked; wondering what all the noise was about. It wasn't the sounds of anyone in trouble, but it sounded like Misao was excited about something. Shinya groaned after a moment and attempted to throw his covers over his head in a vain effort to block out the sounds. Ever since his fit yesterday, Shinya had been feeling rather fragile, for lack of a better word. He knew that the Talisman's power had diminished and now Shinya was spending a lot of time fighting off the awful feelings before they became full-blown attacks. In other words, Shinya felt tired, even though he had managed to get several hours of sleep in last night. However, even with the blankets round his head, he could still here the commotion from the group, so gave it up as a bad job.
Sleepily, Shinya shoved off the blankets and, rubbing his eyes, began to dress himself in a navy gi and pale blue hakama and, sliding open his bedroom door, stumbled down the stairs.
When he reached the main room, he found himself standing, one hand on the banister, blinking rather stupidly at the sight in front of him. Kenshin was holding some type of letter and everyone was staring over his shoulder (minus Aoshi, who remained seated and sipping on his tea as if this was a normal occurrence). Misao was talking very fast and excitedly about something, while Sanosuke complained how loud she was being. Ayame and Suzume, who seemed to have recovered from their fright from yesterday, were cheering about something. Only Aoshi acknowledged him as he entered the room – a small, curt nod of the head in his direction, which Shinya returned, before looking over the group again. Running his fingers through his still bed-tousled hair, Shinya decided to break into…whatever it was and find out what on earth was going on.
"Chotto!" he said, but no one heard him. Annoyed (he was still a little grouchy from being disturbed and the fact he felt bad anyway), Shinya took a deep breath. "OI!"
Everyone immediately fell silent and turned to look at Shinya. "What's going on?" he asked, glad to have finally got their attention (and the ability to think over the noise once more.)
Misao, in perfect Misao style, was the first to recover. "Ohayo, Shinya-kun." She said cheerfully, "We just got a letter from that woman we saved yesterday. She's inviting us for a tour round her mansion."
"You mean that Yoake person?" Shinya asked, his eyebrows raised as he accepted the letter from Kenshin to have a look at what it said. The writing was on rather fine looking paper, written in a rather elegant hand that made Shinya's writing look like hen scratchings.
Dear my rescuers, (it said)
I would like to thank you for the help you gave to me the other day. In gratitude, I would like to invite you to Isuzu Mansion for a guided tour and free access to any luxury I can give to you. At ten O'clock today, a carriage will arrive to transport you to my humble abode. I sincerely hope that you will attend, as I feel indebted to you for all you did for me.
My thanks again,
Yoake Isuzu
"Wow…she seems sort of desperate to make it up to us, huh?" Shinya said, wide eyed as he looked down on the paper.
"Doesn't give much room for a disagreement, either, does she?" Okina noted.
"Aw, come on Gramps, it'll be fun," Misao said, cheerfully. "I mean, how many times can you go to see a mansion, anyway?"
Sanosuke gave Kenshin a side-glance. "Why do I get the feeling its gonna be that Izu episode all over again?" Kenshin sweat dropped at that.
"Oro…"
Kaoru just smiled. "It can't be all bad," she said, brightly. "And anyway, we're just going to be visiting, aren't we? I'm sure it'll be fine," she gave Sanosuke and Yahiko a hard glance. "As long as you guys behave this time." She growled at them.
Shinya grinned as they coward, all weariness forgotten. "Why, what did you guys do this time? Blow up the place?"
"Ha, ha, very funny, Ko-oni," Sanosuke grumbled.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was very quiet as he watched the group argue good-naturedly, unsure about the whole thing. Something…something didn't quite feel right, just like Shinya had said the night before. He wasn't sure whether to trust the woman or not. Kenshin bowed his head, playing with the leather wrappings of his sakabato. Either way, he would stay on guard and watch. Whatever happened, he was not going to loose them. Whatever happened…
Everyone was interrupted when the inn door opened and an old, balding man dressed in very smart western clothing stepped through. For a moment, everyone turned and blinked.
"I'm sorry to intrude," said the man, "But I am here to collect the group who saved Yoake-sama yesterday. My mistress asked me to accompany you." He bowed. "My name is Kagehisa Mazaki. I have a carriage waiting. My mistress awaits your arrival."
"I guess we're going then?" asked Megumi.
"Ooo, please, Ken-nii, can we go?" asked Ayame excitedly.
Kenshin hesitated, then nodded. "I guess so… that is, if Kaoru-dono wants to," he added.
Kaoru blushed a little at the gentlemanly thought, but smiled. "Alright, lets go."
"Wow, cool, I've never been to a mansion before!" Misao said, happily. She grabbed hold of Aoshi. "This'll be fun, ne, Aoshi-sama?" Somehow, Aoshi's eyes, to Kenshin, seemed to almost melt at the hyperactive girl…almost.
Mazaki waited patiently as the gang quickly got together their things for the trip. After about ten minutes, they were finally ready to go and headed outside to see a rather fine looking carriage headed by two elegant black stallions. It was jet black with rich looking deep purple velvet curtains draped over the windows, making them think of some of the expensive items owned by the rich men they had already come into contact with, Like Jusanro Tani, Kanryu Takada or even Yutaro. The door of the carriage was marked with some sort of seal, a dragon surrounded by sakura, if Shinya noted it correctly.
"Hey, I've seen that symbol before!" Misao pointed to the crest.
Shinya glanced at her, confused. "You have?"
"Yeah, but I can't remember where…" she added, frowning with thought. "Oh yeah! It belongs to the Isuzu shipping company. It recently got started up a few years back. Hey, Old man," she yelled over to the messenger, "You didn't tell us that Yoake-san worked for that company."
The old man turned round. "Ah, but she doesn't," the man said, looking over at them with a sly smile. "She owns it."
"NANI!" They all gasped.
"After her husband, Hayao Isuzu, died, Yoake-dono has been working hard to keep the company in business. She works so extremely hard; it's hard not to worry about the mistress at times." Mazaki nodded and opened the carriage door for them. "Now, If you would step this way…"
Ayame and Suzume cheered and dashed forward, clambering into the carriage, giggling. The other's looked at each other, before grinning and following the girls into the coach. It was like a tardice, were Shinya's first thoughts on their transportation. Even though it had looked relatively small on the outside, it was big enough to fit himself, Kenshin, the girls, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Megumi, Misao, Aoshi and Okina in their snuggly. Seconds later, Mazaki climbed up into the drivers seat and, with a flick of his whip, the horses began to trot and the carriage made its way through the busy streets.
"Wow, this is going to be so much fun. I can't wait to see what Yoake-san's mansion looks like!" Kaoru said to Misao with a giggle. Shinya saw Kenshin give her a small smile.
It wasn't long until the coach made its way through a pair of large, intricate designed gates and into a beautiful courtyard surrounded by pale whitewashed walls. They all attempted to look out at the mansion through the windows in awe.
The mansion was of western style with white walls and what seemed like thousands of windows spanning the front. One of the windows – a large round one situated high above the front door in a tower-like room was made of stain-glass, depicting a rampant red dragon, similar to the one on the symbol for the Isuzu company. The doors themselves were made of dark oak, under an archway, covered in intricate carvings of sakura and other blossoming plants. The door handles glinted gold in the sun's light. The roof was a deep brown-red colour and their seemed to be a few turret-like rooms, one of which seemed to be some sort of auditorium, if Shinya hadn't missed his guess.
All in all, the building was breath taking. Even Shinya, who had grown up in the bustling high-tech city of modern-day Tokyo, complete with its sky-scraping buildings, felt completely awed by this building in front of them.
Mazaki climbed off the front of the carriage and opened the door for them with a bow. "Welcome to Isuzu mansion."
"Woah, this place is huge!" Sanosuke said with a long low whistle.
"It's got to be bigger than Yutaro's mansion!" Yahiko added, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Misao jumped up and down on the balls of her feet happily. "Wow oh wow! Look Aoshi-sama! It's so pretty!"
Aoshi remained silent. However, no one but perhaps Kenshin and Shinya seemed to notice as everyone else was talking rapidly about how beautiful the mansion looked.
However, everyone was cut off when the front doors opened wide by two servants and a woman stepped out. Shinya had to do a double take – this woman was the one they had saved only the day before. But by Jove, did she look different! The woman no longer looked scared or terrified, but regal and stood tall with an elegance that not even the emperor himself could pull off. Her Hair was pulled up into a bun at the back of her head, held together by two intricate gold pins with rubes at the top, though some of her hair curled around her ears in long ringlets that reached her shoulders. She was wearing a red kimono that had blue flames rising from the bottom and her sleeves. Around her slim waist was a cream coloured obi marked with sakura blossoms that was tied in an complicated bow at the back that just bewildered the males in how it was possible to do such a thing. She wore a blue shawl about her shoulders and high geta on her feet. Her lips were a blood red, and her eyelids were covered in a pale green. She seemed more like the millionaire that she must be. She seemed to glide as she came out to meet them.
"Welcome, my friends to my humble abode," she said in her silk-soft voice. "I hope that the journey was quite comfortable?"
"Very!" Misao said. "It was like being one of those rich people!"
Yoake smiled softly. "I'm glad. I'm also happy you could make it. I never truly got to thank my rescuers for the other day. Firstly, would you please tell me your names, so that I may know whom to thank for saving my life? My companion was so worried for me, that we never did get properly introduced."
"Of course!" Kaoru said pleasantly. "I'm Kaoru Kamiya, assistant master of Kamiya Kasshin-ryu, and these are my students, Yahiko Myojin and Shinya Harada."
"Sessha is Kenshin Himura, de gozaru."
"My name is Nenji Kashiwazaki, but people call me Okina"
"I'm Misao Makimachi! And that's Aoshi Shinomori-sama!"
"Sanosuke Sagara."
"I'm Megumi Takani, and these two are Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan."
Yoake smiled radiantly at them. "Welcome all of you! I hope that one day I will be able to make it up to you for everything you have done for me. However, for now, if you would step this way and I will show you around my mansion." She led the way through the ornate doors past the two servants who stood either side. After glancing at each other, they followed her through and what they saw took their breath away.
The entrance hall was huge, easily twice the size of the dojo with a high ceiling and an extravagant chandler. A marble staircase led to the upper floors with dark oak banisters that shone, so smooth were they polished. Around the walls were occasional westernised statues made of white marble and the floor was decorated by a mosaic shaped like a sun that seemed to reflect the light from the large windows around the room. Yoake allowed them all time to stare in wonder at the place.
"What do you think?" she asked with a smile. "It had been built for my husband two years ago. The best builders and craftsmen worked on it for months. Even after he died, I could not leave this place after so much work went into it."
"Its amazing!" Kaoru said happily gazing around with shining eyes.
"It's even bigger than Yutaro's!" Ayame exclaimed.
Shinya glanced over at Yahiko with a smirk. "One of these days you're going to have to tell me all about this Yutaro."
"It must have cost millions," Misao was saying, looking just about ready to burst from excitement.
"It was a little expensive, but it means a lot to me – the last legacy of Hayao. But while you are here, I hope you will treat this as your own. It's the least I can do. You're welcome to make yourselves at home."
"Oh wow!" Yahiko said excitedly and with the little girls dashed off to explore, leaving Kaoru yelling after them in exasperation. Kenshin sweat-dropped.
"Gomen na, Yoake-dono," he said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "They're just a little over-enthusiastic, de gozaru."
Yoake laughed – it sounded like a slivery bell. "No, no, that's quite alright. How about I give you the guided tour? Then we can head off for the dinning room. The resident chief here is quite talented."
Sanosuke's eyes lit up. Megumi rolled here eyes. "Don't look now, but the rooster here will probably eat you out of house and home, Yoake-san."
Sanosuke glared. "Shut it, kitsune-onna!"
"The truth hurts, does it? Ohohoho!"
"That demented personality will never change, will it?"
"Maa, maa, can't you get along, de gozaru…" sighed Kenshin.
"Stay out of this, Kenshin!" growled Sanosuke.
"Don't be a jerk, Sanosuke! We're guests!" hissed Kaoru.
"Yes, poor Ken-san was only trying to protect a helpless lady, weren't you, Ken-san" Megumi said, wrapping her arms round him.
"Oro!"
A vein throbbed in Kaoru's head. "Me-gu-mi-saaaaaaan!"
Shinya just shook his head and sighed, rubbing his forehead wearily and glanced around. However, his eyes landed on Yoake, who was looking at them with something close to a sinister smile. Shinya tensed. What the-? However, before he could work out what that meant, those coal-dark eyes rested on Shinya and the sneer vanished, replaced by the sugary-sweet smile. Shinya's eyes narrowed. She was hiding something, he knew it and she knew he knew. What was that woman up to? Shinya crossed his arms and blew through his nose. Whatever it was, he was going to find out!
TBC
Chosha's Notes
Well, what do you think? I should be going into some more interesting stuff real soon, since I've been building tension the past to chapters, but you'll see why next time. A few notes for you
Right, firstly, I made reference to the 'Izu Episode', which only happens in the anime version of the whole Raijuta/ Yutaro thing. That would be about episodes 19, 20 and 21 in the Tokyo arc. The Isuzu shipping company is not historical or anything, but a made up thing for Yoake and the rest in this story. I'll tell you why at some point in the story, just not this time, as it is not important until later and would give too many spoilers for later on if I tell you now. Anything you wanna comment on? Don't hesitate to review and tell me. Hell, just review anyway and tell me what you think!
Oh yeah! 'Chotto' is the more polite version of 'Hey!' and 'Oi' is a more vulgar form, usually used in arguments.
Next time on Fading Futures:
The Kenshin-Gumi complete their visit to the mansion, but something, or someone, is obviously unhappy with their involvement with this Yoake woman. Next Episode: Midnight Fight!
But, until then, Ja ne!
Chosha Kurenai xXx
