Suenagaku na Aki

Chapter 6

Aided by the light from a lantern, Aoshi watched quietly as Omasu changed Okina's bandage with Misao's help. With Shiro and Kuro helping to prop up the old man's body while bandage was changed and Okon preparing dinner for the others, there was nothing else that Aoshi could do except sit there.

"There, all done," Okon announced as she took a step to appraise her handiwork.

"This part doesn't look properly done," Shiro complained while pressing his finger at one spot.

"Yeah, and knot here wasn't tied properly," Misao added while tightening a knot.

"Oi! Don't treat him like a doll," Kuro reminded the two of them. Then he looked at the patient and added, "At least treat him like an old doll"

"……"

"Anyway," Misao began, breaking the silence, "why don't you learn how to treat injuries, Okon? It can come in handy sometimes. And perhaps you can also work on your bandaging skill"

"Don't complain. If I recall correctly, it wasn't me who almost strangled him while bandaging him the last time"

The air in the room was suddenly filled with tension as Omasu realized what she had done. There was no mistaking about the event that led to Okina being injured the last time. Although there was an unspoken promise between all of them to never mention about it again, Omasu was too caught up in the cheerful situation to carefully word her response.

Meanwhile, her female companion risked a look to ascertain Aoshi's reaction. Although Aoshi had never apologized for his actions, she knew that deep down he felt very guilty. And it seemed that what Omasu accidentally said would widen the rift between him and the others.  After a few seconds, she saw Aoshi's mouth begin to move and she began to prepare to counter it. At the same time everyone else in the room was ready to say something to respond to what Aoshi might say.

But Aoshi was faster. In a split second, he had noticed the very slight shift of posture in everyone else and quickly held up his right hand. The action effectively killed the chance to respond prematurely to what he would say. He said quietly, "I was going to suggest that we take turns taking care of Okina"

The tension began to lift as the others digested his suggestion and its hidden meanings. With a short sentence, Aoshi had effectively told them that crowding inside the room at the same time to take care of Okina was not the proper thing to do as it might disturb Okina's recuperation. The sentence also implied that he would take the first turn to keep the bedside vigil.

Everyone else including Misao began to leave the room. Then she stopped and turned toward him to say something.

"I will eat later"

"Hai"

As the door to the room closed, Aoshi began to ponder about the current situation regarding him and the Oniwabanshuu. Aoshi was trained so that he could survive being alone. That ability was crucial to ensure that he would be able to carry out his mission even if all of his comrades were killed. Unfortunately, even the training itself couldn't help Aoshi dispel the out of place feeling he had felt ever since he returned to Aoiya.

Granted, everyone accepted him unconditionally when he appeared in front of the Aoiya with Kenshin and the others. In fact, he was given a hero's welcome.

Aoshi mentally scoffed when he recalled it. He certainly didn't deserve it and would have left at that time if Kenshin hadn't stop him. The former hitokiri did mention something about protecting Aoiya as one of the ways Aoshi could redeem himself.

And a pathetic job he had done protecting it.

He could still hear what Orochi said to him the night before, "That is not necessary, the REAL Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu". The sarcasm of the sentence was not lost on him. Orochi, whoever he was, apparently knew about Misao taking over the title of Okashira of the group, and he was taunting Aoshi for that.

Aoshi gritted his teeth while his hands grasped his knees. Realizing he was losing to his anger, he began to breathe slowly, rhythmically. The breathing helped, as Aoshi felt his anger subsiding. As a more calmed Aoshi emerged, he began to think about his next step, knowing very well that he shouldn't dwell on his past, at least for Misao and the others' sake. After quietly meditating on it, he opened his eyes, as a decision had been made. Then his ears twitched as a very weak sound reached them.

"It took quite a while for you to regain consciousness, Okina"

Okina opened his eyes as he tried to familiarize himself with his surrounding. "How long have I been knocked out?" he croaked.

"A few hours"

"How do you know I have regained consciousness?" despite being in that state, Okina couldn't not resist asking. "My breathing?"

"No. You stopped making that crackling and popping sound"

"Ah" Okina has almost forgotten about the technique which he once frequently used during assassination missions. By listening for crackling and popping sounds from the body joints of a sleeping person, he could tell whether the person was really sleeping or was just pretending. He smiled as he realized that not many ninjas used the technique anymore. In fact, the assassins sent by Shishio could have avoided the trap laid by him and the others if they had used it. But then again, that was one of the many techniques that distinguish the good and the best ninjas.

Okina strained himself to look at his bandaged body. "At least Misao's bandaging has improved a bit. Last time I was wrapped from head to toe"

"Okon did it"

"Oh. In that case, her skill has become worse. At least she still looks cute," Okina laughed at his own feeble attempt at joking before grimacing as he felt pain coursing through his body. "Heh. The Orochi couldn't even kill a fly with his sword"

Aoshi wondered how he was going to start asking Okina about Orochi.

"Oh, by the way, Aoshi, don't tell the others that I'm already awake. I want them to cry at my bed. The look on their face will be priceless"

The younger man didn't say anything and Okina interpreted his response as a promise not to interfere in what Okina was planning to do.

"Now, what is your plan?" Okina asked seriously.

Aoshi looked away from Okina. "I don't know"

Okina's eyes were downcast. "I see. You're still afraid, aren't you?"

"I don't fear him" Aoshi said, referring to Orochi.

"Oh. I was not referring to him. I'm referring to the future of the Oniwabanshuu as a group with you leading it"

Aoshi remembered about his decision a few minutes ago. He decided to keep quiet. Okina coughed, trying to elicit a response after waiting for him, but to no avail. Finally, knowing that he had to speak what was on his mind, Okina began, "Despite what you personally believe, the Oniwabanshuu do need your leadership"

"They receive adequate guidance from you"

'The old man smiled as his words earned him Aoshi's reply. Okina waved his hand over his injuries. "If they think following my example of going to battle without preparation is good, then you might as well prepare for their burials"

"…………they were better off without me"

Okina was stunned by the younger man's words. He had suspected that Aoshi felt out of place at Aoiya, but he wasn't prepared for an open admission from him. Carefully wording his thoughts, Okina replied, "Are you sure about that?"

Aoshi didn't reply, so he continued. "Misao united the group when she felt that without you, the group would eventually crumble. She did a decent job of taking over the job as Okashiraa"

Okina tried unsuccessfully to sit. "But without capable people at its helm, the  Oniwabanshuu will certainly slide into obscurity. Me? I don't know how long I can continue cheating death. It has to be a young man, someone with ample energy and vision. Someone like you"

He continued before Aoshi could interject. "Yes, Misao is capable, as I said earlier. But there is no denying that she's also very young. And the others lacked the necessary leadership qualities, despite having impressive combat skills. When I suggested you to become the next Okashira, I also had another candidate on my mind. But, unfortunately…"

Aoshi stopped him by shaking his head. "I need to think", he said.

"Very well, go and think it over. I need my sleep," Okina said while stifling a yawn.

Sliding the door close behind him, the young man headed toward one of his favorite spots when he was small. The roof of Aoiya. Upon reaching there, he saw a lone figure already there, lost in thought. Moving silently on the roof, he made his way and sat beside it.

Misao turned to look as he sat down before resuming her gaze on the city below. But even as she stared toward the distance, she waited silently for the man beside her to speak. As a long period of silence passed, she realized that he wanted to share a quiet moment with her. Misao didn't mind it at all; instead she was looking forward to learn more about Aoshi-sama by doing so. Together, they enjoyed the scenery in front of them in solitude, sometimes glancing heavenward to marvel at the midnight stars.

Suddenly, Misao remembered something. "How's Okina?"

"It is a clear night; we can see many stars"

Misao gapped. Then a smile creased her mouth as she guessed Okina's condition from Aoshi's answer. Aoshi was the type of the man that would place utmost importance on his friends.  To hear him say that or to have him here for that matter signaled that all was well. "Yes. It's a beautiful night"

They continued sitting on the rooftop.

"It was Yuri who showed you this place isn't it?" Aoshi suddenly asked.

"Yuri-neechan……" Misao's thought began to focus on someone she once knew a long time ago. A member of the Oniwabanshuu women who was like an older sister to her. An older sister whom she lost while carrying out a mission for the shogunate. "She brought me here a few times. Sometimes, when I'm here, I can almost feel her presence... as if she is watching me," Misao laughed. "It's pretty foolish, ne Aoshi-sama?"

But Aoshi barely heard her. Instead, he was lost in his muse. He was also thinking about the woman Misao referred to, but for a different reason. He could hear in his head words said to him by her more than 10 years ago after he was elected to lead the group.  "Our group will rise to its glory even in the darkest hour, Shinomori-taisho.  It will, as long as you're there to lead them" He then recalled another thing said to him by her. "Please don't be too hard on Misao. She likes you a lot, you know, and it will hurt her if you keep being cold and aloof with her" Misao cocked her head in confusion when she noticed that Aoshi was giving her a soft look. Despite having made one earlier, Aoshi made a new decision. He stood. "Misao, follow me. We must get the others"

"Ee? Wh…why?"

Aoshi was already gone from the roof.

************************************************************************

Everyone in the Aoiya except for Okina was gathered together, waiting for Aoshi to speak. They were sleeping contently when Misao woke them up. Knowing that it must be something important, they waited for his announcement.

Aoshi looked each one of them in the eyes, watching for any reaction. Then he spoke. "I, Shinomori Aoshi, challenge Makimachi Misao to a duel for the position of the Okashiraa of Oniwabanshuu"

Gasps of surprise echoed throughout Aoiya. Even Misao was unprepared for such an announcement. Why did he have to do such thing? He could just ask… She finally understood why Aoshi did it. The others gasped once more as she smiled and replied, "I accept. But don't expect me to hold back"

It was a very rare moment indeed, but everyone present there at that time didn't miss the small smile Aoshi gave to Misao. "I won't"

************************************************************************

Misao starred at the kodachi in front of her face while Okon, Omasu, Shiro and Kuro watched with concern from the side. With sweat forming on her forehead, she wondered whether she should perform her ultimate attack.

Aoshi knew what she was thinking. "Your ougi is not perfect yet. That, and the slight lag in execution time will make it ineffective.

Misao sighed and threw down her hands. "I submit" She smiled. "Welcome back, Aoshi-sama, the leader of the Oniwabanshuu"

The others cheered.

************************************************************************

Aoshi's eyes were already accustomed to the darkness as he trod along the dark and narrow pathway.  The smell of dried clay and moss from the walls reminded him of the time when he used to come here. Stopping, he put his hand of on  the wall, examining the condition. "The ceiling and walls will probably last for another 100 years without any efforts to preserve them", he thought.

Built before the Tokugawa shogunate came to power, the pathway and the place that he was headed for were located underground, well hidden. Even the members of the Oniwabanshuu didn't know about the exact location; they knew that it existed, but not where it was situated. Only the Okashiraa would be given the small map which would be concealed inside the ceremonial weapon that will be given during the inauguration ceremony. And only he or she will be given the way to decode the map by the former Okashiraa by word of mouth.

Aoshi had never thought about returning here after the Restoration War, but the current situation necessitated him to do it.  After walking for a few minutes, he finally reached a metal door.

Aoshi arrived at the place.

___________________________________________________________________________

Name-neechan : Used for one's sister or someone considered like a sister.

Author's notes

1. Sorry for not updating this story for quite some time, but I was, am and will be quite busy. I do want to write the story as best as I can, not as fast as I can. Maybe a laptop as a present will motivate me to write faster! ;-p

2. I have exceeded the 20,000 words mark! Thank you all of you! I would like to dedicate this chapter to Fujifunmun who's the first one to give review to this fic and currently beta-reading my chapters.

3. I would like to extend Happy Eidilfitri and Merry Christmas to all. I was thinking of writing something regarding World Peace and stuffs, but everyone knows that to achieve peace, 'We should focus on the similarities, not the differences' (Anthony Robbins).

This chapter was checked by Fujifunmum.