Under the circumstances

an r.k. fanfic

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

"To Tokyo!"

 

 

"Tell me all the places we could go,

Count the headlights passing on the road,

Long, long time ago."

 

Better Than Ezra.

 

 

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Soujiro sighed audibly while wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his gi. He had been wandering in the mountains for over a year now and he'd forgotten how hot the lowlands could be in late spring. " I'd forgotten what it was like…" he thought to himself as he raised a canteen to his lips. He could see the town at the end of the road, it looked so…normal, so peaceful. In his relatively short  lifetime, he was exposed to so much violence and death, that he never really got used to the idea of peace, let alone love and happiness. His emotional growth had been so stunted all he was left with for a time was the enjoyment of chaos. That is, until Himura arrived and gave him a solid ass-kicking and a hell of a reality check. He looked at the town below again considering whether he should drop in for a visit. He had planned on avoiding the town altogether, but the thought of seeing Himura again, of thanking him for his help. It was a tempting notion.

 

Baka! his rationale screamed at him, do you want to get caught? You know that Saitou is there! Is it really worth the risk?! Soujiro looked back the way he had come for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he thought about it. It would be dangerous to cross the wolf's path again… Suddenly, he turned and began taking long, determined strides in the direction of the town. "I'll be careful." he said to himself. "I just want to see Himura, that's all. There's no harm in that."

 

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"Yahiko stop that!" Kaoru snapped when she caught him fiddling with the collar of his polo. "But I'm choking!" he complained continuing his attempt to loosen the collar. "Why do we havta dress up anyhow?" he wailed in genuine agony, "it's just the weasel girl!" At that, Kaoru shot him a killer look that stifled any further protests, Yahiko dropped his hands to his sides and grumbled a little under his breath, but the collar was left quite alone. Kaoru nodded and straightened the hair sticks that held her bun together. "I don't know why you're trying to take the outfit apart anyway," she said looking him over, "I think you look kawaii for once in your life."

 

"Busu!" Yahiko thought to himself. It was true that the clothes did look nice on him, but did they have to be so uncomfortable? He suppressed the urge to fiddle with his collar again and instead occupied himself with looking at the crowd that had gathered at the station.

 

"Oi, Jo-chan," Sanosuke said looking down at Kaoru, "You sure do clean up nice." She was wearing a blue obi over a deep violet kimono with sakura scattered along the skirt to create the illusion that they gathered around her feet. Kaoru looked up at him through her lashes, her mouth twisted into a cynical half smile. "Why thank you Sano, I'll just take it as a compliment." she replied, pushing her bangs away from her eyes. "As a matter of fact," she continued, "I was thinking the same thing about the three of you." as she finished her last statement she turned her gaze pointedly to Kenshin who was wearing a dark blue gi and a white hakama. "You clean up real nice anata." she thought to herself as she studied his profile. Unexpectedly, he turned his head slightly to meet her gaze, locking her eyes with his as a ghost of a smile crept across his lips. Kaoru felt an electric shock go right through her as  the color flew to her cheeks, "Mou! How does he do that to me?" she mused as she shifted her gaze to the now approaching train. She was looking forward to seeing Misao again, she wondered if she had changed at all since they'd last seen each other.

 

The train came to a screeching halt a little way down from where they stood. Moments later, people began to pour out of the doors and into the arms of waiting relatives and friends. The Kenshin-gumi pressed in a little closer to look for their guest. Kaoru looked at the door to the main carriage, an elderly gentleman stepped off, followed by a young couple holding hands, then for a little while…nothing. Several moments later a dark head popped out of the carriage and wide blue-green eyes swept across the platform to rest on Kenshin's red hair. Immediately, an equally wide smile appeared beneath the eyes. "HEY YOU GUYS!!!" Misao hollered.

 

The voice was unmistakable. "Misao…" Kaoru whispered as she began to move toward the voice, Misao caught sight of her and dashed down the steps into the older girls embrace. "Misao-chan!" Kaoru shouted as she hugged the younger tightly, "Kaoru-chan," Misao replied returning the embrace. Kaoru released her and stepped back to take a good look at her face, then she gasped, "Misao!" she squealed, "your…your hair!"

Misao's trademark ponytail had been chopped short so that her silky hair fell just below her ears and the messy bangs had been tidied and layered to frame her small face. Misao smiled sheepishly twisting a ebon lock between her fingers. "I got tired of the braid." she explained.

 

By then, the guys had walked up to where the two young women were standing, Yahiko's jaw dropped. "Misao?!!" he squeaked, "you…you look…" his mouth continued to move soundlessly searching for the right words. "Grown up." Kenshin finished for him as he moved toward Misao,  "Konichiwa Misao-dono," he said softly giving her a gentle hug. "Arrigatou Kenshin." she replied as he released her.

Sano squinted down at Misao and cocked his head to the side, "Nice haircut," he observed, he leaned down to hold her close, "as a matter of fact, nice everything," he whispered in her ear. Misao playfully slapped at his arm as he released her "Baka." she retorted, actually pleased at his less-than-brotherly observation, "for that, you get to carry my heaviest bags." She turned her attention to the now blushing Yahiko who had finally regained control of his jaw, "Hey there chicken-head," she chuckled while playfully ruffling his spikes, "you've gotten taller since I saw you last…" she flashed a wicked grin, "but I'll bet I can still kick your butt." Yahiko raised his head defiantly although the blush in his cheek deepened, "You're on weasel-girl." he replied with an arrogant smile. At that response, Misao wrapped her arms around him and gave him a good squeeze, "don't ever change Yahiko." she said as she planted a kiss on his cheek.

 

As the group went to collect Misao's luggage, Sano took the chance to torment Yahiko. He slapped him on the back and winked at him wickedly, "Lucky boy." he hooted. Yahiko scowled and his face turned almost the same shade of red as Kenshin's hair.

 

"Shut up rooster-head." he scowled.

 

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Japan-speak

 

arrigatou- thank you

baka- idiot, stupid

busu- ugly

gi- short kimono worn as a shirt

hakma- those funky pants with the ties in front

kawaii- cute

kimono- Japanese robey thing with the belt.

konichiwa- welcome

koibito- darling

obi- belt worn with kimono

shinai- bamboo sword

 

 

 

 

           

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