Last major revision:  12/08/98
Last modified:  02/17/99

[KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 21 (very rough draft)

PLEASE let me know if things are getting a bit too strange for you guys,
okay?  ^_^;;;  That's what C&C is for....

In response to your helpful comments, I've done some rewriting of Parts
19-20.  Nothing major (just a little chronological shuffling of events),
but if you're interested in seeing the revised versions, they're located
at my website at:

    http://www.geocities.com/~madamhydra/TWL.html
    
Yes, "That Which Lingers" finally has its own webpage!  ^_^

And for the people who always ask me why I call these things "very rough
drafts", it's because I'm an absolutely lousy proofreader.   -_-;

Many thanks to serizawa@mailexcite.com for the Japanese translations.

---------------
This story is set in my own ALTERNATE REALITY Rurouni Kenshin universe
which I've called "The Nightwitch Tales" -- think of it as Rurouni
Kenshin mixed with various supernatural and paranormal elements.  It
takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc.  After that, all bets
are off.  Other stories in this alternate reality are: "Night Visitor";
"All in the Family"; and "Romancing the Wolf".  
 
WARNING:  This story is "semi-dark" -- it has dark elements (violence,
profanity, etc.) but it's not a darkfic!  Actually, there's 
quite a bit of romance in it....     ^_-

As always, C&C is greatly appreciated!   ^_^

======================================================================
    THAT WHICH LINGERS:  A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
======================================================================
        Part 21:  HIDDEN ASPECTS
======================================================================

---------------
Disclaimer
    All rights and privileges to Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro
Watsuki, Shuiesha, Sony Music Entertainment, and associated parties. 
The characters of these series are used WITHOUT permission for the
purpose of entertainment only.  This work of fiction is not meant for
sale or profit.  Original portion of the fiction included here is
considered to be the sole property and copyrighted to the author.

---------------
Text Conventions
    (  ) are character thoughts
    / / and // // represent various sorts of mental dialogue
    * ----- * ----- *  marks the start/end of dreams or flashbacks
    [ ] denote visual or time notes

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

[ Kyoto, mid-August, 1878 (11th year of the Meiji period) ]

-----------------------------------

    Misao felt cool stone beneath her cheek as she struggled back to
consciousness.  As somebody uttered a familiar, contemptuous snort
behind her back, she dazedly thought, (Sounds just like the psycho cop. 
Hmmm... why on earth am I thinking about him... ohhh, my head....)

    She abruptly remembered dashing wildly through the woods with
Junichi's pet monsters hard on her heels... the sudden drop... crashing
into a stone wall... then the monsters running away in terror....

    (Because... because they saw....)
    
    She sat bolt upright, her eyes wide with astonishment.
    
    "That huge wolf!" Misao blurted out, then caught the faint flicker
of blue out of the corner of her eye.  She turned her head just in time
to see the translucent, shimmering form of the wolf disappear around the
corner of a building.

    Misao staggered to her feet and took a look at her surroundings. 
She was standing in the courtyard in front of a modest shrine.  When she
saw the old, barely legible sign propped against a tree, she realized
that she had somehow landed smack in the middle of the very place that
she and Aoshi had been looking for.  

    The shrine building was very old, but it was obvious that someone
had been taking regular care of the place.  Misao jumped as she caught
another glimpse of the ghostly wolf.  It sat near the corner of the
shrine, its yellow eyes narrowed and its tail swishing impatiently.  As
soon as she saw it, the spirit beast turned and disappeared around the
building.

    She stared at it blankly and thought, (Those eyes... they look just
like....)  She shook her head sharply.  (No, that's crazy.  I'm just
imagining things... but on the other hand....)

    Misao stumbled after the beast, hoping to get a better look at it. 
She rounded the corner just in time to see it trot up a path behind the
shrine.  Some impulse urged her to follow.  After passing through a
short, forested stretch, she emerged along an open walkway roughly paved
with slate.  Along each side of the walkway were large tablets of stone,
inscribed with writing.  Off in the distance, at the far end of the
ascending path, was a small flat area and the entrance to a cave.  The
cave obviously also served as a shrine, but it was much, much older than
the manmade structure behind her.  She watched as the flickering form of
the wolf-spirit slipped into the cave entrance and vanished from sight. 


-----------------------------------

    Hiko made his way along the shadowy forest path, then stopped
suddenly and spoke.
    
    "I just want to tell you that your daughter Risako is hell's own
bitch." 
    
    Sitting atop a pile of stones just a few feet away from Hiko, the
ghostly form of the great wolf grinned toothily, its shoulders shaking
as if in silent laughter.  It then cocked its head slightly in an
inquisitive gesture, its amber eyes gleaming with a dark, inner fire.

    Hiko glared at the beast with an odd mixture of respect and
exasperation.  
    
    "And no, I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole.  Do you think
I'm crazy?"
    
    The wolf-spirit narrowed its eyes in sly amusement, then vanished,
leaving Hiko alone once more.

-----------------------------------

    When she reached the mouth of the cave, Misao warily peeked inside
before entering.  The interior was lit by crude stone firepots that
burned with a cool, almost bluish flame.  And by the flickering light of
those fires, she could see that entire back wall of the cave was covered
with the carving of a great wolf in profile -- its body lean but
powerful, its jaws agape with long fangs plainly visible.  The sight
sent chills down Misao's spine.

    "No wonder they call this spirit the Hunter-Killer...," she
whispered, awestruck by the eerie magnificence of the stone carving and
the primal spirit it represented.

    Suddenly, the surface of the cave wall rippled like water.  Before
Misao's incredulous eyes, the great stone carving of the wolf came to
life.  It turned its head out of the wall and stared at her with those
piercing amber eyes that seemed to lay bare every inch of her soul.  

    She was being judged.  And if the wolf-spirit was displeased with
what it found, Misao knew she would die on the spot.

    Somehow, she managed to force her limbs into motion.  Misao slowly
began to back away.  When she reached the cave entrance, she turned to
flee, but ended up crashing headlong into something quite immovable. 
With a panicked screech, she whipped out her tanto and slashed blindly
at the unexpected obstacle in her way.  

    A large, warm hand effortlessly caught her wrist, then hauled her
into the air.  The tanto slipped from her numb fingers.

    "Yare yare, is that any way to greet someone?  If you're not pleased
to see me, just say so."
    
    Her jaw nearly hit the ground as she stared at her captor.
    
    "H-H-Hiko Seijuro!!!"
    
    He gave her a typically arrogant smile and said, "None other.  And
what are you doing here?"  

    Misao was too stunned to answer.

    Hiko frowned slightly and released his grip on her wrist.  Misao's
legs refused to support her.  Her knees buckled and she sagged to the
ground in a graceless heap.

    Peering down at her, Hiko said, "Hello?  What's wrong with you,
girl?"
    
    With a slightly glazed look in her eyes, Misao mutely pointed behind
her toward the back wall of the cave and the unmoving stone carving of
the wolf.

    "Oh ho.  I see...," he murmured in a rather cryptic manner.

    "It came to life... and it looked right at me... and I thought it
was going to eat me...," she incoherently babbled.

    They both distinctly heard a scornful, "Hmph."
    
    Misao jerked her head up.  "What was THAT!?"
    
    Hiko shrugged and picked up her tanto.  Before handing it back to
Misao, he gave it a thoughtful examination.  He had recognized the
weapon instantly and asked himself, (Why would old Asuko give the girl
this tanto, hm?)

    Aloud, he said, "What are you doing out here alone in this stretch
of the woods?" 

    Misao finally snapped out of her daze.  She scrambled unsteadily to
her feet and whispered, "What am I...?  I've got to find Aoshi and stop
whatever Junichi's doing to him!"

    In a bored voice, Hiko said, "Shinomori?  He's not in the area."
    
    She whirled around and yelled, "How would YOU know!?"
    
    Hiko merely raised an eyebrow and drawled, "Trust me.  He's not
anywhere in the general vicinity.  However...."

    "Yes?" Misao snapped impatiently.
    
    He gave her a severe look.  "You youngsters have no patience.  As I
was about to say, I came across a bunch of dead monsters not too long
ago.  They had been killed by someone using a two-handed kodachi
technique.  From what you've told me, I presume that it's Shinomori's
handiwork, but I haven't seen him."

    Misao heaved a sigh of relief, then frowned in confusion.  "But you
said that he's not around here anymore?"

    "That's right."
    
    "Then... where is he?"
    
    "Who knows?"  Hiko gave her another one of his callous shrugs.
    
    Misao glared at him, then stalked out of the cave.  As they headed
down the tablet-lined walkway, Hiko said, "And you still haven't told me
what you're doing at this shrine.  This place isn't exactly a spot for
casual visitors."

    She snapped, "Aoshi and I were coming here to find the name of...." 
Her voice abruptly trailed off.

    "Of what?"
    
    "Of a demon," Misao finished quietly as she slowed to a halt.  

    She thought to herself, (I can't just go blindly chasing after
Aoshi!  I need to locate the information that Asuko's looking for... not
just for HIS sake, but for Himura and Kaoru... for everyone!  People are
depending on me... I can't let all of them down, damn it!)

    Hiko watched Misao as she stood in the middle of the walkway, her
head hanging low.  Finally, she took a deep breath, squared her
shoulders, and shook her newly shortened hair from her face.  With a
grim, determined expression on her face, she pulled up a handful of long
grass and started to scrub the dirt and moss from one of the large stone
tablets.  She glanced over the text carved into the tablet, then started
on the next stone.

    "Well, don't just stand there!  Help me!" she snapped at Hiko.
    
    "You expect ME to...."
    
    She leaned her head against the tablet she was working on, then spun
around and said, "Please, damn it!  I can't do this alone.  I need your
help.  Himura needs your help!  Everybody in Kyoto needs your help!"

    He grumbled, "Don't tell me that my idiot pupil's in trouble again."
    
    "You have NO idea how bad it is."
    
    Hiko paused just long enough to put Misao on edge, then flicked his
cape back and reached for a tuft of grass.

    "I suppose if I don't help you, I'll never get any peace and quiet
with all those bothersome monsters roving around in the woods."
    
-----------------------------------

    As they both cleaned off the inscribed stone tablets lining the
walkway, Misao told Hiko all about Minobe Junichi, the cursed sword
Kinslayer, and how the vengeful spirit was seeking revenge against
Himura Kenshin.  She was about halfway through the story when she
suddenly stopped in mid-scrub.  She turned and stared suspiciously at
Hiko who was thoughtfully reading a freshly cleaned tablet.

    With her hands on her hips, she snapped, "Just wait a second here! 
You didn't bat an eyelash when I told you about looking for a demon's
name here.  And you didn't even act the least bit surprised at running
across a bunch of dead monsters in the forest!"  

    Misao stamped her foot and glared at Hiko.  "What's going on here!? 
You and Saitoh both act like encounters with demons, cursed swords,
monsters, ghosts, and all this weird crap are perfectly normal!  Do you
guys know something that I don't!?"

    "You're asking me?" Hiko responded in the most unhelpful way
imaginable.
    
    "You... you...."
    
    He turned his back on her and said, "Are you going to stand there
and scowl at me or are you going to continue with your story?"

    Misao uttered a growl of frustration, then resumed her work on the
tablet as she finished telling Hiko all about the events involving
Kenshin, herself, and the others. 

-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------

    When Aoshi demolished the door to the upstairs sitting room of the
Aoiya, Okon jumped to her feet and exclaimed, "Aoshi-sama!?"
    
    He didn't answer.  
    
    Frozen in shock, Okon could only stare blankly as Aoshi lifted his
kodachi, then lunged toward her and Tokio.  Someone suddenly grabbed the
back of Okon's kimono and yanked her out of the way with surprising
strength, tossing her into a nearby wall.  Just before Okon blacked out,
she saw Tokio diving out of the way of Aoshi's lethal double slash.

-----------------------------------

    Omasu bustled cheerfully into Misao's room, carrying a tea tray, and
said, "Misao...."  She glanced around in confusion.  The room was empty.

    "Misao-chan?" she called again.  Omasu peered around, but the girl
was nowhere to be found.
    
    "Hmmmm.  That's very strange.  Why on earth would he say...?"

    At that moment, there was a tremendous crash from the other end of
the Aoiya.  Omasu dashed across Misao's room and flung open the window
which overlooked the inner courtyard of the Aoiya and a small garden. 
Across the courtyard, Omasu was shocked to see a woman throw herself out
an upstairs window.  The woman rolled down the short roof covering the
courtyard porch, then landed on her hands and knees in the garden.  She
immediately jumped to her feet and started to back away from the room
she had so hastily vacated.

    For a bewildered second, Omasu thought that it was Okon who plunged
out of the window.

    (NO!  That's Tokio!)

    Before the befuddled Omasu could say or do anything, there was a
flash of steel and the wall of the upstairs sitting room literally
disintegrated.  The lean figure of Shinomori Aoshi stood briefly in the
newly created opening with bared steel in his hands, his trenchcoat
fluttering, before he jumped.

    Aoshi landed in the courtyard with predatory grace and immediately
tried to sever Tokio's head from her shoulders.  However, Saitoh's wife
proved to be unexpectedly elusive as she managed to dodge first one
kodachi, then the other.

    "AOSHI-SAMA!?!?" screeched Omasu.  "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?"
    
    Totally focused on killing Tokio, Aoshi didn't seem to notice
Omasu's frantic cries.  The female Oniwabanshuu dashed downstairs and
emerged in the courtyard just as he managed to back Tokio into a corner,
leaving her with apparently nowhere to go.  The only thing that stood
between Saitoh's wife and certain death was one of Okina's floor
cushions, clutched in Tokio's hands.  It seemed like a pathetically
inadequate shield to the horrified Omasu.  

    Aoshi used the kodachi in his right hand to slice the pillow to
shreds, filling the air with a blinding cloud of stuffing and fabric. 
Omasu braced herself for the sickening sound of sword slicing flesh. 
But as the stuffing settled out of the air, both Omasu and Aoshi
realized that Tokio was nowhere to be seen.  Their only clue was the
front door of the Aoiya, which now stood wide open.  A stunned Omasu
then realized what she had just seen -- a traditional, but brilliantly
executed ninja vanishing trick.

    (I don't believe it!  But there's no other explanation!)  

    Omasu found it incredible but it seemed that Saitoh's demure,
mild-mannered lady of a wife is a kunoichi -- a female ninja -- just
like herself or Okon.  Moreover, Tokio's ability to elude Aoshi's
attacks even momentarily meant that she was an extremely skillful ninja
at that.  But even the best trained kunoichi couldn't hope to defeat the
finest fighter of the Oniwabanshuu in hand-to-hand combat. In running
for her life, Tokio had done the only sensible thing.    

    When Aoshi whirled around to pursue his quarry, Omasu gasped as she
caught a glimpse at his face.

    (His eyes!  It's the same horrible, blank stare he gave us when he
was hunting down Himura-san, only a hundred times worse!  What's wrong
with him!?  What madness could have possessed him to....)
    
    Then it all fell into place with a sickening thud as she watched
Aoshi charge after Tokio.  She ran after him, out into the deserted
street, only to see him vanish down an alleyway.

    In a choked voice, Omasu whispered, "Possessed... he's probably
possessed just like poor Kaoru!  Now what do I do?  There's no one else
here except for Okon...!"  She abruptly stiffened.  Okon had been
upstairs with Tokio.  The fact that Okon had not showed up to help her
told Omasu that her friend was probably out of action... or dead.

    "Oh no!"

    As Omasu dashed back into the Aoiya and ran up the stairs, one
frightening question kept nagging at her mind.

    Where on earth is Misao?
    
-----------------------------------

    As Aoshi dashed down the nearly empty city streets in pursuit of his
unexpectedly elusive quarry, he failed to notice a large raven silently
soaring overhead, its amber eyes observing his every movement.

-----------------------------------

    Painfully aware of the passing time, Misao worked quickly but as
carefully as she could.  The script carved into the stone tablets was
archaic and barely legible to her eyes, although Hiko didn't seem to
have any problem with the characters.  Most of the tablets seemed to
involve legends of the wolf-spirit of the shrine, also known as the
Hunter.  They were fierce and bloody tales about the relentless,
merciless pursuit and destruction of evil in all its many forms.  Some
of the stories talked about demons -- Misao noted down the names -- but
none of the descriptions she'd uncovered so far really matched the demon
involved with the Minobe family and Kinslayer.

    In her search, she came across an older, perhaps more fitting name
for the wolf-spirit.  Inscribed on the stones nearest the cave were the
words 'Aku Tsui Satsu Roh Jin', which apparently meant something like
'Prince of the God Wolf of Hunting and Killing the Evil'.

    (Well, that's certainly a more romantic name than 'The Hunter', but
what a mouthful!)
 
    In her haste, Misao nearly missed what she was looking for.  But the
mention of 'love' grabbed her attention.  As she ran her fingers over
the characters, she slowly worked out the name.

    "'Aijoh... wo... hametsu... shi... tsukusu... gaki....'   The hungry
devil that consumes... love?  The Love-eater?"

    Staring at the stone tablet, Misao somehow knew that she had found
the one name she had been looking for.  Squinting at the stone, she
muttered, "But how does the story end?  What happened?  If the Hunter
destroyed this demon like it did all the others, how could it possible
be the one...."

    Hiko said quietly, "But it wasn't destroyed."

    She turned to look at him.  "What?"

    He squatted down beside her and pointed out the last few lines on
the tablet.

    "In their last great battle, many centuries ago, neither the demon
or the Hunter could score a decisive victory," said Hiko as he scanned
the text on the stone.

    "Then what happened?"

    "The story goes on to say that the demon, weakened from its long
fight with the wolf-spirit, was sealed away by a great warrior called
Minobe Fuumi."  He glanced at Misao.  "Didn't you say that Junichi was a
Minobe?"

    She nodded, then her eyes widened.  "When that stupid woman tried to
summon a demon 400 years ago to win the love of Minobe Koji, I bet she
partially broken the seal or something.  The demon certainly didn't
waste the opportunity to take revenge on the Minobe family!  By creating
Kinslayer, it nearly managed to wipe out the entire family.  I remember
reading somewhere that the Minobe clan was once a great and influential
family.  Their fortunes took a real turn for the worse after Kinslayer
showed up.  Now the family's penniless and nearly extinct.  The only
living member is some old crazy woman called Emi."

    Misao gave Hiko a frightened look.  "But if the Hunter -- a powerful
spirit who managed to destroy all these other evil monsters -- couldn't
defeat this demon...."  She gulped nervously.

    Hiko got to his feet.  "Yes.  Well, that fool Kenshin certainly
knows how to pick his enemies," he grumbled.  "Naturally, he couldn't
get tangled up with your normal run of demon.  Instead he has to...."

    "Excuse me!?  A 'normal run of demon'?  How can ANYTHING about
demons be considered normal!?" Misao shouted.

    "There's a lot more going on in this world than you know about.  Get
used to it, Weasel Girl," a familiar mocking voice suddenly said behind
them.

    Misao yelped in fright as she spun around.  Even Hiko looked
startled as he turned, his hand on his sword.

    Saitoh Hajime was casually leaning against one of the stone tablets,
a cigarette in hand and his mouth curled in an unmistakable smirk.

    "Saitoh!" she exclaimed.  Looking into his narrow amber eyes and the
lean, fierce bones of his face, Misao finally made the mental connection
to another amber-eyed entity she had seen just recently.  In a strangled
voice, she pointed at him with a shaky finger and stuttered, "The
eyes... the same... the wolf ghost... you... it's you!"

    She stumbled back, tripped on nothing in particular, and sat down
hard with a stupefied expression on her face.

-----------------------------------

    Saitoh raised an eyebrow, then nudged the stunned girl with his boot
as he muttered, "What the hell are you babbling about now?"
    
    Although he didn't let it show, Saitoh Hajime had actually woken up
just a few minutes ago.  He wasn't precisely sure just how he managed to
get from his last clearly remembered location -- the clearing where he
had been ambushed by those ugly dog monsters -- to this place.  The
painful lump on the back of his head and a vague recollection of getting
slammed into a tree might have something to do with the blank spot in
his memory.  

    However, he had instantly recognized his surroundings and the Wolf
Shrine that he and Tokio had visited eight years ago.  After that, it
was simply a matter of following the sound of the Weasel Girl's voice.

    Since he wasn't getting any response from Misao, Saitoh glanced at
Hiko and repeated his question.

-----------------------------------

    Hiko Seijuro had a tremendous amount of self-confidence, but he also
had a well-developed sense of self-preservation.  His cousin Tokio was
usually the most placid and easygoing of his female relatives, but if
someone crossed her in matters involving her chosen mate....  

    'Hell on earth' would be a massive understatement.

    So when Saitoh asked him about Misao's rather incoherent statements,
Hiko Seijuro, the thirteenth master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, shrugged and
calmly lied.

    "I haven't got a clue."

-----------------------------------

    Saitoh glanced at the white-caped man and said, "Hiko Seijuro, the
man who schooled the Battousai in Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."

    "Saitoh Hajime."  In response to the inquiring quirk of Saitoh's
eyebrow, Hiko added, "I recognize you from various descriptions."

    "Hmph.  Unflattering ones, I'm sure."

    "You have quite a reputation, Miburo."

    The mention of his infamous nickname reminded Saitoh about Misao,
who was slowly coming out of her daze.  He glowered down at her and
impatiently asked, "Are you going to start making sense or did you lose
your wits along with your hair braid?"

    "Ughhh...."

    "What are you doing out here?  And where the hell's Shinomori run
off to?"

    Her eyes abruptly focused and she jerked her head around to stare at
the policeman.

    Saitoh observed this instant recovery and commented slyly, "I was
sure that would grab your attention, Weasel Girl."

    Hiko murmured, "Weasel girl?  Hmmm, that name suits her rather
well...."

    Clutching at her aching head, Misao mumbled something about Asuko
and the demon, followed by some more mumblings about her confrontation
with Junichi, the possessed Kaoru, and Kinslayer.

    When she was finished, Saitoh scowled and said, "So the old hag sent
you off to dig up some information on the demon, eh?  Well, did you find
anything?"

    Misao silently pointed to the stone tablet she and Hiko had been
reading.  Saitoh's frown deepened as he began to read the legend of the
Hunter and the great demon known as the Love-eater.

-----------------------------------

    As she nervously observed Saitoh, Misao became steadily more
convinced that there was something... different... about the man.  He
had always had a sinister aura about him, but now the feeling of danger
was even more noticeable.  And she could have sworn that there was an
almost feral gleam in his amber eyes that hadn't been there before.  

    At that moment, Misao couldn't quite make up her mind whether Saitoh
actually WAS the ghostly wolf she had seen earlier... although figuring
out how a human being could transform into a spirit creature was totally
beyond her understanding.

    (Or maybe Kaoru's not the only one who's possessed by something
supernatural,) she thought uneasily.

    She couldn't decide which possibility frightened her more.  Misao
glanced quickly at Hiko. 

    (Don't tell me that HE can't sense that there's something really
weird going on here!)

    Hiko was treating Saitoh with a sort of wary respect, which seemed
almost inconceivable for a man of his tremendous ego.  But one look at
Hiko's cool, impassive expression told her that if Kenshin's master did
know something about Saitoh, he certainly wasn't going to say anything
to her.  

-----------------------------------

    He hadn't been feeling quite like himself to begin with, but by the
time he finished reading the story inscribed on the tablet, Saitoh knew
that something was definitely wrong.  An odd sense of eagerness and
anticipation seemed to dance along his nerves.  It was almost as if he
was somehow more... alive.  The sensation could not be conveniently
explained by a simple concussion or the painful lump on the back of his
head.  

    He glanced up at the cave entrance and thought, (There's just
something about this place that makes me feel....  The same thing
happened last time I was here with Tokio.  Damn it, I need to get away
from here....)

    Showing no outward sign of his uneasiness, the policeman coolly
asked Misao, "Well, now that you've found what you were looking for, are
you ready to leave?"

    She stared at Saitoh for a long moment, then asked, "Did you see any
traces of Aoshi on your way here?"

    "No.  And I don't have time to go trampling all over the forest
looking for him."

    Misao clenched her fists and whispered, "Neither... neither do I. 
This information can't wait.  I have to get back to Kyoto right away." 

    A part of her wailed at the thought of abandoning Aoshi any more
than she had already done, but another part of her knew all too well
that he would want her to complete her task, regardless of the cost to
himself.

    She glanced around.  "But I'm not sure which direction I should
be...."

    Saitoh took an impatient drag on his cigarette.  "Then don't sit
there like a limp rag.  I'm not going to wait for you."  With those
words, he stalked off down the walkway.

    Misao scrambled to her feet and asked Hiko.  "Are you coming to
Kyoto with us?"

    "No."

    "But... but I told you what's happening to Himura... to the whole
city!  We need you!"

    Hiko gave her an arrogant stare.

    "You need me to do what?  It's perfectly clear from your own words
that all these events are centered around Kenshin and Saitoh.  Nothing
short of a final confrontation between those two and Junichi will
resolve the present situation in Kyoto.  It would be totally pointless
for me to trudge all that way to merely sit on the sidelines.  I have
much better things to do with my time."

    "Oh... oh, you arrogant bastard!"  

    With that parting shot, Misao ran off after Saitoh.

-----------------------------------

    As Saitoh and Misao quickly headed back toward Kyoto, he noticed
Misao constantly staring at him with a puzzled and anxious look on her
face.  Finally, he snapped irritably, "What's wrong with you?"

    She twitched nervously.  "Nothing!  It's just that...."

    "And if you start babbling about ghostly wolves and all that crap
again, I'll hurt you," Saitoh added in a dangerous voice.

    Misao clamped her mouth shut.  Normally, Saitoh's threat would have
done little to keep her quiet, but the unnerving possibility that Saitoh
was not exactly... himself made provoking him a very stupid thing to do.


    Oddly enough, she wasn't really afraid for her own life.  Whatever
that wolf-spirit was, it didn't seem interested in hurting her and it
actually helped her a bit.  And while Saitoh didn't make the most
comfortable of travelling companions, she definitely felt safer than she
would have walking through these forests alone. 

-----------------------------------

    Sano glared at the Takagi house servant and snapped, "What do you
mean you don't know where she is?"

    The middle-aged woman blinked and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but she
left on an errand."

    "What the devil is she doing, wandering around the city alone at a
time like this?"

    "I can't rightly say, sir," was the servant's stolid reply.

    "Well, did she say where she was going?" Yahiko impatiently
demanded.

    "I believe she said something about going to the Aoiya Restaurant to
drop off some papers...."

    The servant found herself talking to empty air as Sano and Yahiko
rushed off down the street.  They soon arrived at the Aoiya to find the
front door gaping open and no one in sight.

    "Where the hell is everyone?" the fighter muttered.
    
    "Sano!  Come here!"  
    
    He rushed over to Yahiko.  They both stared at the interior
courtyard.  There were bits of fabric scattered all over the floor, a
huge hole in one of the upper story walls that faced the courtyard, and
slash marks all over the porch.

    There was the sound of footsteps running downstairs, then Omasu
dashed around the corner and nearly ran into them.  She uttered a squeak
of surprise, before sagging against the wall in relief.

    "Sano!  It's only you...."

    "What happened here!?"

    "Well, Aoshi-sama showed up and he tried to kill Tokio-san but it
wasn't his fault because he must have been possessed and she managed to
escape then he ran off after her and poor Okon's out cold but I have no
idea where poor Misao-chan is and I haven't been able to contact Okina
yet and you couldn't imagine the look I saw on his face when he...."

    His brain whirling with the onslaught of information, Sano waved his
hands in the air and yelled, "HOLD IT!!!  Slow down!"

-----------------------------------

    Tokio slipped around the corner of a building and flattened herself
against the wall.  Surprisingly, for a woman who was supposed to be
running from a sword-wielding master ninja who was hell-bent on bloody
murder, she looked hardly out of breath.

    "Mother."
    
    Tokio gasped and spun around to find Risako's black-clad figure
standing right next to her.  Pressing her hand against her chest, Tokio
murmured, "One of these days, you're going to give me a heart attack."

    Risako shrugged, then politely asked, "I was just wondering why you
were bothering to run away from Shinomori.  A quick spell and he'd be a
tidy pile of ashes."

    As she settled her kimono back into order, Tokio replied, "That
would be the easy way, but I don't want to risk the demon becoming aware
of any hint of Nightwitch involvement.  If it senses any trace of magic,
it'll be even harder to lure out the monster out of hiding.  So I'm
afraid I'm simply going to have to deal with Aoshi by purely physical
means."

    "Forgive me for saying so, Mother, but hand-to-hand combat is NOT
your strong point."

    Tokio sighed quietly.  "Yes, dear, I know that I'm hardly up to your
level.  On the other hand, Aoshi's a mortal so that should make us
pretty much even."

    Risako smoothed the sleeve of her kimono and said, "You could allow
me to dispose of Shinomori."

    Tokio smiled, but said, "Thank you, dear, but I would prefer that
you remain hidden for now.  Besides, I rather like the young man.  I
don't want him dead unless absolutely necessary."

    "Very well, Mother.  But I hope you won't mind if I keep an eye on
things."

    "Not at all.  It would be rather comforting...."  
    
    Risako suddenly stiffened.  "Shinomori's coming."  She glanced at
Tokio and murmured very softly, "He's very good for a human.  Do be
careful.  I'll try to honor your decision to handle him yourself, but
please remember that Father would never forgive me if I let anything
permanent happen to you."

    With those words, Risako melted back into the shadows of the alley. 
A second later, a raven flew out of the same shadows and perched on a
nearby gutter.

    Tokio smiled at the amber-eyed bird, then turned and ran, just as
Aoshi appeared at the entrance of the alleyway.

-----------------------------------
(end of part 21)

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

Next part:   Hot pursuit!  Hot pursuit!    =^_^=

--------------------------------------------
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