Broken
Chapter 7: Cracked
Yahiko woke up from his slumber. His feet felt like jelly and his arms, they felt more like his had fallen apart and had them replaced with cheap wood or something. Kinda like a pirate. After dragging himself off of his bed he half walked, half limped his way across the building, which seemed to go on forever. That was probably his half asleep state talking but still. As he walked passed an open window he caught something with the corner of his eye.
There he was, Genma, standing on a small field completely alone. He now wore a strange, long white coat, black pants, his yellow sash, wooden sandals and a black blindfold.
"Blindfold?"
Intrigued by this Yahiko leaned on the window to get a better view.
There was an immensely thick sword sheath on his back, probably attached to the coat because there were no belts of any kind. He was surrounded by wooden stumps, 6 in total and held a smaller one with his right hand. He tossed the smaller one straight up, squatted a little and gripped the hilt of his sword. Suddenly, with a large BOOM! a large cloud of dust rose covering the entire scene. Only one thing he could see though, splinters of wood flew all over the place. More disturbing still, they were on fire. When the dust cleared up, there he was, Genma, standing exactly the same way he had before the large explosion-like sound.
Awestruck, Yahiko simply stood there. Had he just done that with his sword? More important, How?
Now that Kenshin wasn't around, Kaoru had no choice but to do laundry herself…for a change.
She came out holding a large basket, mostly filled with red tops and white pants (tons of them). She started hanging them on a white clothesline, her mind helplessly wondering as to Kenshin's whereabouts.
"Hello!"
Slightly aroused, she turned. Genma had popped behind her like a 6 year old trying to pull off a prank on her. His awfully cheerful smile could only second that similarity.
"You're making a fool of yourself." She said with a smile.
"Says who?"
"I do."
Then the most unextecpected thing happened. Genma stuck his tongue out, being reduced to a 5 year old.
At this last gesture she couldn't help it, just had to laugh.
"I like it when you laugh."
He said softly, almost uncharacteristic.
"Why?" A confused look covering her face.
"You just seem so happy, so full of life."
"Ooookay."
There was an awkward silence after that, and after a few seconds of it he couldn't bear it anymore.
"So, how are you today?"
She grinned, bad sign.
"Well, I seem happy and full of life."
"Are you mocking me?"
She laughed, that laugh he liked so much; nothing short of sweet.
"Just kidding, but thanks for last night."
"Don't mention it."
They shared warm smiles, the kind that could keep a man just standing there forever.
Abruptly though, Genma turned his head toward the house, like a predator searching for prey.
"What's wrong?" She asked rather puzzled by his reaction.
"Would you excuse me for a moment?"
But before she could answer he had already started toward the building.
Yahiko was simply minding his own business, avoiding the breakfast Kaoru prepared and looking for something for himself.
"HEY!"
"AH!"
He dropped the cup he picked for tea. The cup just shattered into a million pieces, the sound almost deafening compared to the size of the puny little thing.
And there he stood, Genma laughing his brains off while clutching his gut, while poor little Yahiko gasped for air. After some time, Genma took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"So, did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Don't you remember? Last night I dared you to put out three candles with one blow and you agreed that if you did it I'd have to double the money I owed you."
"And if I didn't?"
"You owe me a fancy breakfast."
Genma's grin wasn't a very good sign.
"I didn't, did I?"
"Nope."
Yahiko frowned, but an idea suddenly crossed his mind.
"What if I try again? Double or nothing?"
Next thing they knew they were back in the back room.
"Let me get this, if you do it, you're off the hook? What if you don't?"
"I'll do it."
"Ok."
But without notice, Genma pulled a pair of bracelets out of nowhere and attached them to Yahiko's wrists. They weighed like 20 pounds each.
"What the hell?"
"Since I don't get 'double' then you must do it under my conditions…three tries."
Yahiko cursed under his breath and assumed the stance.
One punch, useless.
Two punches, could've been better.
Three punches, better luck next time.
"Well, time to eat."
He started toward the exit, until Yahiko's whiny voice stopped him.
"Hey! What about these?" He said holding up his hands, showing the braces.
He seemed to ponder it for a few seconds, a mischievous smile across his face.
"Well, I can take them off, but then I choose the restaurant."
Yahiko grunted, but ended up keeping the braces, at least for now. This guy would surely drain all of his remaining money if he chose the restaurant.
A few minutes later they were walking down the road toward the cheapest restaurant in Tokyo, or at least looking for one cheap enough. Silence had been preserved after departing from Kamiya Dojo, but it was starting to get old.
"So, what was that thing you did earlier?" Yahiko asked in an attempt to distract himself from the braces.
"What thing?"
"You know, with the wood and…"
But Genma interrupted him. It was getting pretty usual.
"OH! That was one of my secret techniques, Buru-Hirameki (Blue Flash). I can teach you if you want."
His straightforwardness took Yahiko by surprise. Was this guy for real? Teaching a secret technique to a total stranger? Silence resumed.
"Umm, by the way."
The young boy snapped out of it.
"I saw you dodging Lady Kaoru's food this morning. What was all that about?"
"Are you kidding? That stuff can kill somebody."
A funny look appeared on Genma's face.
"Ew, that bad?"
Yahiko nodded, feeling knowledgeable for a moment, until Genma's fixed gaze shifted. He now had a confused look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I thought I saw someone."
They kept walking and looking for a good place, but to no avail. In the end, Yahiko ended up taking him to the Akabeko, hoping to get some kind of employee discount.
They entered, sat down and waited, but only for a few seconds since a waitress came quick. There was something odd about her though. First, she wasn't wearing a uniform (she was probably new or a part timer). Second, she seemed a little lost. Third, she seemed oddly familiar (at least to Yahiko) but not a face he'd ever expect to see at the Akabeko. That's when he recognized her.
"Misao?" He asked as surprised as he could ever be.
She stared at his face and smiled warmly.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Her eyes shifted toward Genma, who was just looking around and barely seemed to notice her. "And who is he?"
"I owe him some food."
She kinda laughed, more like laughed at him really. Then another waitress came and handed some sake to Genma. Apparently he didn't want to bother Misao and Yahiko in their conversation. He started pouring one cup after another.
"What are YOU doing here?" Yahiko asked Misao.
"I'm here on a mission, nothing you should care about."
"I meant working here." He said giving her 'the stare'.
"Oh! Some guy with a white coat and a matching duffel bag took away my money while I traveled to Tokyo."
Genma choked on one of his many cups and spat sake all over Yahiko. He got 'the stare' too.
"It's okay though, the only thing I regret is not being with Lord Aoshi."
Genma spat on Yahiko again.
"Lord Aoshi? As in Shinomori Aoshi?" He said in what seemed like excitement.
"Yeah, why?"
"Your name is Misao, right?"
"Yeah."
"Makimachi Misao?"
She looked surprised. Who the hell was this guy? How the hell did he know her?
"Don't you remember me?"
Remember him? From where?
"I'm No Face. From the Oniwabanshu. Used to give you piggyback rides when you were just a puny little thing."
She remembered him from her childhood, many years before that. Excitement took over her as well. She leaped toward him and gave him a huge hug.
"It's been so long uncle Genma."
He pushed her gently, unbeknownst to Yahiko's expression. He was looking at they as if they were freaks.
"Know what? I just had an idea."
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but as always Genma just kept on talking as if to himself.
"Come to Kamiya Dojo later so we can catch up ok?"
Then he turned to Yahiko, who was still astonished.
"You can invite anyone you'd like to."
Yahiko tried to say "is Kaoru okay with this?" but Genma took off without giving him time to even think about it.