Last major revision: 09/10/98 Last modified: 02/02/99 [KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 14 (very rough draft) Like it says, a very rough draft. Pardon any stupid mistakes or incoherency. The end of the fiscal year is rapidly approaching and work is driving me crazy! O_o --------------- 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. Other stories in this alternate reality are: "Night Visitor"; "All in the Family"; and "Romancing the Wolf". It takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc. After that, all bets are off. Elements of the Revenge story arc may show up in the story. 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 14: ON A SLOW BOAT TO OSAKA ====================================================================== --------------- 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 ********************************************************************** [the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, summer] ----------------------------------- Sano soon realized that there were both good things and bad things about boat travel. The good thing was that it was really easy. You didn't have to do a damn thing. The bad thing was that boat travel was boring as hell. Except for some casual gambling games, there wasn't anything to do. That gave Sano and his traveling companions way too much time to think... and worry. The fighter was especially concerned about Kenshin. Sano and the others had developed an unspoken policy of never leaving their friend totally alone even as they tried their best to give him as much privacy that they could. Of course Kenshin was aware of what they were doing, but he didn't say anything. The red-haired swordsman spent most of his time staring out over the water, the very picture of patience. Sano would often see Kenshin tenderly fingering the blue silk wrapped around his right wrist. The fighter knew what that meant -- his friend was thinking about Kaoru. ----------------------------------- After lunch on the second day, Sano was up on deck. He was doing nothing in particular when he caught sight of Tokio standing by the deck rail. Sano stepped back into the shadow of the deck house and silently watched her as she smiled at the gulls as they swooped and squabbled over bits of food. One of the gulls landed on the railing a few feet away from Tokio. It cocked its head and stared at her, then hopped closer. Finally, after a moment or two, it pecked audaciously at her kimono sleeve. Tokio turned at the tug on her arm, then chuckled softly. The sea gull started to squawk enthusiastically at her, hopping from foot to foot. Sano jumped as someone jabbed an elbow into his ribs. "Hey! I don't think the psycho cop's going to be happy if he catches you ogling his wife. And what about poor Megumi, huh?" hissed Misao, her eyes bright with mischief. The fighter turned bright red with embarrassment. Waving his hands in denial, he blurted, "No! You've got it all wrong! I wasn't doing that!" In a skeptical voice, she said, "Really? Then WHAT are you doing? You've been staring at her constantly!" Sano raked his hand through his hair, rumpling it even more and mumbled, "I admit she's a good looking woman...." "Beautiful, you mean," Misao muttered back. "Yeah... but that's not why I keep thinking about her." "Oh?" "I just don't understand how a woman... especially one as... as... ladylike as Tokio could stand being married to a guy like Saitoh. The man barely looks at her, has hardly a kind word to say to her, doesn't seem to care that he nearly pinned her to the wall like a damn bug...." Instead of agreeing with him, Sano was astonished to see a thoughtful, almost envious look on Misao's face. "Hey, Weasel girl?" She barely reacted to the insult as she thought about yesterday evening and that brief exchange of touches she'd seen between Saitoh and his wife. She turned to him and said quietly, but with total confidence, "Because he loves her." Sano stared at her blankly, then sputtered, "What!?" "You wondered how she could stand being married to Saitoh. He loves her. She loves him. It's all so simple." "You're kidding! I think you've got romance on the brain, girl! That's ridiculous! Saitoh in love. HA!!!" She scowled. "I might've agreed with you, except... last night, I saw them talking in the back after Saitoh had that weird memory slip...." "You mean like the one Kenshin had on the dock." "Right. Anyway, I caught a peek at them." She sighed wistfully. "They were so... so together. I can't explain it any better. It makes me sort of jealous...." Misao then perked up. "But it also gives me hope. After all, if Saitoh can fall in love like that, then certainly Aoshi-sama can!" Sano was wondering when Shinomori was going to show up in Misao's conversation. The guy always did, sooner or later. "Let me guess. You're wandering around the ship looking for him, right?" "No matter how he tries to hide it, he's still in pretty bad shape." Misao shrugged carelessly, but Sano saw the raw pain and guilt in her eyes. "I really hurt him, Sano." Her lips quivered. "I nearly killed him. If I hadn't run into you guys on the trail, he could have bled to death before I got back with some help." "Nah, he's tough, girl. He wouldn't have...." "He wouldn't have said what he did to me if he didn't think he was going to die!" Sano took a few seconds to puzzle through Misao's tangled words. With a curious look, he said, "Uh... just what did he say to you?" She simultaneously blushed and sniffled. "He said he... cared about me." "Hell, he's always cared about you. Any idiot could see that!" Misao glared at him furiously. "It wasn't that sort of 'care', you jerk! He smiled at me... I mean, REALLY smiled at me!" Sano blinked. "O-kay...." "Oh hell! Why am I trying to explain this to you? I don't think you'd recognize love if it jumped up and bit you in the butt!" "Now wait a minute here! Leave Megumi out of all this!" "Megumi? Did I say anything about Megumi?" She gave him a mock innocent look. "Oh, shut up, brat! That's none of your business!" Misao abruptly went very quiet. She stared down at the deck and shuffled her feet. "I... I feel so responsible for getting you guys caught up in this whole stupid mess. If I hadn't picked up that sword... then Kaoru and Aoshi-sama wouldn't have been hurt... and that sword wouldn't have awoken up... and Kaoru would be safe back in Tokyo... and Himura...." Sano grabbed her shoulders and gave her a sharp shake. "Hey, stop that! It isn't your fault, okay? That sword-thing screwed around with your mind so it's to blame, not you. Things like... like curses and stuff... they don't just go away by themselves. That sword would have crossed Kenshin's path eventually. It probably would've been just a matter of time." Misao stared up at him. "Sano, I'm really frightened. What's happening with Kaoru? What is that sword doing with her... TO her this very minute? And what's going to happen to Himura when we get to Kyoto? It was scary enough when he had that memory slip in Tokyo, but what if he has one in Kyoto where the memories of the Battousai are so strong? What if he completely loses his memories of the last ten years? The Himura we know could disappear... forever!" Sano sighed wearily. "I know that. And not to be mean, girl, but I'm sure Kenshin knows better than anyone else just what's at stake... after all, it IS his head. But... like he said, he's got no choice. It's our only hope of getting Kaoru back." She shuddered. "I can handle a physical fight, but how can we fight something like this? Something that gets inside your head and twists it all around...." Sano muttered, "Hell if I know. But I don't think that fighting is our real job this time around." "What do you mean?" "Oh, I think we're here to fight all right, but not physically. Our job is to remind Kenshin of who and what he is now... to remind him of what he's gained since he left the Hitokiri Battousai behind all those years ago. We're like his anchor to the present, especially since Kaoru isn't here. But it won't be easy." "Like that's a big surprise," Misao muttered. "No. I mean it. Saitoh's a lucky bastard in this instance. If I figure right, he met his wife at the very beginning of the civil war. If you're correct about how he feels about her, that means it's pretty likely he'll recognize her AND believe what she tells him no matter how shaky his memory gets." Misao groaned. "But we don't have that sort of past history with Himura." "Nope. Kenshin met all of us long after the Douran. That means that if he really gets trapped in his memories of the past... well... we can be shit out of luck." "Surely Himura would have some old friends from those years in Kyoto... someone he could recognize and trust." Sano shook his head. "Recognize, maybe. But trust? That's the big question. We're not talking about little things here. Tell me, girl, how many people would YOU trust and believe if they walked up to you this minute and told you that half the stuff going on around you isn't real, that you're actually thirty years old, and that your worst enemy is now your ally?" Misao sighed quietly and whispered, "If it was Aoshi-sama... yes. Probably Hannya or Jiya, too." She fell silent, then said, "There's one person that Himura's bound to recognize and trust." Sano and the ninja girl looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Hiko Seijuro." "IF we can find him... and that's a big 'if'." Misao sighed, then turned to leave. "Well, we can't do anything until we get to Osaka. See you later. I've still got to track down Aoshi-sama." ----------------------------------- Sano watched Misao head off in her search for Aoshi and shook his head ruefully. (I think the poor guy's days of freedom are numbered. Now that she's sure that he returns her feelings, there'll be no stopping her.) As he rounded the corner of the deckhouse, Sano froze as he saw Saitoh leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand. The fighter started to sweat nervously. (Oh HELL! Just how long has he been standing there!? How much of my talk with Misao did he overhear? Shit... what if he heard us talking about his WIFE!?) The inscrutable little smile on the policeman's lips gave Sano no clues. The man didn't appear the least bit angry or upset. Of course, this was Saitoh so who could tell what the guy was really thinking? Saitoh glanced at Sano and his smile widened just a fraction. That made the fighter even more nervous. The policeman then pushed himself away from the wall and walked past Sano without so much as an insult or a sneer. ----------------------------------- Misao stepped out onto the deck and peered around. Aoshi was nowhere in sight. She wandered over to Tokio and said, "Excuse me...." Tokio turned and said, "Good afternoon, Misao." "It would be a better afternoon if I could find him," the girl muttered irritably. "Where did he run off to? He should be resting." "Sorry, I haven't seen Shinomori-san today." The sea gull on the rail eyed Misao with disapproval and let out a raucous squawk. The girl glared at the noisy bird and tried to shoo it away. It hopped aside, then gave her a sharp peck in retaliation. "Why you...!" She went for one of her throwing knives. Tokio chuckled, scooped up the gull, and gently tossed it into the air. The bird circled overhead twice, then nearly hit Misao on the head with a parting gift before it soared away with a triumphant cackle. "You stupid BIRD!!!" Misao shrieked. She slowly turned red as she realized how silly she must look, yelling insults at a brainless sea gull. Tokio murmured, "A little exercise won't hurt Shinomori-san." "I suppose, but...." After a moment's silence, Misao glanced at Tokio. "Do you think I worry too much about him?" "Hm? Oh, he undoubtedly appreciates your concern, but.... If you'll forgive me for being so blunt, you shouldn't allow yourself to get carried away by guilt." "You think I'm pestering him." Misao's shoulders sagged. "No, but I'm under the impression that Shinomori-san is a rather... reserved person by habit, if not by nature. Displays of obvious emotion tend to make such people uncomfortable." "How else am I supposed to let him know that I care about him!?" Tokio lifted an eyebrow. "You're asking me?" Misao muttered, "Like who else am I supposed to ask? I don't know that many people who are happily married or have experience in this sort of thing! Besides, if you managed to deal with someone like Saitoh for so long...." She abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth. The older woman giggled at the embarrassed look on Misao's face. "Uh... I... that is... I didn't mean to...," the ninja girl babbled in a flustered voice. Tokio chuckled gently. "I understand. My husband is a bit... um, unique. I may not be the right person to ask for advice about male-female relationships." "Oh." Misao's voice sounded a bit wistful. Tokio sighed, then said, "Misao, just remember that you really should fall in love with a man as he is, not as you hope him to be. If he desires to change, that's one thing. Expecting him to change is a different matter altogether." "Aoshi-sama can act so cold, but he's not really like that! He's kind and caring, but he keeps it buried so deep inside. I wish I could set him free so he could show people...." The older woman stepped closer to Misao. "Set him free... or deprive him of what little protection he has from a harsh and difficult world?" "What's THAT supposed to mean?" asked the bewildered girl. "Oh dear. This IS difficult to explain." Tokio took a deep breath, then gave the girl a sympathetic look. "Misao dear, you're a young, exuberant girl. That's just the way you are. The problem is you have very little to hide from the world while Shinomori-san has a great deal to hide." "To hide?" Tokio nodded. "You see, Shinomori-san and Himura-san are men of deep feelings. But it's very dangerous for men like them to express those emotions freely, so they develop masks or personas to protect themselves. And after a while, those masks or personas take on a life of their own. It becomes very difficult, sometimes even impossible, to put these masks aside... even if they want to." "You mean... like for Himura, the Hitokiri Battousai was a sort of... mask?" "To handle a difficult and almost unbearable task, he developed the persona of a cold, relentless assassin. When he tried to leave that persona behind, he took on the persona of a mild-mannered wanderer." "Oh... and Aoshi-sama...." "I imagine that taking over as the leader of the Oniwabanshuu at the age of fifteen was no easy task. To maintain his authority, especially over the older ninjas, he had to appear calm, mature beyond his years, and in complete control at all times. It's a habit that he's obviously retained to this day." "Oh great!" Misao rolled her eyes and slumped against the rail. "Now what do I do?" Tokio smiled. "I think you've already had a glimpse of how Shinomori-san really feels about you. The question now is whether you'll be satisfied with that knowledge or do you want him to tell the entire world how he feels, too." Misao snapped, "I don't care WHAT everyone else thinks! I just want him to be... happy." She sighed. "So... you think I should stop pushing him so hard and back off?" Tokio said gently, "Oh no. Make sure he knows how you feel and let him know that you're aware how he feels. Just don't try to force him into... uh, gushing about how much he loves you in front of an audience. He won't do it." She giggled. "Or if he does, he'll be very, very embarrassed." Misao attempted to picture Aoshi making some sort of passionate declaration of love in front of Jiya and the other Oniwabanshuu... and burst into giggles herself. Tokio patted the girl on the arm. "I'm not saying that something like that will never happen. It's simply going to take time. He has to learn that it's safe to put his mask of control aside. Persistence and patience, my dear." With a mischievous grin, Misao said, "Is that how it is with your husband? You know how he feels about you, even though he never lets it show in public?" Tokio's only reply was a soft chuckle. ----------------------------------- Aoshi found Saitoh on the stern of the ship, smoking. Without turning to look at him, Saitoh said, "Hmph. Managed to slip away from your keeper, eh?" The former leader of the Oniwabanshuu ignored the silken malice in Saitoh's voice. Somehow, thinking of Misao as 'his keeper' didn't seem to sound all that... bad. He briefly pondered the idea, then put it aside for a later moment. "I could say the same thing to you. After all, that's why you asked your wife to come along on this trip to Kyoto, isn't it. You wanted her to keep an eye on you." Saitoh said nothing, but continued to leisurely work on his cigarette. Finally he said, "It's probably going to get worse. Much worse." "Meaning?" "It's not a matter of 'if', but a matter of 'when'. The situation in Kyoto needs to be stopped now, while it affects only a few people. If we wait, it's just going to grow in magnitude like a damned tsunami... one that liable to drown the entire city of Kyoto. Maybe more." Aoshi glanced at Saitoh. "You seem to know a lot about this sort of thing. Not exactly what I would've expected from such a... pragmatic... person like yourself. Are you talking from personal experience?" The policeman shrugged. "Oh, there's nothing more stubborn than the dead. They don't give up. Instead, they just grow in strength until they get what they want. That stupid sword would've happily killed half the population of Tokyo trying to locate either me or the Battousai." Saitoh turned to Aoshi and gave him a sly look. "So I'm rather glad that Weasel Girl and that Kaoru female ran into that sword before too many people died." "You can hardly expect me or Himura to agree with you about that." Saitoh snorted. "Don't tell me you think the brat's delicate. She'll recover from the experience. Besides, if Weasel Girl wants to hang around with you, she's going to need toughening. She's much too sheltered." Aoshi glared at him and snapped. "Really? And what about your wife? Don't you think SHE needs more 'toughening' to deal with someone like YOU?" Saitoh stared at the younger man for a second or two, then flung his head back and burst into loud, hearty laughter. "Hahahaha! Tokio... toughening? Hahahaha!!!" Aoshi gave Saitoh a startled look. It took a minute or two before the policeman eventually subsided into quiet chuckles. Looking over Aoshi's shoulder, Saitoh chucked his cigarette overboard and said in a terribly amused voice, "Shinomori here was worried about you. He seems to think you're too delicate and fragile to be my wife." The former leader of the Oniwabanshuu turned with a start, surprised that he had totally missed Tokio's approach. She stood several feet away, looking as serene as ever. With a faint sense of embarassment, he said sharply, "Now wait a moment. I did NOT say anything of the sort...." Saitoh smirked evilly. "No, but that's what you were implying, wasn't it?" Tokio blinked once at her husband's words, then gave Aoshi a polite bow. "Thank you for your concern, Shinomori-san, but I've always been in the most robust of health." She hesitated slightly, then murmured, "Misao's looking for you." Aoshi give Tokio a polite nod, then glared at Saitoh one more time before stalking away from the stern. Tokio glanced at her husband and said mildly, "You were teasing him." Saitoh smiled slowly, but said nothing for the moment. They stood at the railing and watched the foaming water pass by. "Minobe Junichi. What an idiot." Tokio murmured, "If it wasn't for Minobe, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to know each other better." "Hmph. Perhaps he did me a favor, but he's still an idiot. Or was an idiot." "Do you know if he's alive or dead?" "He disappeared after he was crippled during that bridge fiasco with the Battousai. Whether he's alive or dead, who knows? I hope my men will have some information by the time we reach Osaka." Tokio said thoughtfully. "Something must have happened recently. The murders associated with that black sword didn't start until just over a week ago." "I know. Something happened to trigger this chain of events. But what? And what are we going to do about it?" He scowled thoughtfully. "Tokio, do you know someone in Kyoto who's an expert on the occult?" "My great-aunt Asuko...." Saitoh grimaced. "She keeps an extensive library. And I'm sure she knows other knowledgeable people in Kyoto." "Well, that settles it. I suppose we'll end up staying with your family while we're in the city." Saitoh didn't seem at all happy with the prospect. "Don't look so damn pleased about it," he muttered. His wife merely gave him a placid little smile. As he stared over the water, he said somberly, "Tokio." "Yes, Hajime?" "The important thing here is my duty to halt whatever that sword's doing in Kyoto. The manifestations and apparitions have to stop before they get any worse. The last thing I want is have the city plunged into chaos just because of some idiot's personal desire for revenge." Tokio nodded quietly. "If that point slips my mind for any reason -- especially memories of the past or the Battousai -- remind me of it. By whatever means necessary." "As you wish, my husband." ----------------------------------- Yahiko was on deck, practicing. Normally, someone wielding a shinai would have attracted curious observers, but something about the boy's intensity and fierce concentration made people uneasy. They left him alone. Yahiko finished the last series of strokes, then took a deep breath. He turned and jumped a bit to see Kenshin silently watching him. The boy was relieved to note that Kenshin had returned to tying his hair back at the nape of the neck like he usually did. The swordsman smiled slightly. "You've been practicing almost constantly since we've been onboard." Yahiko shrugged. "Well, it's not like there's too much for me to do. Sano usually finds a gambling game or something. Misao's always bugging Aoshi. And you're crazy if you think I want to hang around Saitoh!" Kenshin sighed. "I'm sorry for ignoring you...." The boy glared at him. "Don't give me that! You've got a hell of a lot to worry about. I don't need a baby-sitter, okay?" Yahiko noticed Kenshin absently stroking the blue ribbon wrapped around his wrist. "Uh... Kenshin?" "Yes?" Yahiko struggled to find a tactful way to ask, but soon gave up. He bluntly said, "How are YOU doing? I mean, how are you feeling?" "I'm fine for the moment, but...." "Yeah?" "If I let my thoughts wander, I tend to find myself thinking about those years in Kyoto...." "Kenshin...." Yahiko couldn't hide a twitch of alarm. The redhead looked at the worried boy. (He's the future... the promise of things to come, of a time free of the death and violence that ruled in years gone by. So many lives were lost trying to give birth to a new future. I won't allow Kyoto to drown in blood and darkness again.) His gaze drifted down to the brilliant swatch of blue silk on his wrist. (Kaoru.... I almost wish that I'd never met you. You would've been safe... content. If I'd had any idea of the dangers I'd put you in... the pain I'd cause you... I would have taken you home after your first run-in with Goheh and left, never to see you again. And when you asked me to stay, I should have known better... but I was tired... and lonely. If I could do it all over again....) (Turning back time.... That's what this is all about, isn't it? My enemy's turning back time just so he... it... can relive a moment of the past. But that's not right. No matter how wrong, no matter how painful, the past is just that... the past. You learn from the past, make the most of the present, and live for the future. That's what both Saitoh and I are both doing, in our own very different ways... trying to build a better future.) (I almost wish that I'd never met you, Kaoru... but I'm so glad I did. I'm sorry that I never told you what you meant to me while I had the chance. And now this enemy is trying to make me forget you... forget that you ever existed. I won't let that happen. Because if I forget you, that makes everything you've endured to keep us together totally worthless... meaningless. I promised that I wouldn't leave you. And I won't.) He lifted his dark violet eyes and glanced at Yahiko. "Uh... what is it, Kenshin?" The boy was startled to see a sad, yet beautiful smile appear on Kenshin's face. "I was just thinking of a promise I made to Kaoru." ----------------------------------- In the late evening, three days after leaving Tokyo, the steamship entered Osaka harbor. ----------------------------------- (end of part 14) ********************************************************************** Next part: A chance to meet a group of people capable of intimidating Saitoh... his in-laws! =^_^= Never fear! I'm continuing work on this story, but the rate of posting will decrease a bit. I need to work on the next part of my Final Fantasy VII story CONFLICTS OF INTEREST before I get lynched by some of my more impatient readers. ^_^;;; -------------------------------------------- madamhydra@aol.com /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E http://www.geocities.com/~madamhydra/