Chapter twenty-one:
Masaru stood just outside the door, of the small stone chamber, and tried to stop his hands shaking. His skin felt like it was burning, but sweat encased it in ice, and trickled under his collar like the caress of dead fingers, making bile rise in an acid tide at the back of his throat.
He closed his eyes for a moment and composed himself, refusing to acknowledge the waves of nausea. He would talk to Aoshi, but he had already decided on his course of action; Meiji was meant to be a better age, a golden restoration, where honour was more than what was carried on the edge of a samurai's blade.
The next Okashira of the oniwabanshuu turned and walked away from the basement level that still served the original business of the Aoi-ya, and climbed the stairs to find Aoshi.
*break*
It took Masaru nearly half an hour to return, by which time Shinko, Shinya and Kenji had gathered by the door, none of them willing to talk to Ayame, although Shinya or occasionally Shinko would glance at her from time to time.
The door opened, and Masaru stood there, his face blank and impassive as always as he regarded Ayame.
"Tell me about Tanuki, and then you can go to Tokyo with Shinya-kun – as much for your protection as ours. Is honour satisfied?" The question seemed entirely sincere, and Shinya nodded reluctantly, so Masaru turned back to Ayame. "So tell us."
Ayame bowed her head, the urge to rub her temples.
"It would be dishonourable..." she muttered with a sarcastic laugh, trying to gather her thoughts. Genuine amusement flitted across Masaru's face for a moment and he spread his hands to show that there was nothing he could do about it.
"I owe... a loyalty to Tanuki-sama, but Toranaga-san is poorly liked by all of us – he arrived in Kyoto a month ago, and contacted Tanuki-sama, proposing a merging of their influences. His access to certain markets in China, and even as far as Europe, were enough for Tanuki-sama to agree, allowing Toranaga command of the people he felt were necessary to establish a base for trade to link back to foreign ports. But he already had that, and enough foreigners already working for him to accomplish whatever else he needed. He has a fondness for feminine fighters and works from the Umenonemu-ya." Ayame grimaced slightly. "I can't tell you much more."
"That's how he found you – someone must have recognised Chichi there." Shinya murmured, glancing at Shinko.
"Except about Tanuki-sama?" Masaru prompted.
"No. I will not do that." Ayame shook her head.
"Leave it, Masaru-san." Shinya said as the taller boy opened his mouth to ask another question. "I'll take her back to Tokyo with me tomorrow, and get her out of your hair."
"Shiny-" Ayame began to speak, a grateful smile touching her lips, but he stood up and left before she had a chance to say anything.
Shinko followed her brother out of the room, draping an arm around his shoulder, and leaning on him.
"Don't worry about it." She said, grinning comfortingly.
"I still can't believe that she was..."
"I know. It wasn't very nice of Masaru-san to demand you stay with her."
"Chichi couldn't have watched her all the time – it makes sense."
"Since when have you talked sense?" Shinko laughed.
"Shut up, cross-dressing busu."
"Ah speak for yourself, midget – I'm going to bed." Shinko poked her tongue out at Shinya before glancing back at the doorway as Kenji came out as well.
"Masaru intends to keep watch on Ayame-dono, - and rest assured he won't try to harm her again," he said. "You two should get some sleep."
"So should you – you need to heal as well." Shinko pointed out, nodding to the injured leg, which Kenji still favoured.
"Haha would be shocked at you." Shinya whispered in her ear, grinning wickedly. Without even blinking, Shinko shoved her elbow backwards, getting her brother in the base of his ribcage. Shinya gasped and doubled up.
"Chest wound, ow, chest wound..." he said, blood coming off on his palm as he pressed it against his lightly bandaged chest.
"Kusot! Gome! Shinya! Gomene – I forgot." Shinko swore again, her eyes widening as she grabbed his shoulder to support him.
"Don't worry about me – I'm just going to crawl off and die now." Shinya grumbled, his face pale as he tried to smile.
"Don't joke about that, Shinya-kun – we were all lucky to get out of that place alive." Kenji chided the younger boy mildly as the three climbed up the stairs.
*break*
Two days later, their injuries beginning to heal and Shinya preparing to return to Tokyo with Ayame – who planned to abandon the name for good in favour of Natsuko – Kuroshin Kana arrived at the door.
"Is Ayame-san here?" he asked Misao when she opened the door. There was a purple bruise over his temple from Kenji's bokken, and his eyes were red and puffy.
"Who are you?" Misao asked, staring at the boy. "And how old are you?"
"...My name is Kuroshin Kana, I'm an actor and I worked for Toranaga-sama... And I'm nearly fourteen..." The boy said sullenly, not looking at the kunoichi.
"Kami-sama..." Misao hissed in disbelief. "Who did that to your face?"
"That read-head who went looking for Shinko-san."
"KENJI!" Misao turned into the house and bellowed for the swordfighter before turning back to Kana, suspicion warring with concern on her features. "How did you find her?"
"She didn't meet Toranaga-sama when she was meant to. Kiyoshi-dono told me that you might know where she is..."
"...MASARU!" Misao shouted into the house again, before beckoning to Kana. "Come with me." Masaru arrived at her side seconds after she shouted, blinking in surprise as he saw Kana.
"What is it, Misao-dono?"
"I want to talk to you about the other evening."
"Why were you yelling for Kenji-kun?" Masaru asked as Kenji appeared from the courtyard, the twins behind him.
"Apologise to this boy, now." Misao snapped at the redhead, pointing to Kana's bruised forehead.
"Kenji?" Shinko turned to stare at him in shock, her mouth dropping open. Shinya looked uncomfortable, but didn't say anything.
"Gomenasai, Kana-kun," Kenji said, bowing. "I was angry and did not know how long it would take Shinya-kun and myself to find Shinko-san – I couldn't chance you alerting Toranaga's forces, or fetching reinforcements."
Masaru raised his eyebrows and looked at Kenji appraisingly.
"Good enough. Masaru, you said Kiyoshi could be trusted – why is he sending Toranaga's people to us?"
"I don't work for Toranaga-sama anymore!" Kana snapped, clenching his fists and jutting out his jaw. "He said that Ayame-san wouldn't be in any danger, and he was wrong. I don't care about him, or Tanuki – I only wanted to help Ayame-san, and Nii-san."
"Kana-chan?" Ayame had heard the commotion and was standing in one of the doorways, wearing the torn kimono which had been meticulously mended. The boy's expression was like watching the sun rise as he flung himself into Ayame's arms, knocking her backwards.
"You're okay!"
"What happened to you?"
"Doesn't matter." Kana's voice was muffled and he didn't let go of the older girl. "I missed you,, Ayame-san..."
"I'm going by Natsuko now, Kana-chan – I'm going to live in Tokyo for a while." Ayame said kindly, untangling herself from the boy to kiss his cheek gently.
"Can I come?"
*break*
Masaru stalked back and forth across the room, his bare feet whispering across the tatami as Kana watched him hopefully. Another counter-agent would be invaluable, but whether this child could be trusted was uncertain – according to Shinya and Kenji, Kuroshin Kana was a childish loudmouth.
We could send him to train at Kaoru-san's dojo, as Ayame's little brother. Masaru paused, staring at the little boy, wondering if the resemblance was passable. Deciding that it was, he began to see the pieces of the deception falling into place. Natsuko was sent to Tokyo in order to become more exposed to the western society that is more prominent in the new capital. Kana was sent as chaperone and protection for his elder sister, and also to learn Kenjutsu from the famed Yahiko. A forged note from their father. To say that after his daughter's abduction, he is worried for her safety, and knows no safer place to send her than to the home of the Man who caught a thousand Blades – can't mention Battosai, since very few people know of Kenshin or link him to his past – and hopes that they will accept his children and his gratitude. It will require a significant gift to make it believable,but other than that...
"So, can I come, Shinomori-dono?" Masaru looked up, surprise registering on his face as he glanced around for Aoshi-sama, before he realised that the boy had been talking to him. He had always given his name as Shinomori Masaru, but no-one had ever addressed him formally as Shinomori before. It was unsettling...
"Mm. Hai. You'll have to pretend to be Kana Kanbayashi, and call Ayame Natsuko, or Nee-san-" Masaru was cut off as Kana gave a whoop of delight.
"Ayame-san can be my Nee-san? Really?"
"You'll also have to study kenjutsu – and seem to enjoy it."
"Nande?" Kana protested, his face falling. "...Fine." he huffed, before Masaru had a chance to retract his offer. "Thanks anyway." He grinned and bowed, before running off to find Ayame.
Masaru sighed and shrugged. He was getting soft. The Oniwabanshuu was; but he wasn't certain whether it was good or bad.
"HEY WEASEL GIRL!" Masaru looked up in surprise, hearing an unmistakeable voice shout from the front of the Aoi-ya.
"Shut up, Sano – and take your shoes off." Megumi chided, sounding flustered and annoyed. Masaru smiled slightly, and made his way out the window and onto the roof to observe Sano's unannounced arrival.
"Ohayo!" Yuki shouted, running out to hug the tall man, "Do you have any new stories, Uncle Sano? Shinko-nee is here too, and so is Shinya-nii, and Kenji-nii!"
"What? Why?" Sanosuke asked, picking Yuki up easily.
"I'm not really sure... I think Nee-san ran away, and then everyone came looking for her, and then she fought Yahiko-san, and made a new friend who was a bad lady, and got kidnapped, and Kenji-nii and Shinya-nii went and rescued her, and then they beat up the baddies, and Masaru-san is back and he's going to make it all better and send the bad lady away." Yuki explained excitedly. Sano blinked for a moment, staring over the girl's head at Megumi with a bemused expression.
"I think you may be telling me stories tonight, Yuki-chan." He said after a pause. The girl pouted and was about to protest, when Misao arrived, snagging her out of Sanosuke's arms.
"Ohayo, Megumi-san. How are you – has birdhead been behaving himself?"
Megumi, still strikingly beautiful, sighed, directing a disdainful glance at Sano. "What do you think?" She asked, brushing a long strand of hair back from her cheek.
"You should be nicer to me – after all you still haven't found any of your family, and a wandering female doctor is target for all sorts of brigands. Where would you be without me?" Sano said, folding his arms as well.
"You start more fights than you 'protect' me from. And without me, that hand you are so proud of would be a lump of mush." Megumi shot back.
"I have another hand."
"Too bad you don't have another brain..."
The two descended into bickering as Misao led them to a guest room, Yuki craning over her shoulder to watch the spectacle.
Masaru smiled, and returned to the business of forging a letter of introduction for Natsuko Kanbayashi.
*Break*
I like Megumi and Sano. ;P.