Finally back, the saga of Kenshin's apprentice continues…
The sisters faced him down, Derek glanced between them, the one called Misao taking a threatening stance, Akira on the other hand, stared at him more like she wanted to talk than fight.
"I'll ask again," she repeated. "How did you know Uncle Han'nya?"
"I met him a while back, I could ask you the same question however," Derek replied, standing up straight, no longer in a fighting stance.
"Like we'd tell you anything like that!" Misao shouted, her kunai still present in her hands.
"Don't be so rude as to stoop to his level Misao," Akira smirked. "After all we have given him our names and yet he hasn't been polite enough to mention his own."
"My apologies, you can call me Derek," he replied, smiling kindly, feeling more than a little guilty for not having introduced himself.
"Well then…Derek," Akira continued. "You mentioned something about a rematch, it couldn't have been against Uncle Han'nya. If you had fought with him its very unlikely you'd be standing here talking to us…unless you ran?"
"Your…uncle was very skilled, however I did indeed beat him in a match, it wasn't till after that he…" Derek stopped himself instantly
It probably wouldn't be a good idea to mention Han'nya's death to these women, Derek thought. Who knows what they'd do, they might even think I killed him.
"If you could best him, how is it that you could barely dodge my knives, such a thing is childs-play compared to him."
"I did not notice your presence, and my slowed reactions are due in part to my fight against your uncle as my injuries from him haven't fully healed. Now if you'll please excuse me, I need to get through to the mountain pass, and I hope you two will reconsider the life of thieves and bandits."
"How else are we supposed to get money to get back to Kyoto?" Misao roared. "It wasn't our fault the money given to us by the old man wasn't enough to find Lord Aoshi!
Aoshi?
"If that's the case then you should simply send a letter to Kyoto asking for more money, and in the meantime work part-time in the town until it can arrive."
"THAT'S THE STUPIDEST…actually that's not too bad of an idea," Misao blurted out, a look of minor-enlightenment present on her face as she thought of the simplicity of the plan, even Akira was side-glancing at the sky, as if considering it herself.
Smiling once more Derek took several steps to walk around the sisters towards the mountain path.
"It was a pleasure meeting you both, I wish you a safe journey back to Kyoto."
As the two sisters stopped to begin conversing in a huddle, Derek reached the mountain path, beginning the trip up the jagged peak.
* * * *
The hours passed as Derek continued up the ever steep path leading up and past the mountain, the sense of dread looming over his head though he knew his life was no longer in danger.
Behind him, a good couple yards back lurked the sister kunoichi Akira and Misao, following him silently.
Stopping to sigh heavily Derek turned to the duo, who hastily ducked behind a nearby boulder as if they thought he was still unaware of them.
"I know you didn't just leave me alone after I reached the mountain, I don't have the luck for that, why do you two continue to follow me?"
Misao was the first to exit their hiding spot, her facial expression was one of annoyance mixed with anger.
"Did you really think you could mention having met Uncle Han'nya and get away so easily, you WILL tell us everything you know!"
Akira nonchalantly walked away from the boulder, standing beside Misao. "Where are Han'nya and the rest of the Oniwaban?"
Scratching the back of his head nervously Derek turned and continued walking up the hill, the sisters keeping a constant distance from him as they followed.
"It is nice to see two sisters working together so well…but you don't need to follow me."
"We're not actually technically sisters, Uncle Han'nya and Lord Aoshi took us both in at a young age, and I don't see why not, seeing as how you're going the same way we are," Akira rebuked.
Sweat dropped down Derek's face, "And how do you know where I'm going?"
"This mountain path is very treacherous, and the only place of any importance that it makes a shortcut to is Kyoto, if you were going elsewhere it would've been better and faster to follow the road."
I was only following the innkeepers advice, if I'd known there was a longer but safer way to Kyoto I probably would've taken it.
"Only one thing left to do," Derek whispered, breaking out into a full sprint up the path, disappearing from sight of the two ninja.
"He's making a run for it!" Misao shouted, as both took off after him at full speed.
Derek sprinted around the path, winding around any rocks and stray boulders he could find in an attempt to throw them off his trail.
If those two follow me the whole way to Kyoto I'll be forced eventually to tell them what happened to the Oniwaban, they should not hear such news from a complete stranger.
Leaping around another bend Derek ducked behind another rock, taking a breather, his sides burning from the strain of running so fast.
"Had enough?" came a voice from above.
Looking up Derek saw that the duo were standing atop the rocks and hadn't been following the complex path he had led around trying to lose them.
"It's a lot easier if you just run on top of the path instead of through it," Misao beamed, wearing the biggest smile Derek had ever seen.
Admitting defeat Derek slumped onto his butt, taking a breather as the girls sat around him.
"Why are you going to Kyoto anyway?" Akira asked, sitting no more than a foot from Derek's face.
Well…they did tell me why they were around here, plus they earned it, Derek breathed heavily.
"I'm looking for someone, I don't know him exactly, just heard stories. He supposedly lives in the hills around Kyoto, once I get to the city I'm going to look for him."
"Tell you what," Akira interrupted, raising her finger as if explaining some great secret. "I have a proposition for you. Let us travel with you without trying to escape, maybe share a few things about your encounter with Uncle Han'nya, and we'll help you find this man."
"How could you know where he is? You know nothing about him."
"The Oniwaban are masters at collecting information," Misao leapt in. "If there is anyone you need to find anywhere near Kyoto, there's no one better to ask than us!"
"She's right, so Mr. Swordsman…what's it going to be?"
Leaning on his back for several moments Derek finally got to his feet, looking towards his newfound acquaintances.
"Deal, but first lets get off this mountain."
New allies have been joined, together they make their way to the same place for divergent reasons. Will Derek choose to reveal the fate of the Oniwaban before reaching Kyoto, or will he withhold it from those who were once closest to them? Next time on Battousai's Apprentice, Arrival at the City of Memories, You wont want to miss it.
I hope you enjoyed the new OC and chapter. Read and review if you liked it, due to a seven days a week work and school chapters will be slow to come out, but will continue so long as the story continues to be read and enjoyed =)