"I can't believe that it's almost been a month!" Misao admitted, taking up a large pear fruit in her hand and sniffing.
"Time goes by fast it appears." Tenma agreed mildly.
Misao looked over her shoulder to where he stood a few feet away just outside the street market's produce booth.
He possitively bored out of his mind and completely disintrested in assisting in the shopping and this caused Misao's lips to pucker distastefully.
"You know, you could actually help me here instead of standing there like a stone wall all day." She groused.
Tenma gave her a brief glance but his eyes were mostly expressionless. "...Shopping for food is a task that requires little to no meticulous skill; it is menial at best and you seem to be doing quite fine on your own."
"Hmmph! Well aren't you moody today." She huffed irritatedly. She paid the vendor and then continued down the line until they came to the booth where they sold freshly caught fish and she proceeded with hackling prices as Tenma once again, stood stiffly by without saying a word.
After a lengthy argument, Misao was able to buy up around 3lbs of fresh cod and turning, she promptly dropped the loaded sack at Tenma's feet.
The Kouga ninja's eyes looked down at the sack and then back up at her, unblinking.
"Since you have no interest whatsoever in helping in such a 'menial task' as shopping, you can carry the groceries. I'm assuming as long as it's not too 'difficult' of a task for your-delicate sensibilities?" With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Tenma hauling the sack of fish over his shoulder with one hand.
He was grinning now.
"You are quite the bossy one, aren't you? You think everyone will just bow to your whims if you just stomp your foot hard enough, I bet."
She glared daggers at him over her shoulder but when she caught his grinning eyes, she sighed and slowed her pase so he could walk beside her.
"Well you were the one acting all stoney-eyed and sullen; I don't really care for 'stoney' or 'sullen.'"
He chuckled, amused at the way her cheeks puffed out when she groused and pouted. "I should think you'd be used to 'stoney' and 'sullen'; your Okashira, Aoshi-sama is a very serious man to say the least."
She gave him a sidelong glance and pursed her lips. "Aoshi's not always that way-his stoicism is more a form of habit than an indication of a foul mood." She leaned over to one of the booths they passed, running her hand along the hand-woven baskets and nodding warmly to the vendor.
"Oh, so you're saying he is never in a foul mood?"
"I didn't say never I just meant that his seriousness is just his personality. He doesn't open up to people he hardly knows either so it's really no surprise that you haven't seen him as anything but stern; that's just Aoshi's way."
"'Aoshi'?" Tenma did a double-take at her, drawing out the word slowly.
"Hm?"
"You just addressed him by his given name...only."
Misao blinked at him a few times, a deer-in-headlights expression skittered across her face. "Well he is my Okashira but I have known him all my life. The 'sama' at the end sometimes seems ridiculous when I look at it that way because-well-I know him so well."
"But I've heard you adress him by his title before-why the sudden change?"
Misao squirmed a little. She didn't understand Tenma's sudden curiosity about her relationship with Aoshi and his pressing questions were starting to make her uncomfortable.
"It comes and goes to be honest; addressing him by his title is something I do whenever we are in the presence of someone important or conducting official business because I think it's important to remain strictly professional in those circumstances.
But-when it's just in private or on a day like today where there's no pressing business, no important officials to impress..." She trailed off, a soft smile touching her lips. "...I don't know it's...just easier to refer to him as-Aoshi. It's simple."
Tenma observed her intently. "I guess I'm just a little confused-where before, you seemed your relationship with him was-strained-"
She cut him off, her voice coming out just the slightest bit snappy. "Aoshi-sama isn't perfect. But neither am I. We have our differences, yes...but he is my family. And there is no one I trust more than him." She ducked her head, suddenly feeling invaded under Tenma's penetrating stare and she was relieved when she caught sight of the Aoiya just coming into view up the street.
When they reached the gate, she made a polite yet conscious effort to 'dismiss' Tenma as she bowed lightly at the waist. "Thank you for accompanying me, Tenma-sama. I have other things that I need to attend to before supper."
But before she could get out of reach, Tenma reached out his hand and took hold of her wrist.
"Misao-san, wait. I didn't mean to offend you."
She paused before turning to look at him.
His expression was sincere. "I just-there has been something weighing on my mind; something I've been wanting to ask of you."
Misao waited expectantly. When Tenma said nothing more she scoffed and a brief smile touched her lips. "Okay you're starting to look like a fish out of water; Come on, Tenma spit it out!"
Tenma's breath hitched. "You-you just called me 'Tenma'."
"Oh. Sorry. Anyways you were about to say something?"
He closed the distance between them in two strides and his tall, lean form was now towering over her. "Come with us to Kouga."
"W-what?" She squeaked; this hadn't been at all what she was expecting.
"Come with us, when we leave, Come with us!"
Misao's eyes darted to the ground as she searched for some kind of answer. "I-I don't-"
"I know it's sudden and forgive me, I'm not asking this as-I'm not holding any expectations from you, I just-I think you would love it there. There's so many of our ninja's who are young like you and even more who are just starting out! They would learn a great deal from someone like you and plus-well you wouldn't be toyed with and there would be no expectations of you as far as the alliance is concerned. You would just be there as a guest, our ally...as my friend."
Misao was completely stunned and she couldn't formulate words as she stared dumbly into Tenma's sky blue eyes.
"I don't-know, Tenma-sama I just-you are a very dear friend." She touched his arm meaningfully and the handsome ninja couldn't hold back a slight blush from his cheeks as he gulped in air.
"It's just that-this is my home and I-I don't know how I could leave it. It hasn't always been easy-it's been even harder over this last year but there's others here that are part of my family and-"
"I know." He spoke gently, laying his hands on her shoulders and looking down at her sympathetically. "And I'm not making you this offer because I don't respect your family or the Iga; I do. It's just that I feel you have so much that you are struggling with here and-it pains me to see you always so distraught and upset when it comes to-"
She offered a tired smile then, nodding her head. "Yes, I know; Aoshi-sama is-a very complicated man. I respect him, he is my Okashira and yet-"
"You have other feelings as well. And they confuse you."
"Yes, they do. It's frustrating because I feel pulled in two completely different directions all the time! My heart and my duty, I mean how do you-"
"Choose?"
She searched his face. "Yes..."
He shook his head, his hands dropping from her shoulders as he looked away from her. "I do not know. At times I feel like there should only be honor and duty alone and yet other times-I think how can you possibly have one without the other. Because many will say that duty and honor are born from purity of heart and to me, that is love. But I-I am not always certain."
She watched him carefully as the lines of his features hardened for a moment and then softened when he turned back to look at her.
"I don't expect you to decide right away. But I did want to ask you now so that you-"
The two ninja's were completely unaware that someone else had stumbled upon their conversation and was now listening in. Aoshi stood just inside the darkened doorway to the Aoiya and he was just out of sight from where Misao and Tenma stood.
However, the Okashira could here everything that was spoken and he caught sight of Tenma's hand reaching forward to gently grasp Misao's as he spoke softly to her.
"-to think about it. It's a sincere offer and one that I think would be good for you but-I don't want to push you into anything so please-just consider what I've said." He squeezed her hand then and Misao looked up at him with soulful eyes and a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Tenma." She squeezed his hand back.
Aoshi's heart bottomed when she said just Tenma's name.
His fists clenched at his sides. Didn't she know what he felt for her?! And Yorihisa had no right to be approaching her without speaking to him first! How dare he! Aoshi's gritted his teeth. Misao was his. He'd made that indisputably clear yet fate seemed to be determined to punish him continuously for his sins; it seemed that the gods were determined to keep him and Misao apart and they didn't care if they had to tear him apart in the process.
But Aoshi refused. He didn't give a damn what 'the fates' had in store. To hell with them all! He hadn't come this far only to be thwarted, no. He set out in persuit of Misao and he wasn't about to give up, not when he was this close-not when he'd come this far. He didn't care how long it took, Misao would be his alone and he didn't care what he had to do to make it happen, he would make her his, at whatever the cost!
####
After dinner that evening, Misao spent the rest of the time alone in her room, pondering Tenma's proposal.
Well, it wasn't an actual proposal but at the same time, she still felt the pressure of the implications of his offer, whether they were there or not.
She sighed heavily.
Damn it. This was quite the pickle she was in. On one hand, She had Tenma offering her a way out of all the endless confusion, heartache and back-and-forth with Aoshi, yet on the other, there was Aoshi. So strong, handsome and relentless in his pursuit of her, something that she had been longing for all of her life!
How was one to pick between the two?
Just then, she heard footsteps coming from just outside her window and she was about to call out when something told her to blow out the candle in her room and just listen.
After extinguishing the flame, she crouched just near her open window and listened.
The footsteps were coming from the back of the property, she was certain of it and as the moon rose in the sky, she was able to make out the barely visible outlines of a sillouhette skirting it's way along the edge of the woods and up towards the house.
She didn't recognize it and an alarm went off in her head as her ninja instincts kicked in.
Whoever it was, had now reached the back of the house and were now stealthily making their way along the length of the back wall, pausing intermittently as if they were listening for something.
Misao pressed her back up against the wall, pulled out the kunai sheathed at her thigh and held her breath, listening.
She worked with her breathing to slow her heartrate, knowing that any semi-skilled opponent would be able to make out the steady rhythms once they were close enough.
Just then, she felt the unknown intruder's ki and she nearly shrank back in dread.
This was no ordinary marauder, nor even a common bandit.
Whoever it was had an unbalanced aura that wreaked of evil intentions and something in Misao awoke, causing the hairs of her neck to stand on end as she slowly, carefully crept outside of her room and into the hall.
Whoever it was, was dangerous and they were most likely out for blood. Misao had to warn the others before anything happened.
Just then, she caught sight of Kagerou walking silently down the hall just ahead of her. She was about to call out when suddenly, the other woman stopped just before Aoshi's room. She looked to her left and right and over her shoulder and for some reason, Misao felt uneasy and ducked in the shadows just before she could be seen.
She kept her eye on Kagerou's back, wondering what the Kouga woman was up to. It was nearly 3am! What could possibly be so important that had her up and sneaking about the Aoiya at this hour?!
Her eyes focused in on Kagerou's back and she watched as the older woman's hand slipped inside her sleeve and then withdrew with something oddly shaped, clutched in her hand. She caught Kagerou's profile and a shiver went up her spine when she caught the slitted eyes and red-painted lips curled into and ugly smirk.
Just then, she slid open the Shoji to Aoshi's room and slipped noiselessly inside.
Misao's stomach bottomed out and she could hear the blood pounding furiously in her ears as her delierious mind began piecing everything together.
There must have been some sort of radical group of Iga ninjas who had gotten wind of the alliance and were determined to foil it. How Kagerou played into all of this, she wasn't sure yet but regardless, all the events of the passed month suddenly came together, forming one frightening, twisted puzzle. The way Kagerou treated her from the first moment they met, the fact that it had taken Tenma more than a week to return to Iga when he had gone to deliver the ten ninjas to Gennosuke. The Marauder sneaking about just outside and now, Kagerou slipping into Aoshi's room at 3 in the morning...it was like it had all been planned out as some sort of a diabolical plot.
But...to what end?
Just then, Misao felt as if she blacked out and suddenly, she was standing in an empty, blank space...and there was H'annya just standing just in front of her.
"H'annya?!"
"Misao-my have you grown." The masked ninja chuckled warmly to himself and even though she couldn't see his face, Misao knew he was smiling.
"I-I've missed you so much! H'annya, how are the others?" Misao peppered him with questions but the older ninja took her firmly by the shoulders and shook her.
"Listen to me Misao, you have to move. Now."
"W-what?" She felt like she was in a daze and her body began to tip to the side.
"Misao there's no time! Don't you remember what I told you?!"
Her vision was blurring and besides that, H'annya was almost horizontal and Misao shook her head in confusion. "What-you-t-told me?"
"Misao! Protect your master. At all costs! Never let him out of your sight, even if it costs you your life-you must-protect-the-master!" H'annya's voice began to fade and suddenly, he was upside down and terrified, Misao let out a scream as the floor beneath her suddenly gave way and she was falling.
"Pro-tect the master-Misao-Move now!"
And suddenly, Misao's eyes snapped open and she was in the darkened hallway again.
Had it been a dream?!
"Misao..."
She whirled around. That was H'annya's voice. No, it wasn't a dream and suddenly, the lithe Omnitsu's eyes widened in horror when they landed on the door of Aoshi's room just beyond her and she broke out into a run.
Something was wrong. There was a reason H'annya had visited her at such a time; he was trying to tell her that Aoshi was in trouble and she 'needed to move'.
"protect your master-at all costs-" These echoing thoughts fueled Misao as she neared the Shoji and all but crashed through it with three Kunai gripped tightly in her hands.
She sommersaulted to soften her landing and once she was on her feet again, her eyes fell onto the terrifying sight before her.
Kagerou was straddling Aoshi's sleeping form with a long dagger held high above her head.
Misao's breath froze and then something primal and animalistic clawed it's way to the surface from inside of her and her whole body shook with untold rage.
"Y-you-!" She exclaimed and Kagerou's snake-like eyes darted in her direction, widening when they beheld her trembling form with the kunai in her deadly grip.
Just then, Aoshi's eyes flew open and when he saw the woman with murderous eyes hovering over him, a dagger poised to strike, he sucked in a breath. "What-is this?!" He gasped but just as the woman's eyes settled on his face again, another presence stirred in the room and Aoshi could sense the barely-concealed rage and overpowering strength radiating from it.
Misao gripped the kunai in her hands so hard that her knuckles turned white and she took a step towards Aoshi and Kagerou.
"Get...away from him!" She screetched venomously.
In the next instant however, Kagerou thrust her dagger through the air and it pierced Misao in the shoulder, causing the younger woman to momentarily lose her footing and she stumbled.
"As if you are any match for me-you weasley little bitch!" Kagerou's voice was filled with burning hatred and her brown eyes now looked like black holes bearing hell fire.
Misao was on one knee, pain shot through her shoulder and all the way down to her arm, nearly paralyzing her. But the adrenaline pumping through her veins was fuled by her growing rage and without a moment's hesitation, she ripped the dagger from her shoulder-blood spattering on her hand and soaking the tatami floor as she stood to her feet.
"I may not have been before. In fact you may have easily beaten me in a sparring match!" Misao's spray green eyes were wide with rage yet her lips had curled into a kind of sickening smile that nearly made her look insane as she advanced towards the Kouga ninja...blood dripping down her arm. "But that was before you tried to kill my master. You dug your own grave." She hissed before springing on the woman and pinning her to the floor.
Aoshi scarcely had time to move. From the moment he'd opened his eyes, It all happened in a flash and by the time he got his hands on his kodachi, Misao had rolled over ontop of Kagerou and was driving her kunai into the other woman's chest.
Blood sprayed everywhere, smattering the floor and even Misao's face as she let out a vicious war cry before driving her last Kunai straight through Kagerou's forehead.
Then there were footsteps heard in the hallway as the rest of the Oniwabansuu hurried to the door only to stop dead in their tracks when they beheld the terrible, awesome sight.
"Aoshi-san we heard-MISAO!" Omasu gasped, then covered her mouth, her eyes wide with terror and amazement.
Suddenly, Tenma appeared in the doorway but the sight had all color draining from his face and his legs nearly gave out. "What has-happened?!"
Hearing his voice, Misao pushed off the stilled corpse of Kagerou and turned towards him.
Blood stained the front of her sleeping yukata and there was crimson spatter smeared across her cheeks as she fixed Tenma with unflinching eyes. "Did you know that Kagerou-sama had intentions of assassinating Aoshi-sama?"
The young ninja gawked at her, then his eyes fell to his fallen comrade.
Her eyes were wide open in shock. But they were hallow and lifeless and her skin had already begun to pale, casting a grishly contrast to the crimson blood trails that trickled down her face and into her hair.
"I-I had no knowledge of it." He said at last, his horror-filled eyes never leaving Kagerou's blood-drenched face.
"I know she had misgivings regarding the alliance-she seemed to think it was a foolish quest that would bring forth empty promises. But I-I had no idea that she had planned murder..." His eyes finally raised to Misao's and to the rest of the Iga ninja's in the room and he felt sickened as he knew this would most likely destroy and possibility of an alliance.
Just then, Aoshi walked to the front of the group and came to stand beside Misao. "I believe that you are truthful in your statement, Yorihisa-sama. However with these events, I do not feel that it is suited for you to remain here any longer. You must return to Kouga province at once. I am certain your master should hear of this immediately. No doubt he will have questions of his own."
"I-yes. I understand, Aoshi-sama." Tenma made a curt bow, his eyes flitting once to Misao's face but the young woman avoided him.
"Shiro, Kuro. Escort Yorihisa to his room and see to it that he gets provisions for his journey and a fresh horse. Also, wrap Kagerou's body and send it with him, along with this message. Aoshi went to his desk and hastily scribbled something on a piece of paper, rolled it up and returned, handing it to Shiro. "Lady Kagerou's body is proof of what has transpired here tonight and that message will support the validity of it."
Shiro nodded then turned, he followed Kuro and Yorihisa as they quickly exited the room and disappeared down the hall.
"The rest of you, prepare Yorihisa's provisions. And clean up this detestable mess from my floor." He spat and waved his hand dismissively as the others disspersed.
Then he turned to Misao who was still standing frozen in place with Kagerou's and her blood smeared across her face and her eyes starring straight ahead.
"Misao-"
She didn't answer him.
"Misao, look at me." He took her by the shoulders and turned her towards him.
After what seemed like forever, her eyes slowly raised to his and they flickered in recognition. "A-Aoshi-sama?"
"Yes Misao, it's me...are you alright?"
Her eyes drifted the bloody vacant spot on the floor where Kagerou had fallen and she blinked several times as if her mind was trying to grasp the situation and process it.
"I-I think so, yes."
"Misao, look at me...please."
"Eh?" Her eyes drifted to his again but this time, his own widened in horror when he noticed how sluggish her pupils were reacting to the flickering candlelight.
"Misao-Misao, keep your eyes open, focus on me...M-Misao?!"
His eyes frantically searched her body for injuries and he noticed her mangled, bleeding shoulder.
With Kagerou pinning him the floor with her body and a Shuriken blade imbedded in his arm, he hadn't been in view when Misao had been struck and he'd hoped and prayed her injury had been minimal.
But seeing it now-though it was just in her shoulder, Kagerou had been very precise in her target and she'd managed to throw her blade in a manner that would rip through Misao's flesh in such a manner as to cause her significant blood loss.
"Misao!"
Misao's legs buckled and she crumbled in his arms as he cradled her body against him, brushing the sweaty bangs from her forehead.
"A-Aoshi? Your arm..."
"Sshh, don't talk Misao. I'm alright."
"Oh-it looks-b-bad." Her words began to slur and Aoshi's chest tightened in fear. He ripped the cuff of his sleeve with his teeth and tied the ragged material around her shoulder, making sure to put pressure on the wound.
"You're seeing things, Misao. There is nothing wrong with my arm." He was rattling off nonsense now and he knew it. But he had to keep Misao awake-and himself distracted as he tended to her injured shoulder the best he could.
Just then, Okon came back into the room and fell to her knees at his side. "What can I do, Aoshi-san?"
He never took his eyes from Misao's face as he spoke firmly. "I need to get her wound stitched closed. Now. We cannot wait for the doctor, she's already lost too much blood." He lifted Misao up in his arms bridal style and carried her out of the room. "Okon, with me." He commanded.
He carried Misao to the dinning room and had Okon fetch a sheet to spread out on the table where he laid her down as gently as he could.
"Get hot water, Sake to sterilize the needle and clean her wound. Thread and bandages."
"Aoshi-san-the sake will surely-"
His eyes flashed to Okon, full of anger and worry. "Do not question me, Okon! Misao will die of infection and fever long before she will die from loss of blood, we need to get the wound cleaned and closed. NOW!"
Okon whirled around and fled the room in search of the needed supplies.
Aoshi stood over Misao's unconscious form, his hands pressed to either side of her head on the table as he leaned over her and whispered. "You are going to fight this, Misao. Do you hear me?"
His hands began to shake as his fingers curled into a fist and his nails dug into his palm, drawing blood.
"You will not give up. I don't care how much it hurts, fight. FIGHT." His voice was choked and desperate as his face dipped low and he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Misao-you will not leave me. Do you hear me? I-I n-need you. I Love you." And a tear escaped down the Okashira's face, his heart breaking.
Okon returned along with Omasu and Jiya and once Aoshi had the sake in hand, he ripped open the sleeve of Misao's yukata, from her shoulder down to her wrist.
"Now. I need to cleanse the wound. Misao is unconscious-but she will doubtlessly feel it." His piercing eyes looked pointedly from one ashen face to the next. "It is going to be excrutiating. But it will save her life. Ready?"
They all nodded, Omasu and Okon possitioned themselves on either side of Misao to hold her down by the arms while Jiya placed himself near her lower extremeties to hold her legs steady.
"Very well. Now..."
Aoshi paused just long enough to lean down and press a final tender kiss to Misao's temple as he whispered. "Forgive me, my love."
Then standing to his full height, he held the jar of sake over her shoulder, took a deep shuddering breath and set his jaw firm. "Hold her down."
And he poured out the contents into the gashly, jagged wound.
Suddenly, Misao's head jerked to the side.
Her eyes flew open.
Omasu, Okon and Jiya fought hard to hold her steady, pressing down firmly on her arms and legs.
Then, her body arched off the table...
and she let out a blood curdling scream.
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Ahh! I know I know, cliff hanger but I just couldn't help myself it seemed too perfect! ;) ;) aww don't hate me! I can feel some of you starring daggers at me(the screen) Lol, don't worry the next chapter is coming soon and I promise you will not be disappointed!
XOXOX & as always, RR!