Under The Circumstances

an r.k. fanfic

 

CHAPTER TEN

 

"Promises"

 

 

 

 

"Even though the moment passed me by, I still can't turn away

'Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose, get tossed along the way,."

 

Goo Goo Dolls

 

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"What's this?" Misao thought as she plucked a folded piece of paper from on top of her dresser. Just then, Kaoru poked her head in, "Oh, I almost forgot, Kaede-san was over here while you were out. He said he couldn't stay, but he left that for you." She said nodding towards the note. Misao turned the envelope over in her hand, "Arrigatou Kaoru-chan." she said more to the paper than to Kaoru. Kaoru noticed and smiled to herself.

 

"Oh, has she got it bad." she thought amusedly.

 

"Enjoy." She sing-songed in a juvenile voice almost skipping her way out of the bedroom. Misao noticed and smiled. Kaoru was more of a slightly older sister to her than a best friend and she appreciated the effortless manner in which she managed to include both Soujiro as well as herself into her adorably mismatched little family. She opened the envelope carefully and sure enough she recognized the elegant handwriting on the letter inside to be Kaede's. She took a deep breath and began to read.

 

 

 

Dearest Misao,

 

I'm sorry that contact between us was broken for the

past few days. Some urgent business came up and I had

to leave Tokyo for a while, I hope that you can forgive me

for not telling you sooner.

 

I'd like to make it up to you if you'd let me. 

Would you have dinner with me in my humble home?

I'm sending a  carriage for you at seven o' clock.

Please accept my invitation.

 

Yours truly,

Shinatama Kaede.

 

 

 

"So that's why I haven't heard from him!" Misao thought. It was true she had been worried that she had not heard from him ever since the time he had tried to kiss her at the restaurant. She thought that he had been too hurt to contact her after that, but now it seemed that their friendship had survived after all. She considered that she would have to tell him about Soujiro once she got there, but it was only fair that he should hear the news from her own lips. "Yes," she thought determinedly, "I am going to tell you Shinatama Kaede, and I'm going to do it tonight."

 

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Knowing that Kaede came from an affluent family and guessing that his "humble home" was probably a bit more than that, Misao paid extra attention to her appearance that evening. The indigo gown she had worn on their previous date looked more like a party dress next to the one she chose to wear that night. It was made of Chinese silk, deep scarlet with a rich purple obi, one of Jiya's more extravagant gifts. She pinned her hair up with two gold-colored combs with a red dragon design on each one and highlighted her lips with a little rouge. Looking into her mirror she gave a satisfied nod before making her way out the door.

 

The first person to see her as she stepped out of her room was Yahiko, who promptly dropped the shinai he was carrying with a loud clatter. "Kami-sama." He breathed in shock as his eyes traveled up and down Misao's transformed facade. He could see no connection between the "weasel" from Kyoto and the absolute vision standing before him now. "Misao," he whispered in awe, "you…you look beautiful."

Misao's mouth opened slightly in surprise and then curved into a smile. "Yahiko-chan, are you paying me a compliment?" she asked with amusement in her eyes.

 

"Misao I…Oh!!!" Kaoru's exclamation was accompanied by a loud clattering as she dropped the bowl of vegetables she had brought in from the garden. "Oh my!" she repeated, holding one hand on her chest. Misao bent and started to collect the food scattered on the floor, "Yes, it's me Kaoru-chan," She said handing the bowl back to Kaoru who still had one hand covering her heart. Kaoru stared at Misao for a moment more and then chuckled, "Oh Misao, you startled me! For a minute I thought I was dreaming…" She pointed to Misao's outfit, "Kaede-san?" she asked with raised eyebrows. Misao smiled, "He invited me to dinner at his house," she explained, "I wanted to make sure I'd fit in, you know?"

 

Kaoru sighed and let her hand drop, "Misao, in an outfit like that, there is no place in Japan that would refuse you." she said solemnly. Yahiko nodded in agreement, "I can't believe I ever called her a 'weasel'" he reflected gravely, "She looks more like a.. a goddess."  He looked up to find both Misao and Kaoru watching him with surprise-widened eyes. Did he just say any of that out loud? His cheeks burned with the thought.

 

"Yahiko…kireii…" Kaoru breathed in amazement as it was now Misao's turn to steady her heart, "Yahiko-kun," she whispered "I didn't know you could be so…poetic." She smiled and bent to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek, "Arrigatou." she whispered again.  She looked up at Kaoru again "I'll see you guys later tonight, alright?" Kaoru smiled and nodded, "Have fun Misao-chan." she replied.

 

 

They both watched as Misao donned her coat and made her way outside to her awaiting carriage. Once she disappeared from sight, Kaoru went back into the kitchen leaving Yahiko behind who continued to stare down the way Misao had went. Gingerly he put a hand to that tingling spot high on his cheekbone where Misao had kissed him.

 

"Definitely not a weasel." he said softly.

 

 

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In between the moon and you

The angels get a better view

Of the crumbling difference between wrong and right.

 

Counting Crows.

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The carriage bumped along the road at a brisk pace, carrying it's precious cargo as swiftly as it dared to the Shinatama mansion. Inside the velvet-lined cocoon however, Misao's thoughts wandered beyond what she might find once she got to the house of the one whom she had grown to consider a close friend. As grand an evening as that which lay before her, this would not be the most memorable meal of her life. That part of her heart belonged in a tiny restaurant on the darker side of Kyoto…three long years ago.

 

Walking home alone at night was not the smartest thing that a young woman could do. However, Misao's pride and moody nature dictated that she should traipse freely along the streets of Kyoto as often and at any time that she wished, including the dead of night. This night was no different from any other, Shishio be damned, if she wanted to walk around the streets alone then so be it. Besides, his chosen henchman seemed more concerned with stalking her in silence than actually doing her any harm.

 

Finally, unable to keep her temper in check any longer, she stopped dead in her tracks and called out to the offending shadow in a voice that was devoid of fear.

 

"I know that you're there so come on out. I'm in no mood to talk to shadows."

 

There was no sound at all, not even the scrape of a sandal across the hard-packed earth of the street. He melted from the darkness as easily as sunlight streams through the trees, coming out into the light where she could see that annoying, blank smile that stretched across his face.

 

"You are very perceptive Makimachi-san, I commend your trainers…"

 

Misao's scowl only deepened with the compliment, "Is there any special reason why you have chosen to pursue me Seta-san?" she snapped in irritation, "Surely you cannot be interested in my feminine charms?"

 

His voice held the edge of a laugh as empty as his smile, "You make me sound like some kind of stalker Makimachi-san, I'm merely keeping an eye out for you, Kyoto is, after all, a dangerous place."

 

Misao could not hold back the bitter laugh that rose in her throat, "With people like Shishio around, it sure is."

 

Soujiro folded his arms in front of him and opened his eyes into slits, "You seem  to insist on treading on thin ice, Miss Misao."

 

"Well, what am I supposed to do? Pretend that we are friends?"

 

"Yes, well…I suppose you do have your reasons," he admitted with a sigh before smiling even more brightly that before, "May I ask you something?"

 

"What?"

 

"Are you hungry?"

 

"What?!"

 

"There are some things which I would like to discuss with you, and…" he added disarmingly, "It is just about dinner-time anyway."

 

Misao's expression morphed from confusion into anger as a thought crossed her mind, "You're trying to poison me aren't you?" she yelled while pointing an accusing finger in his direction, "No way you're gonna trick me!"

 

Soujiro's response to this was to further widen his smile, grab hold of her hand and unceremoniously proceed to drag her down the street. "Don't be silly Makimachi-san," he chided, "I simply wish to share a meal with you." As Misao began to struggle against his vice-like grip he said something that surprised her out of her efforts.

 

"Besides," he said, "If I had wanted to dead, you already would be."

 

"Why you arrogant little…." She sputtered lamely.

 

To this, Soujiro turned his head slightly in her direction and raised an eyebrow, "People in glass houses should not throw stones Makimachi-san." He said.

 

Misao tossed her head in annoyance, "Leave me alone!" she commanded.

 

Soujiro simply pulled the hapless little ninja down the next side-street and into a restaurant that she had no previous knowledge of. "It's too late for that now." He responded even as he motioned for the waitresses' attention.

 

Before she knew what was happening, Misao found herself seated at a low table, glaring openly at Soujiro who was talking to the waitress on the other side. "Who does he think he is anyway?" she thought bitterly, "He has no right to kidnap me like this! What gives him the right to try to speak to me in such a manner after he almost slaughtered my friend ? Why he…he…he's not even human!"

 

"Why do you stare at me so intently?"

 

The way he directed the question without even looking her way caught the young ninja totally off-guard. "I…" she heard herself say, "I wasn't..."

 

He turned toward her with a knowing smile, "You're trying to figure me out, aren't you? It's funny..." he mused aloud.

 

Misao's eyes narrowed, "What's funny?" she snapped.

 

"I think the same of you."

 

Misao could not help but blink in surprise, "Me?" she said, "You're the funny one!"

 

"I have no idea what you are talking about Makimachi-san. I'm perfectly normal"

 

"Ha! For your information, "normal" people don't go around smiling their heads off."

 

"Well," he suggested with a shrug, "Maybe you are just a grouch."

 

Misao's face instantly went red with anger, not caring to notice that the waitress had returned with their order. "I am not a grouch!" she shouted.

 

"Sou da ne…" Soujiro said coolly as he picked up his own bowl and began to eat.

 

"Oh that irritating, insufferable, murderous…"

 

"Your soup's getting cold."

 

"Eh?" Misao said looking down to find a bowl had been placed before her. Briefly she toyed with the idea of leaving it untouched but her empty stomach had other ideas. Gingerly, she picked up a pair of chopsticks and brought the deliciously fragrant meal right up under her nose.

 

"You sure do spend a lot of your time thinking, don't you?"

 

Misao took a small bite out of her meal and frowned in annoyance at the question, "You don't seem to think much at all."

 

"Some people are dreamers Makimachi-san, others tend to take action."

 

"Oh, so you're saying I'm dreamy then?"

 

"I'm saying that you spend a lot of time in your own mind."

 

Instead of answering back, Misao simply shoveled another mouthful of noodles into her mouth to keep herself quiet. After a pause, Soujiro began his tirade again.

 

"You seem stranger to me that I to you, you know."

 

"Eh? What do you mean?"

 

"Well," he began, "You are not a master of your art, at least, not yet. Nevertheless, your presence is more compelling to me than the best of masters. Outwardly, there is nothing special about you, and yet you retain the qualities of someone who is painfully complex."

 

To this Misao gave a mocking smile, "You're the complex one, none of us can figure you out."

 

"There is nothing that is the least bit complex about me, Makimachi-san. I assure you of that. I live my life in the rule of ultimate simplicity."

 

"Really now?" Misao asked, her smile becoming more like a sneer, "If you're so "simple" then why do you hide so much?"

 

Surprised, he set his bowl down. "Hide?"

 

"Yes, hide," Misao repeated while pointing an accusing chopstick his way, "It seems to me that you are not being your true self. At any rate, I just don't get you."

 

"I assure you, Makimachi-san, there is nothing to "get"." He said while lifting his bowl again.

 

"Well then, what about me?" she persisted, "What are you trying to get out of this?"

 

He lowered his bowl so that his smile could be made visible, "Insight," he replied, "That and a good meal."

 

Misao's eyes narrowed, not at his words as much as the tiny rice grain that had become stuck to his cheek. "You mean information from our side, don't you?" she said while reaching across the table.

 

It was only when her hand had returned to her own lips that Misao realized what she had done. Eyes wide with disbelief at her own actions, she looked to Soujiro for confirmation, finding him staring back at her with a look of confusion replacing his usual smile.

 

Unbidden, his hand traveled to the spot where she had touched him, "W…why did you do that?"

"I…" Misao heard herself sputter, "E…excuse me." She blurted out before running out of the restaurant with her head down.

 

Soujiro hesitated for a moment before throwing some money on the table and following Misao outside, his expression carefully hidden by the long bangs that fell in front of his face.

 

 

Outside, Misao had launched herself onto the nearest rooftop and was now on her knees, hugging herself as if she were cold.

 

"What did I just do?" she muttered, "What the hell was I thinking of?"

 

"You did not answer my question."

 

Springing up to her feet, she saw a familiar shadow standing at the roof's edge. With quick, decisive steps, Soujiro approached her and grabbed the offending hand, the hand she had touched him with.

 

For the first time in a long time, Misao felt truly afraid, "I…don't know…" she whispered.

 

Clearly unsatisfied with her answer, Soujiro tightened his grip, unwittingly pulling her closer to himself. "You know what I am," he hissed, "And what I'm capable of, and yet you touch me like I am fragile enough to shatter under your fingers. What does that mean?"

 

Terrified out of her mind Misao averted her frightened eyes from his maddened ones. "It was nothing," she whispered in a voice that held the promise of tears, "I swear, I didn't mean…"

 

Smile long gone, Soujiro grabbed her other hand in frustration and turned her roughly to face him. Misao's feeling of dread increased tenfold as she found his angry face mere inches from her own.

 

"N-no! Let me go!" she pleaded.

 

The fear in her eyes did something to him then. He thought he would have enjoyed it, watching her squirm and beg for his mercy, but something was wrong. The whole situation, the sound of her voice raised a queer feeling in the pit of his stomach and he soon found himself swallowing the bile that rose in his throat with it.

 

Misao's breath came in shuddering gasps and the corners of her eyes began to sting with tears of fright. "He is not human, he has no value for human life. It…it's all over for me now."

 

"Do not…look at me that way."

 

His words cut through her tears like a knife. Once again she found herself blinking in disbelief as she watched the unmistakable shadow of hurt form deep within his dark eyes. Even as he released her, she could not tear herself away from their pained gaze.

 

"I think," he whispered hoarsely, "That is enough for now…when I wish to speak to you again, I will find you."

 

 

Misao leaned onto the carriage's window with an unreadable expression on her face, unable to see the magnificent estate that stretched before her eyes. In her mind's eye, she held the image of the one who she had unwittingly saved, and who, had just as unexpectedly saved her as well.

 

"You did find me anata," she murmured quietly, "And I am lucky that you did."

 

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