Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Evil Within ❯ Truth and Trust (6) ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Truth and Trust - TEW6




The Evil Within
Chapter 6 -
Truth and Trust



"Ohayo
gozaimasu, minna." Makimachi Misao stretched, arching her back, yawning as she
walked out of her room.


"Ohayo,
Misao-chan." Kamiya Kaoru smiled at her, a light flush spreading unto her
cheeks as she quickly placed some distance from Himura Kenshin and herself.


Misao
shook her head in amusement. Kaoru was not one for public displays of affection,
something she had learned quickly in the past few weeks.


"Ohayo,
Misao-dono." Kenshin echoed, casting something of a disappointed glance at
Kaoru before turning to the girl he had just addressed.


"Where's
Sano?" Misao asked, a light grin tugging on her lips as she spoke. "He's
usually here in time for breakfast, ne?"


Kaoru
nodded and giggled. "I don't know. He might be at Megumi's today for a
change."


"That's
possible, too." Misao had noticed that Sano and Megumi had grown much closer
in the two months that had passed since Aoshi's attack on the dojo.


Kenshin
got up. "Is Aoshi up yet?" He
asked, getting up, gesturing for her to sit down.


Misao
shook her head in declination. "No thank you. And I don't know whether or
not Aoshi-sama's up…I myself have only been up for a few minutes. Do you
know where he is, Kaoru-san?"


Kaoru
shrugged, smiling. "I don't know. I haven't seen him. He might have gone
to the temple nearby."


"I
guess so. How about Tenkage-san?" Misao asked, secretly thanking Kenshin for
convincing Kaoru to allow Aoshi to stay with them even after what he had done to
them so many months ago for the umpteenth time.


"Tenkage-san
is cooking us some breakfast…it's her turn to cook, de gozaru yo." Kenshin
answered as he sat back down beside Kaoru.


"I
see. Well, I'll just go for a short walk around to wake up my mind. I'll be
back before breakfast, don't worry." Misao smiled, waving carelessly as she
strode towards the gate. "Ja."


"Ja,"


Misao
walked past the gate, casting a discreet glance at them. Kenshin was now leaning
towards Kaoru for a stolen kiss, who in turn giggled softly and playfully turned
away from him.


Shaking
her head half in amusement and half in envy, Misao closed the gate behind her
and began walking down the quiet street, lost in her own thoughts.


It had
already been almost three months since Aoshi's unexpected ambush on the dojo,
and just a few weeks since Sano had finally fully recovered-with the exception
of his arm, which still wasn't fully healed-and was now able to move around
normally without feeling stabs of pain shoot out from his abdomen and not put
his stitches in danger of opening themselves.


Almost
three months…such a long time, Misao thought, and yet none of us are
able to carry a conversation with Aoshi-sama without feeling at least a bit
strained, awkward or uncomfortable…with, of course, she couldn't help
but add wryly, the exception of Himura, who seems to fully trust him now.


Himura
is a goddamn weirdo. Even she herself didn't fully trust him yet, and this
was the man she had spent half of her life with-literally.


The
thought of herself spending her childhood with Aoshi steered her mind to
Jiya's most recent letter; the one that was pleading them, including Tenkage.


Misao
didn't know if she wanted to return to the Aoiya just yet. Too many memories
of her innocent, carefree, uncomplicated childhood-a life that had seemed so
long ago and so different from the one she led now-lingered there, and her life
in the Kamiya dojo was good. She had already adjusted to the lifestyle there
after living for about four months, and she had grown rather attached to
them-even that baka rooster head and his brash sidekick, Yahiko. Kenshin was
more than an older brother to her, and Kaoru had been very nice to her in the
duration of her stay. Even Tenkage, who had been nothing more than a somewhat
close fellow Oniwabanshuu member to her, arrived about 2 weeks after her own
arrival, and had become more like a neechan to her.


You
don't really have to choose now…and the decision isn't even totally yours,
baka! Misao reprimanded herself for her self-centered thinking. You also
have to wait for what Aoshi-sama and Tenkage-san have to say. And, of course,
what Himura and Kaoru-san have to say about me staying even longer at the dojo.


She
was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that she had been bumping into
several people, unconsciously nudging them out of her way, mumbling an
occasional distracted apology. This time, though, she crashed into someone
particularly roughly and she was partly yanked out of her reverie.


"Sumimasen,"
she muttered distractedly, lifting her hand in an apologetic gesture, "I
didn't mean to bump into you."


"Misao."


The
familiar, silky voice caught her attention, and she looked up. "Aoshi-sama,"
she murmured in mild shock, "what are you doing here?"


"I
was on my way back from the temple," Shinomori Aoshi replied, adjusting the
loose kimono that hung upon his strong shoulders, "and you?"


"I
was just taking a walk around." Misao answered, uncomfortably shifting her
weight from one leg to another, avoiding Aoshi's probing gaze. "To think.
About things."





I
was just taking a walk around. To think. About things. Misao's
uneasy reply echoed in his mind, the obvious uneasiness and uncertainty in her
voice making his heart ache.


Think
about what things? He couldn't help but wonder. Think about me, think
about her, think about her decision to return to Kyoto? Think about what I had
done and whether or not she should still forgive me? The whirlwind of
thoughts swirling in his mind was making him feel even more and more anxious, if
that was possible.



Maybe I should just tell her
the truth…about the Rofocale and how so many things I had done weren't my
choice. That it wasn't I who tried to kill everyone around her.
Now
that, a voice dripping with contempt interrupted, is a stupid
idea.


Damare
yo, Aoshi had noticed that over the past few weeks, Rofocale had been making
his presence known less and less…he had probably sensed that Aoshi was furious
with him and had decided it was better to lay off for a while.


Not
that Aoshi was complaining or anything, though. It was actually very pleasant to
finally have his thoughts to himself, and not to have Rofocale's incessant,
throaty voice constantly insulting everything he did.


Aoshi,
Aoshi, Aoshi…Rofocale chanted his name in a taunting manner as he chuckled
in bemusement, what do you think would Misao do if you told her about me? It
would just probably make everything more complex than you've made it, and-


Than
I've made it?! Aoshi thought back indignantly, clenching his fists,
even though he realized that Rofocale was right in thinking that his telling
Misao would complicate everything. What does this all have to do with
me? You were the one that always insists on murd-


You
just don't seem to have enough intellect to use the strength I gave you. I
can't believe I ever thought your soul was worth garnering.


"Aoshi-sama?"


Misao's
soft inquiry snapped Aoshi out of his heated exchange with Rofocale. He focused
his azure eyes on her once again. "Gomen, I got a little distracted. Are you
on your way back to the dojo?"


Misao
sighed. She had had enough thinking for one day already, and she had
promised Kenshin and Kaoru that she'd be back in time for breakfast…


"Hai."
She forced out a bright smile. "I am."


"Well…"
Aoshi hesitated for a moment as he blocked out Rofocale's now very irritated
voice out of his mind, "would you like to walk back together?" He felt as if
it were up to him to fix everything with Misao, and a walk together was a start.
He waited for her answer with bated breath.


For a
few seconds Misao stared up at him in something that resembled astonishment, and
then she smiled-genuinely, this time.


"I'd
like that very much." She answered softly, looking up and meeting his
crystalline indigo eyes with her own for the first time in years. She saw the
gratification glimmering in them, at odds with his completely slack face, but
she knew that if Aoshi were like any other man, he would have smiled.


The
thought alone comforted her for some reason.


Who
knows, she thought wryly as they walked back to the dojo side by side, maybe
one day he will smile for me. She knew the thought was farfetched, if
not foolish, but at the moment, hope was all she had going for her.





Kourinno
Tenkage looked up as she heard the dojo's gates creak open.


"Misao-chan!"
She smiled and waved as she put down the bowl of miso soup before Myoujin
Yahiko. Her smile waned almost indiscernibly as she moved her golden-blue gaze
to Aoshi. "Shinomori-san."


Misao
smiled back, waving as she bounded lightly across the yard and to Tenkage.
"Ohayo, Tenkage-san." She leaned over Yahiko's shoulder and looked eagerly
at the bowl of soup that he was enthusiastically slurping up. "Mm, miso soup.
Is there enough left for me?" She glanced at Kaoru and Kenshin, who were
quietly sipping their own soup.


Tenkage
nodded. "There's still some left in the kitchen. Help yourself." She
turned to face Aoshi. "Are you hungry, Shinomori-san?"


Aoshi
shook his head distractedly, half his mind occupied with Rofocale's sudden
anger.


How
could you be spending time with such people? He began ranting as Aoshi
calmly-or at least he kept up a pretense of being calm-sat down beside a smiling
Kenshin.


For a
while they ate in silence, only the soft, lulling sound of the autumn leaves
fluttering tranquilly across the ground, until Tenkage coughed, as if somewhat
scared to shatter the absolute silence that surrounded them.


"I
received a letter from Okina today," she began, placing down the bowl of soup
and brushing away a strand of raven hair from her eyes.


All of
them turned to her with interested eyes. "And?" Misao prompted. Aoshi sensed
her breathing increase slightly; he was sure only he-with his sharper
hearing-was able to spot her apprehension.


"It
isn't anything important, really. Okina simply said he needs me to meet
someone in Niigata for him in a few days."


Misao
tipped her head to the side. "So you'll have to leave?"


"Hai,"
Tenkage turned to Kaoru, "I'm sorry if I was too much of a hassle in the
past months."


If
Aoshi had possessed any less self-control, he would have laughed at this.
Tenkage was apologizing for simply staying and taking care of Misao? If anyone
needed to apologize, it was he. It was so ironic it was almost funny.


Kaoru
shook her head. "It wasn't a problem at all, Tenkage-san. We'll all miss
you."


Yahiko,
who had something of a childish crush on Tenkage, nodded solemnly.


"When
will you have to leave, de gozaru yo?" Kenshin asked.


"I'll
have to leave in two days if I want to reach Niigata in time." Tenkage
answered quietly before she was interrupted by Yahiko.


"Now
we'll have to suffer through Kaoru's cooking all over again." He, of
course, was lightly smacked upside the head by Kaoru.


"Mou!"
she chided.


"Speaking
of leaving…" Tenkage turned to Misao, a questioning look on her features,
"Misao, have you and Aoshi-san decided whether or not to return to Kyoto?
I'm sure minna-san would be very glad to see both of you."


Aoshi
shrugged almost indiscernibly and cast a glance at Misao. "It's really
Misao's decision; I'm sure my presence there would not matter all that
much…" After considering what I've done.


Misao
shook her head. "I'm sure they're eager to see you just as much,
Aoshi-sama."


"Demo,
do you want to go back, de gozaru? You're both very much welcome here,"
Kenshin's eyebrows furrowed in his characteristic selfless concern.


Misao
sucked in her breath. Himura had homed in on what was the real problem. She didn't
know if she wanted to go back just yet.


"You
really should go back, Misao." Aoshi commented quietly.


"Doushite?"
Misao turned to him questioningly.


Aoshi
fixed her with calm cerulean eyes. "Because everyone wants you back."


Do you
want me to go back? She wondered as she stared back at him.


"Hai,"
Kaoru nodded in assent to Aoshi's statement, "you really should at least
visit the Aoiya, Misao-chan…you know, just so everyone there will find out how
both you and Aoshi-san are doing."


Misao
seemed to contemplate Kaoru's answer before finally nodding slowly. "I guess
you're right," she murmured, "and it would be nice to see them all
again…"


"Well,
there you go," Yahiko grinned, "see you around, weasel girl."


Misao
faced him with irritated indigo eyes, flashing her kunai in his face. "Don't
call me that!"


Yahiko
shrugged calmly.


"Anyway,"
Misao breathed out slowly and replaced her kunai in her sleeves, "I guess
I'll be going back to the Aoiya…when should we leave, Aoshi-sama?"


Aoshi
felt something of confusion at her question. "It's up to you, Misao," he
responded softly, "I can leave at anytime."


You're
actually considering going back to the Aoiya? Rofocale began laughing
cynically. Shinomori, I thought you had more brains than that. Everyone there
would hate you for what you did to their beloved Okina…


As
much as Aoshi hated to admit it, Rofocale had struck a chord in him. What if he was
right? What if everybody in the Aoiya hated him for almost killing Okina?


How
can you really be sure if you never even go there? Aoshi said to himself,
pretty much ignoring Rofocale's snide comments.


"Jiya
wants us to be home as soon as possible, so I guess we can leave when
Tenkage-san does," Misao smiled, "I'm actually really looking forward to
seeing everyone in the Aoiya again."



Not to mention that the
whole walk back to Kyoto might actually reveal something about Aoshi-sama's
strange behavior…



Misao
sighed as she walked out of the gates of the Kamiya dojo, slinging the small bag
that held all her clothes over her shoulder. "When will you be back in the
Aoiya, Tenkage-san?" she asked, turning to face the taller woman.


"I'll
be back in about a week or so…I'll see you soon, Misao-chan." Tenkage
smiled and gave her hand a quick squeeze.


Misao
smiled and nodded before turning to face Kaoru. "Arigatou for everything,
Kaoru-san."


Kaoru
grinned at her and pulled her in for a hug. "We'll visit you, all right?"


Misao
nodded, glancing briefly at Aoshi, who was standing behind her, arms crossed and
head bowed. She smiled at Kenshin. "I guess a lot of thanks are due to you
too, Himura. You've helped me in so many ways."


Kenshin
smiled back. "I only did what anybody would have done, de gozaru yo."


Misao
laughed a little at this. Yeah…anybody would fight the Oniwabanshuu
Okashira just to protect his friends…Himura will never change.



"As for both of you…"
Misao crossed her arms as she looked at Yahiko and Sagara Sanosuke, "I guess
I'll kinda miss both of you…kind of…" she beamed at both of them.


Yahiko
nodded. "Yeah, so will I…I guess." He returned easily, lacing his fingers
at the back of his head.


"Take
it easy, weasel girl." Sano slid both his hands into the pockets and smiled in
what was supposed to be charming way at her.


Misao
lifted one eyebrow at this. "Not if you keep calling me that," she shook her
head and Looked up at Takani Megumi. "I guess I owe you a lot of thanks,
too."


Megumi
smiled. "None are necessary…" she turned and darted Sano a playfully
annoyed look, "at least you bothered to thank me."


Sano
snorted and rolled his eyes.


"Well…"
Misao spun around and looked at Aoshi, "I guess that's it for my
goodbyes."


Aoshi
nodded, looking at the four gathered at the gate over Misao's head,
"Sayonara, minna-san. Arigatou." He looked at Tenkage. "I'll see you in
a few weeks."


Tenkage
nodded. She was already done with her own goodbyes. "I'll have to go
now…sayonara!" With a demure smile, she spun around and began walking away,
waving over her shoulder.


They
all watched her saunter off for a while in silence, until she turned at the
corner and away from their view.


"I
guess we'll be leaving too," Misao beamed at them, waving happily, "see
you soon, guys!" At that, she began walking away in her usual speedy fashion,
Aoshi trailing along behind her.


"Do
you think they'll both be fine?" Kenshin asked, tipping his head to the side
as he watched them walk away.


Kaoru
stepped up behind him and laced her arms around his waist. "I'm sure they
will," She murmured, "I'm sure they will…"





Author's
Notes: And yet another boring chapter…chapter 7 will spice up things,
though. :D Woo! And that chapter's already done, only some editing is
needed…*rushes off* Comments, onegai!
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5
Chapter 7a>>>
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