CHAPTER SEVEN: THE HANDS THAT BRING SUFFERING
Beggining Notes: It's been almost two years since I wrote a new chapter for this but heck, it gets my imagination going.
Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko stood outside the dojo, facing the night sky. The beauty that emanated through the vast amount of stars cleverly disguised the brewing tension on the surface of those they looked down upon. The Chief came and took Gasuke. Megumi bandaged him. And just like that, the night became silent once again. The night was silent but inside of everyone who witnessed the sheer terror that was Aoshi Shinomori, there was loud rampant chaos. Thoughts. Questions. Answers.
Sanosuke turned to Yahiko to speak but in the instant before he opened his mouth, Sanosuke noticed the look in Yahiko's eyes. It was bold. He was on the to becoming a truly noble man. Then he remembered how when Tsubame arrived at the dojo, he analyzed the situation and acted as quickly as he did. For someone his age, it was more than impressive. "Hey Yahiko." Yahiko turned to look at Sanosuke. "I just wanted to tell ya, that I'm impressed with you." Yahiko's jaw dropped slightly, showing some surprise. "If it were me, I might have killed him. But you handled it like a man Yahiko. Not the pickpocket Yahiko, but Yahiko Myojin, Tokyo samurai." Yahiko felt an impact in those words. "When I reclaimed my title as Zanza after Enishi broke Kenshin's resolve, I was bitter. I was full of anger when I took that title back on my shoulders. But Sanosuke Sagara, that's who I need to be. And Yahiko Myokin, the son of a Tokyo samurai, practitioner of Kammiya Kashin ryu, is who you need to be."
Yahiko thought on this. That was what it is to be a man? To show mercy in the most grudging of situations. To give the enemy a chance to live when you had the chance to take his life. "Thanks Sano." Yahiko looked back to the sky, and much like the backs of those who came before him, it seemed just a bit closer.
Tae went to take a nap, but only wept in her bed. Her tears falling back, past her ears, as she faced the ceiling wondering who would come for her closest friends next. This man, Kanryu was relentless, and she saw him. He was right in front of her. Then she remembered Aoshi and began to think of her friends. Then she was wondering if any more of them would turn into terror itself. Was this how Kaoru felt when Kenshin left for Kyoto? This was different. She loved him. Tae was no fool. But she was sad. It was sad for her to see what people were capable of becoming even if it were necessary to gain a victory.
Kaoru held Tsubame close. Tsubame was so frightened by what she did and didn't see that all she could do was sob. She was sobbing so hard that she began to heave. "Shhhh. It's ok. It's over now." But she continued. Kaoru could feel the every heave as Tsubame's body convulsed in her arms. Just feeling it, made Kaoru sad. Tsubame had truly witnessed something horrible. She had seen Yahiko fight before, but she never saw him tempted to take a life. She never saw the brutality that Aoshi embodied. It was too much for her to bear. Kaoru held Tsubame for as long as her grip held. And that was a long time.
Megumi had finished washing her hands of Gasuke's blood. She prepared a bath for herself and now simply stayed in there. It was the perfect place where she knew no one would come in. But she couldn't bring herself to just stay there. The water was warm, but not enough of a distraction from the cold eyes of Aoshi Shinomori. She rose and dressed herself in a white kimono she had brought with her. She stepped out from the bathing booth. The night wind felt cold on her skin as the wind blew her kimono elegantly around her. She walked forward. It was nagging at her this whole time and there would never be a better time to do this than now. She walked past Kenshin. Yahiko. Sanosuke. He turned to see her walk by, noting the elegence in which she walked. She stopped at the door to the dojo. She gently opened it, stepped inside and closed it behind her. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness quickly. Aoshi's back was facing her, and Misao's arms ran across it. She was holding onto Aoshi. Her face was buried in his chest, and she wasn't letting go. Her sobs were silent, as if Aoshi had stolen her voice. Aoshi stood, one kodachi in each hand looking straight ahead. Megumi knew what she needed to do, and she knew he would have to face it.
"Aoshi. Look at me." Silence. "AOSHI!" TURN AROUND! LOOK AT ME!" Slowly, Aoshi turned. Misao's grip loosened to let him turn, and tightened again when he stopped. He looked right into Megumi's eyes. A look that could pierce a soul. But not Megumi's. She knew Kanryu. She knew how manipulative he was. How caniving. A true monster. "I know him just as well as you. Maybe better. He used me for his scummy drug deals. And people died because of what I did for him." His stare did not falter, nor did Misao's grip. "But look at me now. Aoshi. What is it about me that stands out? Why am I different from other killers? What seperates me from you?"
"You and I, are nothing alike."
"No. Not anymore. After I realized my mistakes, I decided to stand back up. And the only thing you use to hide your guilt is your silence. And Aoshi Shinomori, your silence speaks louder than your words." Megumi's words put a thickness in the atmosphere. Aoshi's face remained stern, making Megumi all the bolder. "I know you Aoshi. I know what you feel. I have lost many that I love, and that monster hurt me too." Tears began to spring from Megumi's eyes. They flowed down her cheeks, glowing in the moonlight. The sound of them hitting the floor was the only sound in the dojo. Megumi looked at the tears on the dojo floors. "This what seperates us. Aoshi." Megumi wiped one tear and balanced it on her finger. "This right here. Where are yours?" Aoshi said nothing. Only stared. "Where are they?"
"There are none."
That was all she needed to hear. She wouldn't give him the chance to comprehend what was happening. With all the strength she could muster, she slapped Aoshi clean across the face. The sound made Misao's eyes snap open. Aoshi's eyes were wide with surprise. He began to turn to look at Megumi. The second sting sent a fresh sense of confusion through Aoshi's mind. He had never had this happen to him before. "Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare reduce yourself to anything less than human. You are a man Aoshi. Even men cry. The thin margin that seperates your skill from Kenshin's is compassion. I have seen Kenshin shed tears on the battlefield. I have seen the passion in his eyes when he fights for what he knows to be right. Aoshi. The look in your eyes was that of a manslayer."
Aoshi turned to look at Megumi. His eyes were wide with shock. Megumi turned to walk out of the room. The made her way to the door and opened it. She turned to look at him one more time, tears still flowing. "Stand up Aoshi. Like Yahiko did against Gasuke. Like Kenshin did with Enishi. Like I did with Kanryu."
And with that she stepped out, and shut the door. Aoshi remained still for a moment. Misao was still holding on. She would always hold on. He was the one perrson in her life she truly felt that she could never let go of. Aoshi turned again, and Misao once again loosened her grip and tightened it again when he stopped. He could feel the heat of her tears through his clothes.
Misao listened to every word Megumi said knowing she was right. This was something he needed to hear and if anyone, Megumi was the best one to say it. She didn't care how long she had to stay there as long as he understood that she would stand by his side through anything. Then she felt something. It held her. It reassured her. It told her that he knew she was there. And that meant the world to her. Aoshi held her. He gently placed one hand on the back of her head and one on her back, and just let her stay there. Misao's tears turned to a mix of joy and sorrow. Sorrow because of what was happening to everyone, and joy because he was deciding to stand up. Misao let her tears flow and Aoshi simply held her, letting her show him just how much she truly cared. He remained silent, but could not help but look down at her. He knew that what he was witnessing was true strength. She would stand too. She would face Kanryu for the atrocities that he caused in her life. They both would. They all would.
Misao suddenly stopped when something gently tapped on the top of her head. It rolled down her hair and her cheek, leaving Misao with no doubt. Indeed it was. A single tear from Aoshi Shinomori.