Last major revision: 02/15/99 Last modified: 02/24/99 [KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 22 (major revision) I'm STILL so behind, both in writing and in reading all the great fanfics out on the mailing list! ^_^; *pathetic moan* Here's a major revision of Part 22 so I hope you guys will take the time to re-read it. I got some comments about the story being a bit rushed, so I did a fair bit of rewriting (added nearly 40% more text), especially near the end. Major changes include a lot more stuff from Misao's and Aoshi's POV. I hope you don't think it's too mushy. :P --------------- 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 22: THE SHEDDING OF MASKS ====================================================================== --------------- 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) ] ----------------------------------- As the Battousai raced through the streets of Kyoto after his quarry, it was almost as if he was travelling back through years gone by. He passed things and places that no longer existed... he saw faces of people dead for many years.... ....and he spilled the blood of opponents that he had killed over a decade ago with frightening ease.... Not frightening to him -- he knew his skill -- but rather for the few people still brave enough, desperate enough, or perhaps stupid enough to continue roving the streets of Kyoto. The Battousai paused near an intersection. Minobe Junichi was toying with him... playing some perverse game of hide-and-seek. In truth, the flash of blind rage that had sent him charging after Minobe had faded in the first few moments of the chase. However, the Battousai knew that the undead spirit possessing Kaoru was leading him on with a definite goal in mind. He didn't know Junichi's exact purpose, but sometimes the only way to deal with a trap was to simply take the bait. He heard a young woman's taunting laughter behind him and the Battousai's expression became just a little colder. He turned to catch a fleeting glimpse of Kaoru's long black hair disappearing around a corner. Minobe Junichi ran and the fearsome Hitokiri Battousai followed, deeper into the city of Kyoto and ever deeper into his own bloody past. ----------------------------------- It took a good ten minutes for Sano and Yahiko to sort out Omasu's disjointed story. And since Sano and Yahiko kept talking at the same time, it took nearly as long before Omasu could comprehend what had occurred during the Kenshin's most recent confrontation between the possessed Kaoru and Minobe Junichi. Sano finally muttered, "So you're saying that Aoshi showed up without Misao?" It took all of Omasu's self-control to keep from bursting into tears as she nodded violently and blurted out, "Yes! I DID notice that he was sounding a little strange, but I had NO idea...!" "Yeah, yeah. Hey, it's not your fault! You had no reason to think that anything like this would happen." Despite her usual, excitable nature, Omasu was an experienced ninja. She didn't panic easily. However, the traumatic events of that afternoon were almost too much for her. She wrung her hands and said, "Didn't Kaoru say... I mean, didn't Minobe say something about Aoshi-sama killing... killing the woman he loves? Do you think he was talking about... Misao?" "Unless Aoshi's been keeping a mistress stashed away somewhere, who else could the bastard be talking about?" Sano snapped tensely. Omasu was too overwrought to take offense at this comment. She whispered almost to herself, "I... I almost wish that was true. Otherwise, that means that Misao-chan...." Wringing her hands, she gave Sano and Yahiko an anguished look. "You didn't... you didn't see the look in his eyes! Yahiko, do you remember when he came by the Aoiya hunting for Himura-san?" "Yeah...." the boy muttered. "Do you remember his eyes... how they looked back then?" Yahiko nodded slowly. Omasu gulped, then continued. "When I saw his face this afternoon... it was the same cold emptiness, only a thousand time worse! Like a damned soul...." She clamped her hand over her mouth and looked away, unable to continue. Sano abruptly reached out and hugged her close. Omasu gratefully rested her head against his shoulder and whispered, "The terrible thing is... it may be too late to save him...." Yahiko stiffened and said, "What do you mean!? You really think he'd...." "I know you think Aoshi-sama's cold and unfeeling, but he cares for Misao and very deeply, too. But if he truly LOVES Misao... if she's really dead... and if he was the one to kill her...." Omasu shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid... even if we could free him from the demon's power... I'm afraid that there won't be any way to make him... live...." Sano could only give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Omasu could very well be right. If Aoshi could go off the deep end over the deaths of Hannya and the other Oniwabanshuu, the fighter hated to think how Aoshi would react if he was in fact responsible for killing Misao with his own hands. ----------------------------------- When Saitoh and Misao arrived at the outskirts of Kyoto, he drawled, "Now can you find your way home?" She gave him a nervous look, but did her best to reply with her usual cocky tone. "Of course I can! Just because I got turned around in the forest...." "Whatever," Saitoh said, apparently bored with the whole matter. With a dismissive flick of his hand, he started to walk away. "Where are you going?" Misao demanded. He paused an instant, then turned back toward her and gave Misao a mocking look. "To do my duty, of course." His lips then curled upward in a bone-chilling smile. Misao unconsciously backed up a step. It wasn't that Saitoh had said anything unusual -- unusual for him, at least -- but there was something truly scary about the look in his eyes. She knew that he was cruel, dangerous, and all that, but now there was an unnerving intensity and power in the man which hadn't been there before. "Uh... right. Then I'll be on my way," she muttered. "To the Aoiya, I presume." "Yeah...." She nervously shuffled her feet, edging away from him. Saitoh chuckled softly, then said, "Until later, weasel girl." Misao was too rattled to notice the insult. Her nerve broke and she bolted. But even as she ran as fast as she could toward the Aoiya, she could still feel Saitoh's eyes upon her. ----------------------------------- The red-haired swordsman who prowled the streets of Kyoto was a curious blending of the past and the present. He had all the memories of Himura Kenshin -- memories of a rurouni's wanderings after the Bakamatsu no Douran... memories of Sano, Yahiko, and all the other friends he had come to know... memories of Kaoru. However, the way he interpreted those memories and his mode of thinking were almost entirely that of the Hitokiri Battousai -- cold, precise, and ruthless in a way that was beyond most people's comprehension. Just as it had been during the Douran, the part of him that was Kenshin was the strategist, setting the goals to be achieved, but it was the Battousai who was the tactician, the one who did whatever was necessary to achieve those goals. So it had been a decade ago... and so it was now again. And with the Battousai's preeminence, the overwhelming emotions that had been clouding Kenshin's thinking had been stripped away -- or at least momentarily pushed aside. No matter how desperate Kenshin wanted to save Kaoru, he also knew that Minobe Junichi had to be stopped before he could destroy Kyoto and perhaps the entire country... no matter what the cost. Junichi might delude himself into thinking all the unnatural events in Kyoto and Tokyo had occurred for his sole benefit, but Kenshin knew better. He could sense it. Junichi was being used by a greater, darker power and the fool didn't even know it. Shishio Mokoto had wanted to dominate the country by blood and fire in order to make it stronger. Kenshin, Saitoh, and Sano had risked their lives to stop the would-be tyrant because his plans would have caused great suffering for the ordinary people and an untold numbers of deaths. But this time was different. The danger was infinitely greater. It was literally a fate worse than death. Junichi's unseen master -- most likely Kinslayer -- was bent on destroying the fabric of the world itself and reweaving it to suit its own twisted desires. The cost of failure was too high. There could be no holding back. To save the woman he loved, the city of Kyoto, and possibly the entire country, it might be necessary for Kamiya Kaoru to die. Kenshin could only hope that Kaoru would understand and forgive him for the decision and if necessary, the act. In a way, Junichi had done him an unintentional favor... he had taught Himura Kenshin to kill again. He had killed for an ideal.... He had killed for survival.... He had killed out of anger.... After the Bakamatsu no Douran, he had truly believed that the deliberate taking of life could never be justified. He had been wrong. Now he was preparing to kill again... out of love. And somewhere in the depths of Kenshin's soul, something stirred and began to awaken. Mighty coils slowly rasped across each other... scales rustled... a great golden eye opened.... ....then Kenshin heard a voice that echoed as if from the bottom of a deep well. / To yourself be true.... / ----------------------------------- Outside the Aoiya restaurant, Yahiko clutched his shinai and snapped, "So what do we do now?" Letting go of Omasu as she regained her composure, Sano said, "Do you have any idea where Aoshi and Tokio might be?" He could hardly believe what Omasu had said about Saitoh's wife. He had no problems of thinking about Okon, Omasu, and even Misao being ninja, but elegant, placid Tokio? It boggled the mind. Omasu shook her head and said, "I sent messages out to Okina telling him what happened, but I haven't gotten a response back. The other Oniwabanshuu have been notified to keep a look out for Aoshi-sama. With all the disturbances in the city...." She shrugged helplessly. "How's Okon?" "She got knocked into a wall pretty hard. She's still unconscious, but I think she'll be all right. However, I don't want to leave her alone...." Sano nodded. "Yeah." He slammed his fist into his palm in frustration. "Damn it! With Tokio running off and Aoshi chasing her, the two of them could be anywhere in the city!" "Sounds just like Kenshin and Kaoru, doesn't it?" Yahiko muttered. "We haven't got a clue where any of them are!" Kicking at a loose cobblestone, he added, "So all we can do is sit on our butts until we get some more information!" Sano growled, "And who knows where the hell Saitoh might be?" "And can you imagine what his reaction will be when he finds out that Aoshi tried to hack off his wife's head!?" The young boy threw up his hands. "I don't believe this! Kaoru AND Aoshi are possessed, Kenshin's gone totally Battousai on us, Tokio's running for her life, and who the hell knows what's happened to the Weasel Girl...." "Don't... call me... that..., butthead...," panted a familiar voice behind them. They all whirled around and stared at Misao who was leaning heavily against a nearby wall. Covered from head to toe with bruises and scratches, her clothes bloodied and torn, there was no denying that she was a mess. It was also clear that she was so exhausted that she could barely stand. Sano and Yahiko simply stood there, their mouths gaping, as Omasu said the first thing that came to mind. "What happened to your hair!?" the female Oniwabanshuu blurted as she stared at Misao's hair which now ended raggedly around the nape of the girl's neck. After grabbing a few deep breaths, Misao barely managed to wheeze out, "What's... going...?" "MISAO-CHAN!!!" Omasu lunged forward and hugged the girl tightly. She squeezed Misao so hard that the girl nearly fainted from lack of air. Sano finally got his jaw back into place and yelled, "You're alive!" "Hey, let go of her or she'll pass out!" Yahiko protested. After a few moments to catch her breath, Misao said, "What do you mean 'alive'? What's going on here? And where's Jiya? I have to tell him... something terrible's happened to Aoshi...." The dead silence that followed made the girl jerk up her head. Sano gruffly said, "Aoshi's already been here." "WHAT!?!?" The fighter looked away and added quietly, "He tried to kill Tokio." "He tried to kill... WHY!?" Her gaze skittered around the area as if she expected to find Tokio's body lying in the street. Before anyone could answer, she held up her hand and whispered, "No. I know why.... Junichi, you... you BASTARD!" Misao went pale with rage, then suddenly froze. She turned to Sano and said in a tightly controlled voice, "Aoshi TRIED to kill Tokio? You mean... you mean he didn't succeed? But how...? Did Himura stop him?" "Uh... no." Sano scratched the back of his head before continuing. "Tokio managed to get away. Aoshi followed her." Misao blinked in astonishment. "You mean Saitoh's wife managed to escape Aoshi all by herself?" She allowed a faint trace of hope to enter her voice. "Then he couldn't have been really trying...." Omasu shook her head sharply. "Misao-chan, he was deadly serious. If Tokio-san hadn't known exactly what to do, she would have been killed instantly." "You're not trying to tell me that Tokio...!?" The female Oniwabanshuu nodded. "She's a kunoichi and exceptionally skilled." Misao blinked, then finally said, "So... so where is she now?" "I don't know," muttered Sano. "So where's Aoshi!?" "I don't know that either!" Misao grabbed Sano's jacket and somehow managed to shake the much taller man hard enough to rattle his teeth. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW!?" Sano managed to yank himself free and shouted back, "Exactly that! I don't know! Omasu said they took off running and they haven't been seen since! And by the way, what the hell happened to you!?" Misao glared furiously at him. The fear and worry knotting in her guts became too much for her and she took out her frustration on the closest available target. She yelled, "What happened to me? I'll tell you just what happened to ME! Tokio's grand-aunt Asuko sent Aoshi and me to some old shrine to find information about the Minobe demon. What happened then, you ask? We end up getting separated, Kaoru shows up, and Junichi tries to talk me becoming a mindless slave. And while you were merrily strolling around Kyoto, I get chased all over the forest by pig-dog demons, end up nose-to-nose with this monstrous wolf spirit call the Hunter, nearly get a heart-attack when Hiko Seijuro suddenly decides to pop up, AND I won't even BEGIN to tell you the weirdness going on with that psycho cop Saitoh!!!" By this time, she was shouting at the top of her lungs. After taking a few deep breaths, she folded her arms and added in a grim voice, "And to top it all off, I find out that the particular demon we're facing is one of the most powerful around! So there!" Yahiko gritted his teeth before shouting furiously, "What the hell do you mean 'merrily strolling around Kyoto'!? We haven't been having a damn walk in the park, you know! WE had to deal with that crazy old Emi Minobe bitch! And if that wasn't enough, Kenshin's sakabatou somehow turns into a REAL sword and he ends up KILLING a bunch of Shinsengumi...." Misao waved her hands and yelled, "Whoa! Whoa! What do you mean 'killing'? Kenshin!?" Yahiko glared up at her and snarled, "You heard me right! Kenshin KILLED those guys!" He pointed at the splatters of blood on Sano's white jacket. "Where do you think THOSE came from!? A damn nosebleed!? Then Junichi shows up in Kaoru's body and tells us that he's somehow taken over Aoshi's mind because Aoshi thinks he's killed YOU! Then Junichi says something that makes Kenshin TOTALLY flip out and off he goes after Kaoru!" Before the situation could degenerate further, a young man ran up to Omasu and gasped, "I think we found them! Aoshi-sama... and a woman!" "Where?" shouts Misao, grabbing his shirt. "About ten blocks away to the south, the street with all the pottery shops!" Without a word, Sano grabbed Misao by the waist and tucked her under his arm. "Sano, what the hell do you think you're...?" she yelped. "Shut up, Weasel! You're too tired to run and you're probably the only person who can get through to Aoshi! Omasu, stay here and let Okina or Kenshin know what happened if they show up!" With those words, Sano, Misao, and Yahiko headed southward as fast as they could run. ----------------------------------- A tall, silent figure stood on a rooftop, his torn and bloodied trenchcoat fluttering weakly in the faint breeze like the wings of a dying bird. Aoshi's body throbbed from the injuries inflicted by the demons and earlier by Misao, but it meant nothing to him. The greater pain cancels the lesser pain. How could puny things like mere flesh wounds and broken ribs matter when one's heart and soul are shredded beyond repair? The scene replayed itself over and over again in his mind. However, hopelessly mired by misery and grief, Aoshi failed to notice the subtle changes that began to creep into his memory... changes that steadily fed his own guilt and raised doubts that ate like acid into his soul. What had once merely been a shadow-obscured round shape suspended from Kaoru's hand by a thick rope that might have been a braid now became clearly visible in his mind's eye. There was now no question of that object being anything EXCEPT Misao's severed head. He could now recall little details that should have told him that something was not right with the monster he fought... things that should have told him that Misao was there.... Had he heard her voice faintly begging for him to stop? Had the monster's smell been strangely familiar? Had he been so carried away by the monster's apparent dangerousness that he missed all these hints of Misao's presence? And more and more often, everywhere he turned, he thought he saw Misao staring at him with wide, accusing eyes... horrified eyes that demanded to know why he had done such a monstrous thing to her. That same look had haunted his dreams for the past year. It was the same expression she had had when she found him standing over Okina's battered and bleeding body. Back then, he had felt nothing... regretted nothing.... But now, when he desperately wanted to tell her he was so sorry, he knew Misao would never hear him... she never forgive him. Why should she? All he had ever done was cause her misery and suffering throughout her life. Had he ever given her any moments of happiness? Strange, but he couldn't seem to remember any. He couldn't even remember her smile.... All he could think of was her pain and sorrow -- he could clearly recall Himura telling him that Misao was weeping because of him. It was so easy to picture her tears. The only another thing he seemed able to remember was her hatred. With perfect clarity, he could remember the words she had hurled at him as she tried to kill him in those woods outside of Tokyo... how she accused him of being a coward... of never caring about her... of depriving her all the people she had ever cared about. Hannya, Beshimi, Shikijou, Hyottoko.... And what about Okina, whom he had nearly slain? What about the other Oniwabanshuu, whom he probably would have also killed in order to get at Himura Kenshin? Aoshi had vague memories of Misao talking... how she said something about loving him, but was that recent or long ago? He wanted to tell that he loved her, too, but now it was far too late. Even if her ghost could hear him, why should she believe anything her murderer said? And Misao's ghost was coming ever closer.... ----------------------------------- In the streets below, Aoshi's chosen victim carefully slipped from shadow to shadow. Tokio had lost track of Aoshi just a few minutes ago. He was certainly still in the area -- her ability to sense the demon's malignant presence told her that much -- but when dealing with someone as dangerous as Aoshi, a general idea of his location was woefully inadequate. Shinomori Aoshi might be a mortal, but she in no way underestimated the hazards of dealing him in these narrow streets and alleyways. Only a person of Risako's skills could presume to challenge him on this sort of terrain with any degree of impunity. For anyone else, the slightest mistake could easily be fatal. She had more precise ways of detecting Aoshi's location, but just as she could sense the demon's presence, the demon could sense the use of all but the subtlest use of magical power in the area. No, she would have to handle this strictly with flesh and steel alone. It was more than a little risky, but weighed against her desire to secure her husband's safety from his ancient adversary, there was no question of what she would do. ----------------------------------- A large raven watched as Tokio stealthily made her way through the alleyways. From its elevated perch, it was the only one to watch Aoshi silently appear on the ridgeline of the neighboring building. He settled into a predatory crouch and waited. The bird cocked its sleek black head, as if to appreciate Aoshi's skill, then picked up a small piece of broken roof tile in its beak. It waited until it caught a near imperceptible shift in his body, then tossed the tile shard into the street below with a sharp flick of the head. When the shard landed, it made only a faint plinking noise, but that was more than enough warning. Tokio immediately glanced up, just in time to see Aoshi plunging down toward her. She jumped to her left. Despite the swiftness of her leap, Aoshi still managed to slash open her kimono from hip to hem. If she had been a fraction of a second slower, he would have taken off her leg as well. He landed only a few feet away and without the slightest pause, whipped his other kodachi across toward her chest. Another backward leap took Tokio out of immediate striking range. As Aoshi emerged from the shadows, his kodachi dully gleaming in the dim afternoon light, Tokio reached behind her back and slipped two slender items from her obi. A graceful snap of both wrists and the slender rods unfurled into lethal crescents of steel. Like an elegant courtesan playing with a mask, Tokio held one crescent in front of her face, concealing everything except her dark eyes. She languidly held her other arm out at shoulder height to her right, almost as if inviting her opponent to come closer. A night bird trilled softly, then fell silent. Aoshi's eyes narrowed. Tokio watched him in return, missing nothing. Over the edge of the steely crescent in her left hand, something about her eyes hinted at a hidden smile and many mysteries. ----------------------------------- He stopped and lifted his head up as if to catch an intriguing scent. It was a familiar one, not of this world. It reeked of hunger, blood, malice, and death. He imagined that his own scent would be rather similar. Perhaps without the malice.... Then again, perhaps not. A stray dog shivered nervously and scuttled away with its tail tucked tightly between its legs as the lean policeman smiled slowly.... ----------------------------------- Sano, Misao, and Yahiko soon arrived on the potters' street market. Like much of Kyoto, the area was deserted and the heavy cloud cover turned the middle of the afternoon into a murky twilight. Misao wiggled free of Sano's grip and took a good look around. "Do you think they're still here?" muttered Yahiko. "Who knows?" From the expression on Misao's face, Sano knew she was struggling to control her desire to start shouting Aoshi's name. Suddenly, there was a muffled crash to their left, followed by the unmistakable clang of steel meeting steel. But before they could take a step toward the disturbance, the disturbance came to them. Less than ten feet away, planks went flying as a woman was flung through a wooden wall and out into the street practically at their feet. Sano caught a fleeting glimpse of an exquisite pair of long, white legs and a swirl of long black hair as the woman rolled gracefully to her feet. In each hand, there was a gleaming crescent of steel. Before Sano and his companions could react, the woman lashed out with her foot. The firm, but controlled foot-sweep was enough to knock Yahiko aside and out of her way, just as Shinomori Aoshi lunged through the opening, kodachi poised for attack. What followed was a blur of lightning fast attacks on Aoshi's part, using both kodachi and feet, and an equally fast flurry of parries, dodges, mixed with the occasional counterattack by the woman. As he scrambled back to his feet, Yahiko muttered, "What the hell is she using? Fans!?" It would have seemed ludicrous, except at that moment, the woman flicked one fan shut and used it to deflect Aoshi's right hand blade while simultaneously opening a bloody slash along his left forearm with the razor-sharp edge of the open fan held in her other hand. The exchange ended as abruptly as it began with the two opponent standing about thirty feet apart, quietly panting. It was only at that moment that Sano and the others recognized Tokio... a Tokio they had never imagined they would see. Her hair dangled loosely around her face, there was blood trickling from her nose, and her kimono was slashed open in numerous places. Her left cheek was already darkening with what promised to be a spectacular bruise. However, the rips and fresh blood stains on his trenchcoat, along with the way he moved, testified that Shinomori Aoshi hadn't escaped totally unscathed either. ----------------------------------- Despite Misao's teasing, Sano had never really been attracted to Tokio, not as a woman. Perhaps he had been obsessing about her, but only because she was just another fragment of the puzzle that was Saitoh Hajime. He knew she was beautiful, but she had always seemed so prim and ladylike, almost like a nun. But watching her now, fighting for her life, Sano was struck almost breathless by Tokio's sexual allure. The blood running down her face and the bruises did nothing to distract from this primal attraction, but rather seemed to only highlight her beauty. No more modesty. No more demure manners. This Tokio had intensity and concentration, passion and determination. Her gaze was sharp and direct, her movements certain. Even though she was outmatched by Aoshi, she was not about to go down without a fight. As Kenshin had said back in Tokyo and as clearly shown by Aoshi's condition, she was definitely NOT harmless. Sano realized that he was finally seeing what Kenshin had seen. This was the steel behind the silk. This is the woman that the notorious Mibu's Wolf had chosen for his own. And she was magnificent. ----------------------------------- Misao gritted her teeth as she watched the two fighters. While Tokio's technique and speed were superb, she was facing Shinomori Aoshi, the Okashira and very best of the Oniwabanshuu. If Aoshi hadn't been suffering from all the injuries that Misao herself had inflicted and if he hadn't already fought a battle with Junichi's monsters, Tokio probably would have died long ago. The girl glanced at Aoshi's face and nearly fainted. While his face was as impassive as ever, Aoshi's eyes were unspeakably cold and empty. (Just like after he attacked and nearly killed Jiya.... only worse. Much worse....) But imperfectly masked by the sheer emptiness in his gaze, Misao thought she could see something even worse... a terrible, unbearable pain buried deep inside the man she loved. (Aoshi, I'm sorry! I didn't know that Junichi would anything like this to you....) Her horrified paralysis abruptly shattered and Misao bolted toward Aoshi before Sano or Yahiko could stop her. "AOSHI!!!" she screamed. At the sound of her voice, Aoshi froze. Sano just missed grabbing a hold of Misao's sash. "No! You don't know what he'll do...!" he frantically shouted. But as Misao ran by Tokio, Saitoh's wife swiftly slipped one of her fans into her obi, then reached out and pulled the girl to an abrupt stop. "Let me go!" Misao protested as she tried to wiggle free of Tokio's surprisingly strong grip. "Misao!" Tokio shook the girl's shoulder sharply to get her attention. In a calm, but startlingly firm voice, she said, "Listen to me, Misao. You have to understand what's going on before you can help him." The girl snapped her head around to stare at Tokio. "What are you talking about?" Misao demanded. "Listen carefully. Aoshi's mind and soul are trapped in a dark dream. An endless nightmare in which he relives your supposed murder over and over again, constantly haunted by accusing ghosts that undoubtedly look just like you. Do you understand? He sees the outside world through a distorted window of the demon's making. In this state, he probably thinks you're just another phantasm coming to torment him. And people lash out instinctively at the source of their pain. He could easily kill you before he realizes that you're not some figment of his guilty conscience. And that would truly be the end of him." Misao turned chalky white with shock. Without loosening her grip, Tokio continued gently. "By keeping Aoshi trapped in this private hell, the demon prevents him from resisting its control." "But how could it...?" The older woman sighed and shook her head slightly. "A newly awakened heart, like a young child, is the most vulnerable to these sorts of cruelties." Misao opened her mouth to speak, but Tokio murmured, "Shhh. Watch him." The girl held her breath as Aoshi continued to stare at her. Her heart leapt with hope when she saw some emotion awake in his eyes... then it seemed to stop beating when she realized that Tokio was right. Aoshi wasn't glad to see her. There was no joy in his eyes, only a combination of horrified recognition and... fear? Misao didn't know whether she wanted to scream from sheer despair or burst into tears. "Aoshi.... PLEASE...." The anguish in her voice seemed to hit Aoshi like a physical blow. He flinched and turned his head, as if he couldn't bear to look at her. Tears began to trickle down Misao's cheeks as she whispered, "Then... then what can we do? I can't just leave him like that...." Her voice caught in a soft sob. At that sound, Aoshi shuddered again and retreated a step. Misao couldn't stand it. It was like watching a horribly abused animal cringe at the slightest hint of a raised voice. Tokio said softly, "Misao, you must control yourself and stay calm. Every cry of sorrow, every sign of your misery, only allows the demon to hurt him more." "I can't stand to see him suffering like this...." Tokio's voice was soft, but relentless. "Misao, his ability to feel pain is a good sign. It means that somewhere deep inside, his soul and heart is still alive. He can still be reached, but he needs your help. You have to be strong. If he hasn't given up, then how can you?" "Then... then what do I have to do?" Misao whispered, using every bit of willpower she had to keep her voice even. "Demons like this feed on the darker emotions -- loss, misery, despair and the like -- but they each have their own favorite 'food', so to speak." Misao's thoughts raced. (Yes... of course. Why is the demon that created Kinslayer called the Love-Eater? The damn thing must feed off the suffering caused by the destruction of loved ones. Kenshin and Kaoru... Tokio and Saitoh... Aoshi and I....) (If the demon's using my pain to hurt Aoshi, then what can I use to reach him...?) The girl suddenly took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Sensing that Misao had come to some decision, Tokio released her grip on the girl's shoulder. "Aoshi," Misao called out as she took a few steps forward. He shook his head sharply as if trying to deny her existence. "Aoshi," she repeated firmly. "You're dead. I killed you." he said in a flat, dead voice. "No, you didn't. Look at me." She took another step forward, doing her best to ignore the bloodied kodachi still gripped in his hands. He slowly turned to look at her as if he was unable to ignore her voice. She shrugged as nonchalantly as she could manage. "See? A little dirty and bruised, but I'm certainly not dead." Another step closer. Aoshi frowned as he seemed to struggle to make sense of her words. "I.... Did I do that to you?" Misao couldn't understand what Aoshi talking about. His words didn't seem to make any sense. Why would he be asking if he caused her bruises? She shook her head and continued. "And after our talk in the woods, do you really think that I'd let you get away from me that easily?" Misao took another casual step, but the flash of stark despair in Aoshi's eyes made her freeze. "I know that I've caused you so much pain, but do you really hate me... that much?" he whispered dully. Misao blinked in confusion, then she spluttered, "I wasn't talking about THAT talk! I was talking about our OTHER talk in the OTHER woods, you idiot!" She suddenly clapped her hands over her mouth. (Oh hell, now I've totally blown it!) But curiously, Misao's impulsive outburst seemed to have reached Aoshi much more than her other words had. He frowned slightly as if struggling to recall something. Yahiko had been afraid to do anything that might disturb that fragile rapport between Misao and Aoshi. However, he coughed softly and said in a tentative way, "Uh... Misao? Maybe if you act more like your... um, normal self, you'll get through to him better?" Misao stiffened and gave Yahiko a nasty sideways glare as she silently demanded further explanations. "Uh... more yourself, you know." The boy sweated nervously as Misao continued to glare at him. Normally, tactfulness was the last thing Yahiko worried about -- if he had an opinion, he let everyone know it. However, this was anything but a normal situation. He struggled for a polite way to describe Misao's personality. Finally, he mumbled, "Uh... happy? Cheerful? Chirpy? That sort of thing?" (What the hell does that brat think I am? A damn bird!?) She started to scowl angrily, but Aoshi's uneasy movement caused her to hastily smooth out her expression. (What? What can I talk about that will really get through to him? Wait. He keeps talking about how he's hurt me. It's like that's the only thing he can think about.... But that's not true! He's done so many things to make me smile. Doesn't he remember all those times he...?) Misao inhaled sharply. (Maybe he doesn't....) She suddenly smiled. It wasn't a big smile, but there was an undeniable sparkle in her expression as she said, "Do you remember the Bon festival when I was eight years old?" Aoshi blinked in bewilderment. "We went to watch the bonfires around Kyoto, then you took to me to the canals so I could see all the paper lanterns floating on the water. Beshimi made me a lantern of my own, of blue and white paper." She could see Aoshi's body gradually relaxing as she spoke. More importantly, he actually seemed to listen to what she was saying. "And I ate myself sick on rice cakes, so you carried me home," she said with a soft chuckle. He stared at her as if he was afraid that she might vanish if he looked away for an instant. "You know, when I put my lantern in the water, I made a very special wish." "A... wish?" There was now a faint tone of curiosity creeping in Aoshi's voice. She nodded vigorously. "Uh-uh. Everyone tells me that I'm too impatient, but I've waited eight years for my wish to come true." Misao gave Aoshi a wistful smile. "And I'm still waiting." ----------------------------------- Watching the confrontation between Misao and Aoshi was almost unbearable for Sano. He had no idea where Misao was getting the strength to keep up that calm, conversational tone when she had to be in a state of near-hysterics on the inside. Aoshi looked like a damned soul who was gradually realizing that salvation might -- just might -- be tantalizingly within reach. (Go girl! I think you're actually getting through to him....) But without warning, Aoshi suddenly lunged at Misao and lashed out with both kodachi. "Shit...!" yelped Yahiko. Although the damage had already been done, both Sano and Yahiko were about to charge forward to attack Aoshi. However, Tokio flung up her hand in a commanding gesture and said in a soft, firm voice that was impossible to disobey. "NO." Halted literally in their tracks, the two of them could only stare in horror. Aoshi stood motionless within arm's length of Misao. Something dark dripped from both of his blades. The girl was still on her feet. She was still standing. But she didn't move. Sano held his breath, expecting at any moment to see her collapse to the ground, blood spurting from her mortally wounded body. Something did hit the street with a moist thud, but it wasn't Misao. Yahiko swore and sat down abruptly as the slashed corpses of two gangly creatures slowly faded into view. They lay like broken toys on the muddy street, one to Misao's left and the other to her right, with their long, sickle-like claws gleaming dully in the dim light. "Misao...," Aoshi quietly pleaded in the thinnest of whispers. She finally moved. Misao ran forward and wrapped her arms around Aoshi as tightly as possible, broken arm and all. As she snuggled as close to him as she could manage, she was both laughing and crying her heart out. ----------------------------------- Aoshi blinked and gasped. He had seen Misao standing in front of him, but he had no way to be sure whether she was real or just another accusing shade. But then the vision had done something that none of the other ghostly images had. She had shouted at him. She had smiled at him. And she had laughed. He had been afraid to hope... afraid that this Misao was just a vision haunting a demented, guilt-wracked mind. But when he sensed the monsters attacking, it hadn't mattered whether she was real or a mere figment of his imagination. He would not allow Misao -- not this smiling, laughing Misao -- to be harmed. But now he could feel the warmth of her body next to his... feel her body shaking with laughter.... The kodachi slipped from his slack fingers as he slowly gazed down at her. "You're... you're REAL...," he whispered. Misao hiccuped and uttered a watery giggle. "You're not dead...." "That's what I've been trying to tell you, you stubborn idiot!" she complained between sniffles. He grabbed her face between his hands and stared down at her as if to etch that moment in his memory... the brilliant joy of her bright blue eyes, the happiness in her smile.... And not only of this moment, but of all the times when she had been growing up. Unbelievable as it seemed, he could now remember that he had somehow managed to make her happy as a child. And despite all he had done in his obsessed quest to defeat Himura Kenshin, she remained happy to see him. She still wanted to be with him. "I thought that I had killed you," he whispered slowly. Even saying the words seemed to hurt. Aoshi frowned, then gently ran his right hand through her drastically shortened hair. "I saw the braid... and the head...." Misao's face turned white. (So that's it...!) She choked out, "I had to cut my braid off so I could escape the monsters chasing me. I didn't even think that Junichi would use it to hurt you so badly...." Her words became muffled as Aoshi silently hugged her close. "It doesn't matter now," he said quietly. He had something to tell her. He wasn't saying it just for her sake, although he hoped it was the thing she had wished for all those years ago. But he was really saying it because he needed to let her know. "Do you remember when I told you that patience often wins the war, if not the battle?" Aoshi murmured. Her sniffles and mutterings abruptly stopped, then her eyes went wide as he leaned down and whispered something for her ears alone. "I love you." ----------------------------------- The intensity of emotion between Misao and Aoshi got to the point where it was embarrassing to watch. Yahiko and Sano looked at each other and grinned wearily. The fighter turned to Tokio and said a bit uncertainly, "Uh... how are you feeling?" She shrugged calmly as she dabbed delicately at the blood slowly trickling from her nose. "It's nothing serious or permanent, Sano. Thank you for asking." ----------------------------------- Although she looked suitably relieved when Aoshi had finally snapped out of whatever dark trance he had been in, Tokio had not relaxed her guard either. The demon was not about to give up so easily. It had clearly intended to set Kenshin against her husband, but by this point, the demon had probably figured out that its initial plan was not working. Junichi had indeed roused the Battousai, but the Hitokiri Battousai was not the blood-crazed murderer that the demon had apparently assumed him to be. Himura Kenshin was a cold, rational killer -- a trait passed down from grandfather to mother to child. He killed to suit his own purpose and no one else's. Kenshin certainly wouldn't dance to a demon's whims. Oh, he might have fought Hajime for threatening Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sano, but that was an issue of territory. It was a natural reaction. After all, Hajime had invaded the Kamiya Dojo with the deliberate intention of provoking Kenshin. But here in Kyoto, matters were different. Kenshin and her husband were working toward the same goal. Both of them wanted to stop the chaos and the evil that threatened to consume the city. For the moment, the demon needed a host capable of surviving a battle with Hajime. Even with the power and skill that Kinslayer was capable of providing, Kaoru would not do. Hiko was even more intractable and stubborn than Kenshin. That left only one other person.... ----------------------------------- He could sense its arrival... he could feel its cold, malignant presence as it seeped through him like some insidious poison and took control of his body. But Aoshi couldn't think about what was happening to himself at the moment. (Misao! She's too close...!) He ruthlessly pried her arms away from him. As he desperately clung to the last remnants of control over his body, he flung the girl in Tokio's direction before sagging to his hands and knees. ----------------------------------- Even though she was drowning in happiness and relief, Misao instantly knew that something had gone terribly wrong. She jerked her gaze upward, frantic to find out what was wrong now. Her eyes widened as she caught the sudden desperation in Aoshi's eyes. The next thing she knew, she was sprawling at Tokio's feet. Saitoh's wife swiftly helped her up, but kept a firm grasp on the girl's shoulder. Sano raced to Tokio's side and shouted, "What the hell...!?" At the moment, Aoshi gracefully rose to his feet, kodachi in hand. He turned to face Tokio and Misao, then smiled faintly as he spoke. "I should have known that the Miburo's bitch would have fangs of her own." Misao stiffened. The voice was Aoshi's, but the cool, malicious words certainly were not. However, it didn't sound much like Minobe Junichi, either. Junichi's speech tended to be smug and arrogant. What was coming from Shinomori Aoshi's mouth was something else altogether. Misao was deathly afraid that she knew exactly who -- or what -- the true speaker was. Yahiko stared at Aoshi and yelled, "What the matter with you, Aoshi!?" Misao's flat, angry voice cut through the boy's questions like a hot knife. "That's not Aoshi talking. It's the same thing that's happened with Kaoru, only this time it's not Junichi in control. It's the demon inside of Kinslayer. 'Aijoh wo hametsu shi tsukusu gaki'" Yahiko and Sano stared blankly at Misao. Tokio murmured calmly, "It means 'The Love-Eater'." Sano growled, "What the hell sort of name is THAT!?" "An appropriate enough name for a demon that feeds on the misery and suffering caused by the destruction of a person's loved ones," Tokio replied. "Misao helped Aoshi break free of that mind trap of yours! How can you just pop up and steal his body, damn it!? That's not fair!" growled Yahiko. "Fair? You surely don't think I would give up a killer like Shinomori Aoshi for the interest of fairness." Seeing any sort of smile on Aoshi's face would have been unnerving enough, but the pure malevolence in the man's current facial expression was truly frightening to behold. Turning its attention back to Tokio, the demon murmured, "Clever, clever bitch...." Sano glanced quickly at Saitoh's wife, then back at Aoshi. "What are you talking about?" "For finding a way to flush me out into the open." Tokio glanced at Sano. "As long as Aoshi was trapped in that mental prison the demon created, he could not contest its control of his body. But now that he's awake and aware of what's going on, the demon has to take direct possession in order to retain control. Aoshi's too valuable a tool to lose." Sano glanced at Tokio in surprise. (Forget not being harmless! She might be even more ruthless than Saitoh!) More than a little shaken by that abrupt realization, the fighter muttered, "Then all this stuff helping Misao... it was all just a plan to make this Love-Eater demon to show himself? She could have gotten herself killed!" Sano sounded outraged. Tokio shook her head. "I had no particular desire for this to occur, but it was probably inevitable." "Inevitable? Why is it inevitable?" Sano demanded angrily. "Are you certain you want to discuss this matter, here and now?" Tokio murmured to Sano as she pointed toward the possessed Aoshi. "Uh... no." Aoshi chuckled coldly. "As you can see, the bitch is cunning and as ruthless as her mate." Tokio said quietly, "I'll take that as a compliment." She turned back to Sano. "There's nothing we can do about the demon's control of his body, but with Misao's help, we managed to save Aoshi's sanity." Misao interrupted sharply, "Of course I knew it was dangerous, Sano, but I was willing to take the risk! I'm NOT a child!" Aoshi murmured, "Such spirit. It's a pity you didn't accept Junichi's offer. It's your refusal that caused all of Aoshi's recent suffering," said the demon with a vicious smile. Yahiko glanced at Misao, who had gone frighteningly pale, and asked, "Offer? What offer?" Misao growled, "Junichi wanted me to voluntarily wound myself with Kinslayer in exchange for Aoshi's life. I would have ended up being possessed like Aoshi and Kaoru, but much, much worse." Sano looked stunned. "And you didn't accept!? But I thought...." She whipped around and glared at the fighter. In a fierce voice, she bit out, "Aoshi risked his life to free me from Kinslayer's power once before. He made a choice between his life and my freedom. I chose to honor that decision the only way I knew how. If I am at fault, that is a matter between Aoshi and me ALONE." With those words, she turned away to warily watch the man she loved. In doing so, she missed Yahiko's stunned and nearly awestruck stare. Sano gave her a long look. He saw the pain in her eyes, but also the strength of will that was more formidable than any blade. From that point on, no matter what he might say or do, Sagara Sanosuke knew that he would never view Makimachi Misao as a child again. ----------------------------------- There was another person who would never view Misao as a child. Aoshi's body might be serving the demon's whims, but not his mind. He could clearly hear the exchange between Misao and Sano. (Oh, Misao....) If he had not loved her before, he probably have fallen in love with her at that moment. (At fault? Never. Seeing you now... I regret nothing. NOTHING. Whatever I have suffered, I would gladly endure a hundred times over to give you your freedom....) (Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijo.... Can you see her now? Her strength? See what we've raised and nurtured.... Our Misao....) (MY Misao....) ----------------------------------- Tokio's expression did not change, but inwardly she was smiling. (You do have the fire, little one. And for that, I and my family will do our utmost to bring your Aoshi back to you.) ----------------------------------- The demon drawled, "How very moving, Misao. It's a pity that you'll never have the opportunity to test your resolve." Without warning, there were sounds of movement throughout the buildings surrounding the potters' market. Doors began to slide open and people began to shuffle outside, their faces blank and lifeless. Men and women, young and old... even children. Tokio, Misao, Sano, and Yahiko were instantly surrounded, but once they were encircled, the people stumbled to a halt about thirty feet away. "Shit!" growled Sano clenching his fists. He was about to step forward to the attack when Tokio spoke. "I wouldn't recommend doing that." "Why not!?" "Looks are deceptive. They are not human, living or dead. They're not flesh and blood of any sort." "Then what the hell are they!?" Tokio raised an eyebrow as she brushed her long black hair back from her face. "This is an area full of pottery shops. And where you have pottery...." Yahiko muttered as he tightened his grip on his shinai. "Where you have pottery, you have clay. Are you saying that all these things are made of clay!?" "Probably. If you physically attack these things, there's no way of knowing how they will react. They could fall apart at the slightest touch." Tokio cocked her head slightly. "Or they could swallow you whole." By this time, more of the same gangly monsters that had tried to attack Misao had appeared. Fading in and out of sight, they clustered behind Aoshi and waited, their huge clawed hands flexing in anticipation. ----------------------------------- As Sano, Misao, and Yahiko tensely awaited an attack, an eerie hush seemed to settle over the entire area. "Oh shit! Not again!" By this time, Sano was starting to dread those strange moments of quiet because bad and unnatural things usually ended up happening. The last time something like this had happened, Kenshin's sakabatou had transformed into a normal sword and the Hitokiri Battousai had returned with a vengeance. There was no telling what would occur this time. A cold, biting wind started to blow and what little light there was began to fade. Only Tokio kept her composure as the demon's creatures suddenly turned and stared down the street. Sano, Yahiko, and Misao also turned to look. At first they could see nothing except a few dim house lamps burning in the distance, then those few sources of light started to disappear. Soon they all faded from view, except for two amber orbs glimmering in the darkness.... Then they saw it... a thick mass of dark mist that steadily flowed down the street toward them. As it came ever closer, Sano thought he could see things in the fog... lean, four-footed shapes prowling forward on misty paws.... He shook himself sharply. (Hell, I'm imagining things. I've got to be!) The smaller forms seem to coalesce, merging to form a single large form that threatened to dwarf the houses around them. And were those amber lights he had seen really distant street lamps... or were they something else? Something like... eyes? Yahiko gasped as a ripple passed through the cloud of mist, pulling it into fine, long streamers that were strangely reminiscent of feathers... or fur. Although the possessed Aoshi merely turned to watch the shadowy mass so rapidly approaching, the monsters behind him began to shuffle their feet nervously. Sano could understand the feeling perfectly. Something was coming... something powerful and terrible. Misao choked out, "Oh no... it... it can't be!" Sano was about to demand that Misao explain what 'it' was, but his questions abruptly became irrelevant. IT appeared... the misty, yet unmistakable form of a giant wolf, its amber eyes glowing in the gathering darkness. And out of the dark mist, directly under the great beast's grinning jaws, stepped Saitoh Hajime, his lips curling with the exact same predatory grin as his amber eyes gleamed with cold anticipation. ----------------------------------- (end of part 22) ********************************************************************** Next part: Well, Saitoh gets to really show his fangs and Kenshin's hidden soul continues to awaken. No, the story isn't going to end just yet. =^_^= -------------------------------------------- madamhydra@aol.com /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E http://www.geocities.com/~madamhydra/