Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, Rurouni Kenshin, Yu-Yu Hakusho, Hikaru no Go, Star Wars, etc… I'm not making any money here! Of course if I were George I'm sure I'd find a way!
To be the Strongest
Chapter 5: "Once you start down the dark path…" – Master Yoda to Luke (Empire Strikes Back)
"So I'll catch you guys later ok!" Yugi added cheerfully as Hiei and Aoshi merely nodded their response. Yugi cheerfully skipped away to join the main party…
Aoshi formally introduced his two best friends to Seto as Sano and Kenshin approached the table. Seto got up briefly to shake their hands…
"Don't tell me you're playing black Aoshi!" Sano asked as he and Kenshin examined the board. Kenshin frowned and he too pointed out that black was in trouble.
"All right I won't," Aoshi replied as he retook his seat. Kenshin laughed and Sano shook his head.
"You suck!" he pointed out succinctly and Kenshin guffawed.
"Thank you Sanosuke for that brilliantly eloquent assessment," Aoshi retorted sarcastically. Hiei just shook his head and Seto laughed suddenly the attention turned to him.
"This is a nice house you have Mr. Seto! Thank you for inviting us!" Kenshin said politely smiling cheerfully at him.
"You know you're ability to just be polite no matter what never ceases to amaze me!" Sano retorted derisively rolling his eyes.
"Have you forgotten what a ruthless psycho this kid is?" he added annoyed pointing a thumb at Seto. Seto's eyes turned back to the board only a tiny blush gave away his embarrassment. He had spent thousands of dollars on building the Death-T and all to have every challenge beaten by the monkey, the mutt and the cheerleader! It really was embarrassing considering the company he was in…
"No, indeed I have not! But Aoshi and Hiei seem to have approved of Mr. Seto! And since they are just as much of a ruthless psycho as he and happen to be our friends then it's all right, that it is!" Kenshin countered cheerfully. Sano moved up next to Seto and leaning against the back of his chair he tapped his chin thoughtfully. The boy frowned and glared at Sano who pointedly ignored him.
"Well since you put it that way…I suppose no harm was done since they did manage to beat every single challenge!" Sano conceded in his usual smartass tone and ignored the soft growl that escaped Seto's throat. Aoshi and Hiei just rolled their eyes they were used to their friends picking on them for being so ruthless but it didn't affect them anymore.
"He's just trying to provoke you…don't give him the satisfaction," Hiei advised coolly. Aoshi nodded…
"It's his favorite pastime to try and get reactions out of us," he added solemnly and Seto nodded his understanding schooling his features back to their usual intense stoic-ness.
"That's easy for you to say! You didn't have a little sister dodging blocks the size of small boulders! Not to mention the thugs Darth Kaiba here hired to hold guns to her head!" Sano retorted glaring at Seto. The boy turned away suddenly overwhelmed by embarrassment. Aoshi pondered that for a moment as he watched Seto.
He knew all about the Death-T incident because Sensei had been monitoring the situation closely had Anzu and the others with her needed rescue she would've jumped in immediately. The past is the past you can't change it but you can learn from it. At least that was what Sensei always said.
"Sano, as I am sure you recall I lost myself to my demon too. I did things that I am not proud of but I also learned from my mistakes…" Aoshi began but Sano cut him off.
"Yeah! Yeah! I know that! Sheesh! Now you sound just like Sensei!" he rejoined going back to his usual smartass yet cheerful tone. Aoshi allowed himself a small smirk of triumph. Sensei was one person he didn't mind being compared to!
"Relax! I'm just messin' with ya!" Sano informed Seto punching him playfully in the arm. Seto rubbed his arm and growled annoyed but let it go without retaliation. He wanted to hear the rest of the story and stomping away in a huff or sending someone to the shadow realm wasn't going to get him any details on Aoshi Shinomori. Besides, from an older brother point of view he could understand! Had it been Mokuba in that position he would've done a whole lot more than just a playful punch in the arm.
'I wonder if it's just because of Aoshi and Hiei that he's going easy on me!' he thought at the same time wondering if it had to do instead with something Yugi might have said to him. Briefly he contemplated finding the answer with the millennium rod but immediately dismissed the idea. He was starting to get the feeling that attempting to use the mind control powers of the Millennium Rod would be difficult if not useless with any of these men.
It suited him fine though he was tired of dealing only with idiotic monkey brained teenagers or hired "yes-men" he was starting to feel the world was full of nothing but that type of people! He was glad to know he wasn't alone in the world! Besides, with that "playful" punch Sano had surreptitiously reminded Seto that he was a world-class fighting champion not a street fighting alley cat like Katsuya and Honda. He didn't doubt that there would be a bruise on his arm tomorrow morning!
"Welcome to our Sith-hood Seto…" Aoshi remarked coolly and they all broke into laughter. "Just so you know it is a select society. Sano doesn't bestow a "Darth" title on just anyone," he added seriously. Seto nodded solemnly as Kenshin and Sano continued to laugh their heads off! He made a note to let his little brother know later the new title he had acquired. He was certain his little brother, an avid Darth Vader fan, would surely appreciate it!
"Aoshi was just telling Seto about what happened to Tak," Hiei suddenly jumped in putting a damper on the almost cheerful mood.
"You mean you didn't know?" Sano exclaimed in confusion. He, just like Aoshi, thought that Seto would know everything about his arch-rival. Seto rolled his eyes but to Aoshi's surprise he managed to suppress his usual biting tone.
"I knew he had been shot during a robbery I just didn't know the details!" Seto replied with only a touch of exasperation. Sano answered with merely a soft "oh". Seto was amazed at the change in every man. Their moods darkened instantly; their voices became soft and wistful and their eyes took on far away looks…
"The next few weeks were hard, that they were…" Kenshin began wistfully.
"Yeah…Aoshi was in the hospital for days…" Sano added his mind turning back the hands of time as he looked away.
"Even after I got out of the hospital I couldn't go back to the Game Shop…All I could think of was that I was too weak to protect someone I cared about…I couldn't face Kiki or Yugi for a long time…" Aoshi added hesitantly.
"I was consumed by grief…I could only think about what I couldn't do rather than what I had done. The reckless headlong flight to vengeance I embarked on took away everything I cared about and it took me years to get even some of it back…" he explained bitterly. Sano moved forward and picked up one of Seto's white stones from his bowl and chucked it at Aoshi's head. Faster than Seto thought possible Aoshi's hand shot up to snatch the small stone and replace it in Seto's bowl.
"Moron! You never lost your friends!" he retorted in a mock-derisive tone as he smirked at Aoshi.
"If Sensei were here she would whack on the back of your head that she would!" Kenshin added cheerfully. Aoshi chuckled and nodded…
"Ok well I've had enough of hangin' with the Darths! It's messing with my Jedi-ness…" Sano declared jauntily and Aoshi just shook his head as Sano shot a cheerful 'Catch ya later!' over his shoulder as he walked away. Seto gave him a confused look.
"I will go join the others thank you again for having us over Mr. Seto!" Kenshin added cheerfully as he too walked away. Seto nodded towards Kenshin then turned to Aoshi that confused look still in his eyes.
"Sano, Kenshin and Shuura were Jedi extras in the last Star Wars movie," Aoshi explained at Seto's confused expression. Seto's eyes went wide with surprise.
"Are you a fan?" Hiei asked. Seto shrugged…
"I like it but Mokuba is the real fan!" he replied "he's been bugging me to get rights from Lucas Arts to do some of the new video games but I've been preoccupied elsewhere…" he explained. The fiasco of Battle City was still a touchy issue with him and he was reluctant to broach the subject. He wondered now if he should've spent most of that time and money getting Mokuba his wish. It would've been far less embarrassing perhaps…
"I'll have to tell Mokuba…" he said softly then asked "how come you weren't in it?"
"Oh we were! I was a ruffian in a bar the main characters stormed," Hiei answered "I refuse to be a Jedi! Its bad for my Darth rep…" he added calmly and Aoshi and Seto chuckled.
"I was one the chancellor's royal guard being Jedi doesn't suit me either. I'm supposed to be in the last one too I get to wear the red uniform this time," Aoshi put in then his face screwed up in distaste "but I'm going to get smashed against a wall by Master Yoda" he added ruefully and shrugged. Hiei and Seto laughed.
Seto nodded a small smile appearing suddenly on his lips before it was replaced by a preoccupied expression as though he were wrestling with a decision that was extremely difficult. His young face settled back into its usual intense stoic-ness as he again settled his eyes on the board. Hiei and Aoshi exchanged a worried glance.
"Hiei I thought you hated Star Wars…what made you change your mind?" Seto asked suddenly.
"Sensei," he answered simply but at a signal from Aoshi he decided to elaborate.
"As you know my father and I hated each other but one day while I was still in high school things got out of hand when he guessed – rather correctly – what I am even though I denied it for years. He kicked me out of the house supposedly to make a "man" out of me. Sensei took me in, trained me and helped me become strong. She taught me to see people for who they are and not for what they are. But most of all she taught me to accept my self. So when I finally met Mr. Lucas I couldn't really hate him or his work…" Hiei paused; Seto had I confused look on his face.
"I don't understand …" Seto began; Hiei just smiled.
"I'm gay…" he replied simply. Seto blinked a bit surprised he hadn't expected that at all!
"My father is a violent homophobe and because of that I denied that I was gay for years in fact if it hadn't been for Kurama and Sensei I would probably still deny it," he explained. Seto again blinked surprised. This new development took him completely by surprise. Still he was beginning to see a pattern here the power he sensed from Hiei didn't diminish by his admissions at all in fact it seemed to increase for a moment the way that Aoshi's power had spiked when Misao had come to kiss him. And it all connected somehow to this mysterious teacher of theirs.
"I'm curious to meet this Sensei you guys keep talking about!" he suddenly declared sounding a bit more enthusiastic then he intended. Hiei and Aoshi exchanged a confused glance. This was not the reaction they had expected.
"Seto are you…" Aoshi began but Seto cut him off.
"Honestly…I have no idea! Gozaburo's tutelage drove everything human from me. Gozaburo used to say that winning is life and losing is death but I'm not so sure anymore… Even so I can't think of anything except Kaiba Corp and winning. My assistants – whether male or female – don't last more than a few weeks and I can hardly stand having anyone around me. I'm just now remembering what it means to be a good brother. I couldn't even begin to know anything beyond that!" Desperation, resentment and anger twisted Seto's face.
Hiei and Aoshi looked at each other alarmed! On the one hand it was good that Seto was opening up to them but on the other hand it was disturbing to hear so much bitterness from someone so young. Worse was the fact that he dealt with this distress and confusion on his own where in their case they'd had Sensei to guide them through their more turbulent days. Aoshi knew that the sense of honor and pride that Sensei had instilled in them would not allow them to leave Seto to bear his burden alone any longer.
"This is actually the first time I've sat and talked to someone other than Mokuba without feeling the need to challenge or insult somebody…or both!" Seto added in a soft bitter tone.
"We are glad for that at least…Do not rush yourself Seto, in time the answers you seek will come," Aoshi advised solemnly. Seto nodded slowly as the anger in his eyes receded. Hiei nodded in agreement and put in his two cents then…
"As for meeting Sensei, she will be here later. She has been looking rather bored lately and will probably jump at the chance to train someone in staff weapons," Hiei added seriously. Seto's eyes lit up at the prospect of training in the same manner these men had after all power is what every ruthless "Darth" wants! And Seto was willing to do anything to obtain it!
He appreciated too the fact that neither man had felt the need to lecture about friendship or some other ridiculous notion of team work. Both were concepts that Seto couldn't stomach because he wanted to do things for himself. Both Hiei and Aoshi seem to realize this and expected Seto to find his own way while subtly offering their support should he wish it. His respect for them went up another notch…
"For now let us continue with our game and if you are still interested I will tell you more," Aoshi invited as he picked up a stone and waited for Seto to make his move. Seto picked up a stone and made his next move.
"Please continue…" he replied seriously. Aoshi nodded took a deep breath and picked up where he had left off.
"As I said I was consumed by grief. I couldn't go back to the Game Shop and Kiki I suppose understood my pain and didn't force me in any way. Yugi's grandfather returned from an excavation project in Egypt that he was participating in days after Tak's death and took charge of the shop but I didn't learn of any of this until weeks later at the opening of the Aoiya." He explained.
"You still went?" Seto asked surprised.
"Of course," Hiei replied for him "we promised Tak that we would!" he declared proudly. Aoshi nodded in solemn agreement.
"Besides it was something that was important to Misao and for her I have always been willing to do anything…" Aoshi added softly his eyes drifted momentarily in the direction her and Mokuba had gone. Hiei nodded in agreement Aoshi's closest friends all knew very well the lengths Aoshi was willing to go for his beloved Misao.
"So you all went to the Aoiya's opening…" Seto prompted softly unable to contain his curiosity.
"Right…" Aoshi confirmed his mind returning to that time…
The Aoiya is a beautiful and elegant old fashioned Japanese restaurant of which currently there were five. The original one is located in Kyoto, one in Tokyo, one in Domino and two in the USA. One of those was in Hawaii located on the island of Oahu and the other in Los Angeles specifically in Beverly Hills. A sixth one was being constructed in New York with Victoria as a partner in the venture. Misao had explained all of this to Aoshi when she insisted that he come to the opening of the Domino location so Aoshi had reluctantly agreed to come despite the fact that he didn't feel in a festive mood.
Music drifted towards the parking lot as Aoshi and his father stepped out of the limo. Quietly he followed his father towards the entrance of the restaurant. He spotted Misao waiting for them and instantly began to feel better about being there. She smiled cheerfully at them and waved. He called out his greeting towards her as they got near and watched in utter shock as his father smiled at her and picked her up in one big fatherly hug. He still couldn't get used to how his old man transformed in her presence.
"I'm so glad you guys could make it!" she declared happily as Hannya Shinomori released her. She took Aoshi's hand and led the two Shinomori men into the restaurant. Hannya smirked happily as he noticed the little blush that rose in his son's cheeks as little Misao held his hand. The boy looked away embarrassed but to Hannya's endless delight he did not let go!
He suppressed a smile as he heard his son somewhat clumsily attempt to compliment Misao on how nice she looked in her pretty light green kimono. But he saw out of the corner of his eye the blush on the girl's cheeks as she shyly thanked him. He pretended to ignore the little couple as he spotted Okina standing at the door. He greeted his friend and the two made a fairly good attempt at ignoring the young couple – though they secretly delighted in their closeness – as they headed inside.
"Everyone's here!" she informed him cheerfully as they entered the noisy restaurant. In the weeks since Tak's death Misao and Aoshi had reverted back to their old ways. They talked about nearly everything and rarely did anything separately. Except for school because Misao was still in middle school and wouldn't start high school until after summer. Again Aoshi regretted that they would only get one year of school together before they were separated again. He worried too that he only had one more year of school left and he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life.
The only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted to avenge Tak's death but he didn't know how to go about it. It was one subject he couldn't raise to Misao but one that was always on his mind…
Misao walked him towards the table where most of his friends were already seated. He quietly took his seat and was immediately assaulted by Shuura who thrust her fists happily in front of his face!
"Look what Vicky-sensei gave me!" she exclaimed happily. Two leather bands with shiny silver spikes were gleefully exhibited to Aoshi as he tried to push her fists away from his face. Her original spike band she had given to little Yugi on the day of his father's funeral because it was the only thing that seemed to snap the little boy out of the near catatonic state he'd fallen into after his father's death. Shuura had eagerly given up her treasured band as long as it could make the child smile and Victoria had given Shuura her bands in reward for her kindness.
Aoshi learned of these things much later from Misao. What happened after Tak's death was still a blur and he had spent much of his time at the funeral practically draped over Tak's coffin unable to be consoled by anyone…even Misao! He shook his head as Shuura showed him the choker that went along with it and wondered aloud whether you could wear leather spike bands with elegant kimonos.
Shuura gleefully answered that of course she could and the others just laughed with the exception of Kaoru who kept trying to get her to take them off. Misao didn't let him stay long with them though. His uncles Shikijo, Hyotoko and Bessimi had arrived at the Aoiya too and his father wanted him to greet them. He didn't mind because he really liked his uncles and his father was always nicer while in the company of Aoshi's mother's older brothers. He went to say hi to his uncles who for some reason decided not to tease him. His uncles always teased him about something! It was their favorite pastime and lately they teased him about his friendship with Misao.
But it didn't take long for him to figure out why. Vicky-sensei was there and she was wearing a simple black strapless sheath dress with a side slit that went all the way to the top of her leg. A very dainty diamond pendant and matching earrings and bracelet were the only accessories he could see. Despite the fact that she was probably old enough to be his mother he could easily see her super model past! They were so distracted by her and the other two beautiful women with her that they almost forgot he was there! Except for his father who seemed to be the only male adult in the restaurant immune to Vicky-sensei's charms.
'Perhaps I can use that against them next time!' he thought mischievously as Misao pulled him away again and Vicky-sensei instructed her to send Shuura to her as soon as she saw her. Kiki arrived then with Suguroko Motou – her father in law – and immediately Yugi rushed up and threw himself on Aoshi. Instinctively Aoshi caught the little boy and tossed him lightly in the air. He approached the adults shyly though. Kiki smiled…
"Aoshi how are you feeling…" she smiled serenely at him but Aoshi could easily see that the carefree light of her eyes was gone. He just shrugged as he put the little one back down on the ground and riffled his hair affectionately feeling suddenly that he couldn't look her in the face. He stood and as he did she cupped her hand under his chin and pulled his face up to look at her.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you Aoshi…" she began softly.
"For what! I couldn't do anything!" he cut her off desperation and anger raging in his heart.
"Nonsense young man! You saved my grandson's life! You should be proud of yourself! I'm sure my son would be! And so are we!" Suguroko intoned gravely giving Aoshi a proud pat on the shoulder. Kiki gave him a hug and Aoshi was surprised when his father stood up from the table to greet Kiki and her father in law warmly and invite them to his table. He was utterly shocked when his old man reached down to pick up little Yugi and offer to take him to the play area with the other children. Little Yugi for his part didn't seem at all intimidated by his old man…
"Bye mommy! I'm going to see Anzu with big Aoshi!" Yugi called out as Hannya carried him away. He heard his father laugh…
"Uh…Big Aoshi?" Aoshi watched his father walk away a look of utter confusion in his face. Kiki and Misao laughed…
"You guys look almost exactly alike! Yugi has been calling Lord Hannya that since he met him!" Misao explained cheerfully as she pulled him away and laughed at the serious look Aoshi gave her in response. Kiki and her father in law joined the other adults at the table and Vicky-sensei took over the introductions as the two youngsters walked away.
Aoshi rejoined his friends and listened as Misao and everyone else chatted amicably occasionally joining into the conversation. Shuura disappeared with Vicky-sensei for a few minutes but when she returned she shocked everyone speechless. Vicky-sensei apparently agreed with Kaoru that black spiky accessories didn't go well with a kimono so she attired the girl to match her accessories.
"She gets weirder and weirder everyday," Aoshi whispered softly into Misao's ear. The girl blushed and barely managed a shy 'uhu' as Aoshi's physical closeness caused her to stopped breathing for a moment. Shuura returned wearing a pair of tight black leather pants, a strapless top and matching short black leather jacket topping it all off with a black leather belt with silver studs. Vicky-sensei even went so far as to style Shuura's hair – which she had been growing out since Tak died – in a more modern feminine look.
"Shuura! What in the world are you wearing!" Kaoru nearly shrieked. Her face was as white as a sheet! Shuura just rolled her eyes…
"Vicky-sensei says your accessories have to match your clothes! And before you pass out Mom said it was cool and so did Kiki!" she explained sticking her tongue out at her in a most unladylike way.
"Well not bad Shuura! You actually look like a girl now!" Sano pointed out and smirked in his usual smartass way. She removed her jacket to her sister's further discomfiture and sat down. She happily explained that the pants weren't really leather but a new material used by Vicky-sensei's company. It looked like leather but stretched, breathed and was as strong as denim! Aoshi just shrugged, he didn't really care about fabrics or fashion… until Misao mentioned she had a similar outfit! He froze…
"You do?" he asked softly suddenly curious to see what it looked like on her. Misao blushed slightly and picked up her tea cup.
"Yeah…minus the spikes though! But I don't like to wear it!" she replied shyly and sipped at her tea. Aoshi frowned…
"Why not?" he asked disappointed 'she'd probably look cute in it!' he thought and stopped that train of thought dead in its track! He knew it was leading somewhere that he wasn't supposed to go. Misao was his friend! Nothing more…right?
"I don't like the way people stare at me when I do!" she answered still not looking at him. He nodded but before he could respond Kaoru put in her sanctimonious two cents…
"That's right because it's completely indecent!" Kaoru stammered red faced but before Shuura could rise to defend herself it was Sano who spoke up.
"Don't be ridiculous Kaoru! It's not like she's walking around in her underwear! Besides didn't your mother say it was fine and as long as Shuura likes it …who cares what we think," he lectured sounding more than a bit annoyed. Shuura blinked in surprise she hadn't expected so much logic out of the rooster head. Neither did Kaoru it seemed because she opened and closed her mouth as though she were trying to find some way to counter Sano's flawless logic.
"Ms. Kaoru I agree with Sano! I think that attire suits Ms. Shuura very nicely just like I think this lovely kimono suits you perfectly!" Kenshin added then blushed as red as his hair when Kaoru smiled at him. Shuura just rolled her eyes…
"Anyway! I'm not wearing this for any of you punks' approval! I'm wearin' it because I like it!" Shuura concluded firmly. Sano wholeheartedly agreed and reached across the table to high-five her. Shuura smiled and responded earning herself similar high fives from Hiei and Kurama.
"Now you're a cool-looking bad ass chick!" Sano laughed and so did Shuura!
"Mission accomplished!" the two laughed and were soon joined by Hiei and Kurama.
"I told you she's weird," Aoshi whispered in Misao's ear again. Yusuke, Keiko and Kazuma arrived and Aoshi missed the deep scarlet blush in Misao's cheeks from his closeness as he greeted his friends. Keiko complimented Shuura on her new outfit which apparently surprised Kaoru who fully expected to get moral back up from her! Kazuma and Yusuke also expressed similar sentiments to Sano's and Shuura smiled happily. They spent the rest of the evening in happy company gathering later in the main room of the Aoiya as the patrons assembled for karaoke time!
Vicky-sensei and her two companions a Japanese super model by the name of Okon and her sister a famous chef called Omasu brought down the house with their version of "Killing me Softly" by the Fugees. Grandpa Motou looked like he was gonna pass out and every male over the age of twenty – and even some under that! – was drooling! Yusuke, Kazuma, Hiei and Kurama did a fair job with "Ghostbusters" that earned them much laughter and applause from the crowd. Misao got up and did a song from Cinderella called "A dream is wish" and she blushed fiercely at Aoshi's enthusiastic compliments.
Sano got up and did a stirring version of "Authority song" by John Mellencamp that earned him many a phone number from some of the teenage girls in the audience. Even Shuura didn't escape her turn when the guys dared her to get up on stage and strut her stuff! She ended up doing an awesome interpretation of "I love Rock and Roll!" by Joan Jett. The ensuing cat calls and wolfish howls of appreciation however displeased Shuura's father greatly!
"Why don't you try?" Misao asked Aoshi as Keiko's version "Once upon a dream" played. He shook his head and shyly refused. It was fine when they were little and it was just the two of them playing karaoke in his room but in front of all these people…No way! Kenshin got up with Kaoru and did a very cute duet of "A Whole New World". Misao begged and pleaded insisting that he was really good at it!
After much poking and prodding from Misao and his friends he finally relented. Misao punched in the number for "Elevation" by U2 and clapped enthusiastically to encourage him as he reluctantly stepped up to the stage. He stood with the microphone near his lips and his eyes glued to the screen where the lyrics would appear. He knew the lyrics to this song by heart but he was much too nervous to look anywhere else. The music began and he just didn't think about it anymore and let the music carry him away…
Hannya had not been paying much attention to the goings on when karaoke began and when his "brothers" had tried to talk him into participating he had flatly refused. He clapped when one of the children went up to sing regardless of whether they did well or not especially when Misao was up. However, when the familiar voice of his son blared out of the speakers his head snapped up in flash!
Aoshi quickly got into his song and Hannya could scarcely believe his ears…much less his eyes! Tapping his heel in time with the music and swaying his hips he had every girl in the room spellbound! His jaw dropped…
"He didn't get that from you… did he?" Victoria teased. Hannya shook his head slightly unable to take his eyes off the stage where his son was still in command. He was glad now that he'd allowed Aoshi to not only keep his long hair but to wear his relaxed fit jeans today with the button up white shirt instead of the slacks. The boy had discarded his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves which Hannya admitted with pride was definitely a good fashion choice for him!
'My kid looks good!' he thought a mixture of amusement and pride making him smile. His wife had been a beautiful woman full of music and dance. She had once been a successful theater actress with a promising future. A future cut short in a terrible car accident only two years after Aoshi was born. Her death had left a void so deep within him that he had been mired in darkness and he had missed most of Aoshi's childhood because of it.
The frightening encounter with those thieves at the game shop had awakened Hannya to the errors of his past. The very real possibility of losing Aoshi forever had shaken Hannya to the core. Very slowly now he was making efforts to win back his son. Misao had become an important bridge in the gap between him and his son and it was one of the many reasons why he loved the little girl so much! As Aoshi strut his stuff on stage he realized with regret that his wife hadn't really left him. A part of her was still here in Aoshi…
He looked towards his brothers and realized they were on their feet dancing and cheering wildly. He noticed then that he too was on his feet but he couldn't remember when that had happened! He laughed as his son's performance reached its climax and everyone was cheering wildly for him too. Everyone at his table was standing and clapping as Aoshi finished his performance. Hannya smiled his son was blushing as he shyly retreated from the stage. He laughed as Misao rescued him from a gaggle of girls that had materialized around him. He sat down again feeling so content he couldn't help the smile that remained on his usually stoic face the rest of the night…
"Wait a minute! You two did karaoke?" Seto asked incredulous looking at them with a mild mixture of horror and shock. Hiei chuckled slightly…
"We still do sometimes when Sensei is in a particularly sadistic mood!" Hiei added and laughed at Seto's horrified expression. Aoshi chuckled but his smile faded quickly. He was stalling! He lingered on those happy days because he was reluctant to delve into the painful events that unfolded a few days later. He had only told this story once and only to Misao. Despite the years that had passed it had still been excruciatingly difficult to tell it. His closest friends knew because they had seen the aftermath when they arrived along with Sensei or as was the case with Sano and Kenshin… had been there and suffered with him.
"It's not as bad as it sounds. In retrospect I believe that every unusual thing Sensei made us do was an effort to keep us human. Well at least those of us who chose to become demons," Aoshi explained. Hiei leveled Aoshi with a deeply solemn look and some unspoken question seemed to pass between them.
Seto was rather perturbed by the sudden power spike that triggered his rarely used millennium powers. It seemed as though the two were joined by some brief but powerful and dark psychic bond that Seto had no chance to completely understand because it was gone almost as soon as it arrived.
"Are you sure?" Hiei asked in a deep and serious tone. Aoshi nodded…
"I feel he needs to know…" Aoshi explained convinced somehow that if anything could win Seto's trust in them it would be this: The incident at the abandoned warehouse…