Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ START AND STAND UP ❯ A Gift ( Chapter 2 )

[This fic is written in memory for my favorite J-rock band of all time, Siam Shade, which was disbanded in early 2002.]

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Chapter II

A Gift

The municipal office of Osaka was supposed to be a quiet place where administrative works were carried out. But for that day, it was not. A glass of water on the table was shaking mildly, spilling some of the water out. Most office workers could not concentrate on their work as the desks and chairs were rattling as well. In fact, they could feel the building was trembling.

"That damn noise is killing us!!!" A office clerk said angrily as the vibration of his desk made him scribbled off a mess on his paperwork. He slammed the desk and screamed madly: "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!"

In the Mayor's office were the Mayor himself, Japan's foreign and trade minister and a group of Caucasians. The Japanese in there had uncomfortable expressions in common. They had been sitting in that room for 15 minutes filled with earth shaking noise. "Phew………" The Osaka Mayor said relievedly as the music came to an end. On the other hand, the Japanese minister took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his head.

"How was is it? Great music, right?" An middle aged Caucasian said in Japanese, looking at the Japanese without any doubts. He then took out a set of papers, which believed to be an agreement, from his briefcase. "How's the deal?" The Caucasian asked, pointing the agreement held on his hand.

Morimoto, the Japanese foreign and trade minister shook his head. The Caucasian dealer who believed that the Japanese would accept the deal, was taken back to his seat.

"These things are totally noisy. The Japanese culture will be stained if they are brought into Japan." Morimoto reasoned as he eyed the Caucasian dealer displeasedly, making sure he would give the deal up.

"Mr Thomas, please bring back these things back to America. Thank you very much." The Mayor added for the minister. Thomas, the American dealer became totally disappointed after hearing that their musical instruments were unwelcome badly in that foreign place. Thomas then told the band which he brought along with him from America to pack up and left the municipal office with all the `unpleasantness' he had caused.

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While in the horse carriage to Osaka Harbor………

"Damn……… these cool stuff are not appreciated down here………" One of the band member sighed. Thomas heard what he said and thought what Morimoto had said earlier was right. It was indeed noisy and ear disturbing. Or is it that they were unable to create good music using the newly invented instruments? Or is it that they have played the wrong style using them? Thomas sighed as he could not figure out the mistake

"WHAT THE!?" Thomas yelled as the carriage stopped suddenly. He heard laughter and people talking in Japanese outside and stepped out of the carriage to investigate. Thomas smelt blood and found out the horse rider had a sword pierced through his neck. In the front were Japanese bandits wielding katanas and spears. Feared, the American took a few steps back tremblingly. Meanwhile, the band members felt suspicion and came out.

"OH MY GOD………" One said as he saw blood and weapons. The band members turned back and ran. The leader of the bandits chuckled. He snapped his fingers signaling his accomplices to attack. Spears and swords were thrown, javelined each band member down the ground.

"If you don't want to end up like them, you should know what to do." The leader advised. Thomas had nothing much with him except 40 yen which was impossible to satisfy the bandits. Leaving no choice, he gave his wallet to the leader and hoped he would be spared.

"Only 40 yen?" The leader remarked surprisedly with a disgusted look "A foreigner with only 40 yen!?" The whole gang burst into laughter upon hearing the leader's taunt. Without much consideration, the leaders unsheathed his katana and lick it, terrorizing Thomas even more.

"Sayonara." The robbery leader said and raised his katana.

"God, please help me………" Thomas closed his eyes and prayed hard, even though he was shivering with fear. The Leader smirked and drew an arc with the katana in front of the American.

"WHAT THE!?" The leader said as he found his katana was being blocked by a short sword. Then a series of punches and kicks were delivered to him which finally sent him crashing a tree. Seeing that, the rest of the bandits charged forward at the man who disappeared in a flash.

The black hair man appeared again facing the gang leader not far away. As he approached him step by step, the bandits dropped dead one by one. "You took the lives of the innocent foreigners," The man said icily as he looked down at the gang leader who had his mouth and nose bleeding "It's time your turn now." With that, the man cross-slashed the leader with the 2 kodachis in his hands.

Wiping off the blood stains on his short swords, the man walked towards Thomas. The American feared again as he thought the kodachi wielder was going to kill him.

"Are you okay?" The man asked as he inspected for wounds on the Caucasian body.

"Yes. I'm fine." Thomas panted.

"I've avenged for your fellow countrymen."

"Thank you……… How do I address you?"

"Aoshi. Shinomori Aoshi."

After revealing his name, Aoshi decided to leave the scene as he had done what an Okashira of the Oniwabanshu must do: Protect the civilians and maintain peace. But Thomas held him back for a while to talk about the musical instruments. Aoshi agreed without hesitation and be his listening ear. Upon listening what Thomas had said, the Okashira soon realized the advancement of technology in the west was fast. Musical instruments powered by electricity and Aoshi found them interesting.

Thomas thanked Aoshi for his patience in listening to his problems. The American disconnected the passenger carriage and replaced it with the cargo one loaded with the musical instruments and sound devices. "These are for you. Take it as my form of gratitude" Thomas said, patting the horses at the same time "I hope you will appreciate these musical instruments………" After that, the American bowed and left Aoshi with the goods and the horses.

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Back in the Aoiya. Misao was waiting for the Oniwabanshu leader at the doorstep. Aoshi had delayed his return as he encountered a slight `problem' back in Osaka. Nevertheless, he came back an hour late.

"Aoshi-sama!!!" Misao exclaimed as she saw Aoshi approaching with a horse carriage. The weasel girl was shocked as she thought that the Okashira had went for a business trip but ended up somehow like a shopping spree. "Aoshi-sama, you bought so much things from Osaka???" Misao asked Aoshi who getting down the horse carriage. The Oniwabanshu leader denied and asked the girl in return that more assistance was required to unload the stuff.

"Kuro!!! Shiro!!!" Misao yelled thunderously.

Both men rushed out of the Aoiya quickly upon hearing the weasel's girl command. Misao ordered them to carry the goods to……… "Aoshi-sama, where do you want to place them?" The girl asked.

"The empty room beside mine." Aoshi replied.

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To be continued.