Standard disclaimers: We don't own Ruroken. We wish we did, but unfortunately
Watsuki and some big name companies already have this privilege.
If you want to use one of 'my' characters, 'my' notes or some parts of 'my'
story-line it would be nice to ask me first.

I want to mention the Manga 'Blade of the Immortal' as an inspiration.
Well, honestly, I haven't read all volumes, I just read a new one this
weekend and was really shocked in how far it resembled my work here...
Cross my heart! I did not want to copy Samura-sans work! Please believe me!
This chapter was already written BEFORE reading 'Blade of the immortal'.

There is some background behind this chapter, I marked it like this: (1) when
I explain it in my notes at the end of the chapter. I will do this for chapter
one and two as soon as possible and mention it then.

I can't recall the shrine area exactly, please be gentle ^_^.

I decided to make the chapters shorter, more comfortable to read I think.
And starting with NEXT chapter we will have more Oniwabanshu and A LOT more
Hajime-Tokio interaction. This chapter here is necessary for the story-line 
^_^''.



CHAPTER 3

All nodded their good-byes in return and Tokio headed down the street
together with her brother who started to dream about the evening.
"Well, Tokio, what do you think? Will one of the girls be interested?"

Sighing, Tokio prepared to destroy Michinori's illusions while
Kenichiro and Okita started to discuss.

Saitou only shook his head "Morons."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tokio stiffened hearing Saitou's last comment behind her; she had incredible
good ears. Michinori did not notice it for he was visibly daydreaming. It was 
her
turn to help him face reality about the evening. Crossing the next junction she
sighed and began her 'mission'.

"You know what Iīm thinking about it, donīt you? Do I have to say more?" Tokio
cast a glance at her brother from the corner of her eye; he was walking on air,
but her serious comment brought him back to earth.

Sighing and with a sad look in his eye, he had to agree.
"Yes, youīre right, against Keni and this Okita-san I have absolutely no 
chance."

Okita was the key word she had been waiting for and deciding that it would be
best to play dumb, since her brother always told her everything without an
ulterior motive, she investigated further.
"Okita-san?" she asked innocently. "Was this the Shinsengumi coming together 
with
you out of the restaurant?"

Astonished he raised an eye brow at her.
"You don't know him?" he asked incredulous. "I thought you would."

"No, we haven't been introduced", Tokio lied effortlessly. "I just
bumped right into this... how did you call him? Okita-san?"

Michi grinned. "You BUMPED into him?! Since when is our kitten that so humble?"

"Then Saitou-san appeared right behind him, just mentioned our name and your
Okita-san disappeared into the restaurant all of a sudden", Tokio continued,
simply ignoring her brotherīs remark. Then she gave him a sweet little girl 
look.
"I just wonder what for."

Obviously, her brother didnīt get her tactic. "How am I supposed to know? He
walked straight to us and addressed us introducing himself as Okita Soushi-san,
leader of the first squad", he explained. "Canīt see something special about 
it."

Tokio had to suppress a little sigh. In times like these she was more than
relieved to come after Kenichiro regarding wit and intelligence for her other
brother had the unnerving tendency to be dangerously ignorant to obvious signs.
"Didn't you wonder why he addressed you? I mean you and Keni werenīt the only
persons sitting in the Aoiya."

He stopped dead in his tracks and stared down at her, his brain cells finally
beginning to work.
"As you say this... yes, kind of strange", he said slowly. "I was too busy with
Okon and Omasu then... but youīre right.... Really strange."

Inwardly she shook her head about her brother. Sometimes he resembled a little
child in her eyes since he was as easily distracted as a mindless toddler.
"What else did this Okita-san say?" she asked further, not caring about tactic
anymore. In handling Michi there was no use for it anyway.

With a concentrated face expression her brother started to walk ahead, trying to
remember what the Shinsengumi had wanted, but he soon realized that his attempts
would be futile. Back then, he had already been turning his attention back to
Okon and Omasu in the moment when he had understood the young manīs wish to talk
to Kenichiro. Shrugging his shoulders he told Tokio what he could remember.
"I just know that he wanted to speak with Keni. Then he had turned his attention
to Omasu and Okon, too."

For a short time she considered to tell Michinori what Saitou had revealed her
earlier - that Okita knew their father, that their father had been in Kyoto -
but she was sure that her younger brother knew as much about this as she 
herself,
otherwise he would have told her already.

Giving him a thoughtful look, she decided to change the topic. There were still
other unsolved questions occupying her mind.

"Well, Keni will tell us in time", she played her former questions down. 
"Another
thing Iīd really like to know is your opinion about taking the long way round to
Kyoto over Edo. My feet still ache because of leaving the domain several times!"

Like she had calculated, her brother began to laugh and forgot their discussion
about Okita in a matter of seconds. "How often will you still come up with this,
Tokio? Hell, it was Keniīs idea to travel to Edo first." He grimaced shortly.
"But I have to agree with you, that was bloody annoying. These Samurai running
the checkpoints are not only pretty sharp but also intriguing." (1)

"The Samurai working for the Shogunate are quite tough" his sister nodded.
"Actually, I was surprised that Keni remained polite to them."

Michinori shrugged his shoulders. "It has been a great effort to get the travel
passes for us three. Keni wouldn't risk them by being impolite to the Banshi
running them."

A little smile appeared around Tokioīs lips. "I remember him to be indignant
about the bureaucracy that he had to bow in front of the Daimyo for these
travelling passes."

"You remember the one checkpoint on the Koshu-way?" Michi giggled. "He nearly
fell on his back seeing you walking and not being carried around in a cabin." 
(2)

Amused Tokio joined into his laughter. "Oh, yes, he was very suspicious and nosy
about this." Then suddenly her laughter stopped as easily as it had come to her
lips. "I guess it was because of the woman they caught the day before", she 
added
quietly.

For a moment her brother seemed to be confused, then he suddenly remembered.
"The one who tried to run away from a brothel?"

"Yes. We saw the execution."
Remembering the event, Tokio had to close her eyes. The young woman had been of
her age. She had knelt on the ground, leaning forward, exposing her fragile neck
to the Samurai beside her who had lifted his sword and smashed it down on her,
not being hindered by any resistance. The head had fallen to the ground, the
corpse forward, blood had been squirting of the throat, much to the horror of 
the
spectators. Tokio shook her head, not wanting to be haunted by these images
anymore. It had been the girlīs fault anyway, she thought stubbornly, why did 
she
have to try to run away?

Her brother expressed what she thought.
"Just one more stupid attempt to pass the checkpoints. Why do they try to run
away? They should know better by now. Why can't they just stay were they are?
They earn a good salary", he shook his head uncomprehendingly. "That made it
unnerving for us, because they were on guard."

At which Tokio was back to her main point. "Exactly! It was hard to pass the all
the checkpoints and I just can't imagine Keni doing this for fun."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "Michi? Do you know what kind of business he exactly
had to deal with in Edo?"

Back at home she had been forced to take care of too many things and had
therefore not been interested in asking Keni about his motives, especially not
after the fights and tearful discussions they had held earlier, but now she
really wanted to know this big family secret he was hiding from her. Of course
she could conjecture something, but she wanted more than that; she wanted the
answers to her questions and she wanted them now. To be honest she doubted
Michinori to know much more than herself, but on the other hand you could never
be too sure before you investigated. She had learned early in her life that
things were never what they seemed to be.

"No, the only thing I know is, that it was quite hard to get the travel pass,
especially for you." Michi laughed amused. "You can imagine, the Daimyo was not
very pleased to let you travel out of his domain."

Tokio sighed inwardly. As she had imagined, Kenichiro had given Michinori enough
money for the red-light districts of Edo and that was all that had mattered for
him for he never saw any need to bother about a business their bother promised 
to
take care of. Not wanting to increase her Michiīs suspicion, she didnīt
investigate further.

"Yes, they are rather strict with their permissions, especially with women."
Sarcastically she smiled. "The Daimyo seems to be afraid of all girls running
away from him."

"Kenichiro gave you a good reason for receiving a travel pass." He winked at her
teasingly. "I guess, a marriage meeting is reason enough."

Tokio had to giggle remembering the Daimyo in front of her.
"Remember? He grumbled something about an old maid and about time."

Joining her giggles, Michinori recalled the scene.
"Remember Keni then? I was really afraid they would drew again!"

"I have never seen the Daimyo giving in to a subject so fast and easily. Our
influence on him is still strong."

Proudly the elder one nodded. "Yes, he can't afford to have our family against
him. The trouble we had last time was hard enough; it cost blood on both sides."

In the meantime they had reached the path-way leading up to the shrine on the
hill. It was spanned by red painted arches and Michinori wasn't able to stifle
his impression.
"WOW, this arch-way is great!" (3)

Giving it a closer look and looking up the hill, Tokio had to admit that he was
right. The whole way up to the shrine was spanned with arches, impressing and
majestic.
"Yes, I have never seen anything like this before, the one in Osaka is quite
different."

In silence they walked up till they reached the shrine area. Directly in front
of them was the main building, on the left hand was a small spring where a few
bamboo-cups were inviting to collect some water and to refresh oneself. Another
spring was directly beside for cleaning hands and mouth (4). After the way up
the hill they indeed felt thirsty and filled the cups with some spring water, 
and
cleaned themselves before they choose to inspect the area closer.
On the right hand from the main entrance was a smaller roof under which a fire
was burning in a huge pottery. Seeing it, Tokio headed straight for it, lead by 
a
mysterious voice singing in her head.

"That must be the fire, I heard a great deal about. You can lighten up a tie
there and wish something, it is supposed to come true."

"Well, what a great idea, Tokio! Which tie do you want to light? Your obi?"

In response, she rolled her eyes. "Really funny, Michi! Really funny."

They laid their hands together and stared piously into the flames. It was hot,
standing so close to the fire, but Tokio couldn't help; she had to stare into 
the
flames, unable to look aside.

Like already twice this day, her vision blurred and suddenly she wasn't standing
in the shrine-area anymore, but on a large, thin stone column emerging of a pool
of red-gleaming lava. The air was hot, barely breathable. The lava around her
bubbling, so that squirting she couldn't move.

The air in front of her shimmered from the heat, the vision grew stronger and
suddenly she could watch a scene unfolding in the middle of the air, unable to 
do
anything, unable to close her eyes, forced to watch...

A large house in the landscape.
It was moving closer to her and suddenly she stood in the entrance. The sliding
door, which was lying opened in front of her, allowed her to get a look inside a
large room.

Some dead corpses were already lying around on the floor, while only two men 
were
still standing. One attacked, the other leaned back further, further... nearly
touching the floor with his back, letting his attacker pass him. At just this
moment he raised and moved his sword with one wide circle through the air.
Tokioīs eyes widened as she saw one hand still holding a sword and one leg 
flying
high through the air. Then the attacker fell yelling to the ground.

"It is playtime, boy!" Moving forward, the man revealed Tokio a look on a young
woman, who watched the scene horrified. Beside her stood a little girl with a
fearless look on her face. When the girlīs eyes met with Tokioīs, the young 
woman
was forced to look away, unable to stand the weight of the childīs stare.

The air was shimmering again, and the vision vanished.

Now the girl sat naked in one corner of the same room with a blanket in her 
hand.
Like a little sanctuary, the corner in which she was sitting was clean, but
around her blood was spilled everywhere in the room, pieces of human bodies lied
around. When a young man entered the scene, the girl backed away from him, a
terrified expression on her pretty face.

Carefully he approached her. "Shshsh", he whispered. "Donīt be frightened
anymore, everything is all right. Do you hear me, kitten? It is over now."

Obviously she didnīt get the meaning of his word. Her whole body was shaking and
the grip of her fragile arms, thrown around her legs, pressing them against her
small body, tightened fearfully.

He reached out one hand, but she turned away, afraid, full of fear and agony.

"Shshs, I won't harm you, don't you recognise me?"

With horror in her eyes she examined him and her cramped muscles loosened up a
bit. He touched her one arm and although she twitched in despair, he tightened
his grip around and pulled her out of the corner.

"Shshs, calm down, I won't harm you."
Gently he caressed her hair, at which her muscles loosened a bit more.

"Please let me see what they have done."

Still shaking she loosened her arms around her legs with wide open eyes.
Catching a glimpse of her corpse, he had to gasp.

"These bastards!" he whispered unbelievingly.

Her small body was covered with spirals, circles and triangles, an abstract,
symmetric picture painted with blood all across her body.

Quickly he threw the blanket around her, picked her up, pressed her against him
and carried her out of the house were his companion was waiting for him.

"You found her!" he sighed relieved.

He nodded, his expression very serious. "I'm afraid I was too late, she has
bloody paintings all over her body. I have to admit, it looks quite beautiful."

Regretting he looked down at the fragile girl, blood from his chin drooping on
her little form. Poor kitten.

His comrade closed his eyes, expressing what he thought. "Poor girl."

The other one shook his head. "No. This will only make her stronger."

Only observing...

Someone shacked her hard and shouted at her.

"Michinori to Tokio. Michinori to Tokio. This is reality."

Shaking and shouting again.

"Hello! Reality calling."

Recognising her brother she winked confused, still being trapped in her
imagination.

"HUH, Michi don't shake me this roughly."

"Well, for over 10 minutes you did nothing but staring in the air."

"Ten minutes isn't an eternity."

Michi sighed deeply. "You and your daydreams."

"Well, you must know of what youīre speaking. Daydreams. You are the expert.
Shall I remind you?"

She had re-gained her sharp tongue but to him she still seemed absent-minded and
Michinori got concerned. He cast a short glance around. No one except them was 
on
the area so he hugged his sister, kissed her gently on her mouth and caressed 
her
hair with one hand. (5)

"I'll be always there for you, Tokio."

A bit uncomfortable she tried to free herself, hating the pity her gift caused 
in
others. She was able to handle it alone. She didnīt want to tell somebody about
the things she saw, knowing too well that she was never able to influence or to
change destiny. "I know, Michi. Thank you. But I'm strong enough to stand this 
on
my own."

He released her and stepped back, frustration and annoyance clearly imprinted on
his face. "It is always the same with you!" he hissed and slammed his fist into
the tree behind him. "Hell, what is wrong with you, Tokio? Can't you just
appreciate some help from a man? Always this 'I'm strong enough'-talk."
Getting serious again, he grabbed her by both arms and looked her deep in the
eyes. "There will come a day when you will need help and I just canīt stand
the thought of you being alone then because of your stubbornness."

Helplessly she stared at him, not used to such a seriousness coming from him.
"Michi..."

His eyes were very honest. "I will be there for you then, Tokio", he promised
gentle. "I just wanted to assure you."

Trying to hide her emotion, she smiled sarcastically.
"Well, it will be a problem to be 24 hours around me when I'm married.
I just canīt imagine that my husband will appreciate this very much."

Adopting to her humour, he grinned. "No problem for me, I just knock him out."

They both had to laugh and headed towards the steps down to the city back to
their accommodation.

Remembering what her brother thought of the candidate they met today she laid a
hand on his shoulder
"I bet you would love to punch Saitou-san."

Turning Michinori smirked
"Come on, Tokio, admit it. You would love to see me placing my fist into his
face. I noticed you wanted to lecture him but you were interrupted." His smirk
turned into a sarcastic smile "I'll do the dirty work for you, as always."

"Violence is not the solution I would appreciate in this particular case, 
Michi."

"Yes, I know. But..." He paused, a lost and fearful expression appeared in his
eyes. He kicked a stone lying in his way away "Honestly... I don't know what
to do without you. I'm afraid what could happen to you when I'm not around."

A second time this day she was taken aback by his seriousness. Did he have a
presentiment like she had being in this city?
"Michi..." She remained at the spot watching her usually friendly and optimistic
brother.

"But Keni decided..." His posture expressed anger now, he kicked the next
stone away with the most strength he was able to use. "Damn it."
Suddenly he noticed that he bewildered his sister with his strange behaviour
and put on a fake smile, sure he couldn't foul her.

"Let's go back and have a rest till the evening." Quickly he turned and walked
away, not able to stand his sister's look, he knew he was readable like a book
for her.

Shaking her head as if to get rid of the serious moment and knowing that they
both were aware of the fact that his smile was a fake one, she decided to follow
him.
"Wait for me, Michi."
It would be pointless to ask him what bothered him, he would not tell her
as she would not tell him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's notes:

Please correct me, when I am wrong, my memory is not one of the best...

(1) checkpoints and travel-passes
At that time Japan was divided in feudal domains (han) and travelling around
was restricted (you might have learned that from Takagi Megumi). There were
checkpoints (sekisho, Edo-domain) on the roads run by a certain class of
Samurai (banshi).
At these checkpoints, travellers had to submit a travel-pass (tegata) to be
allowed to leave the domain and enter the next one. The privilege of
controlling/running/manning a sekisho was often passed down from father to
son, these families were loyal to the shogun and the Banshi especially were
really pretty sharp. I think if you run such a control point you develop a
'sixth sense' for who is lying and who is telling the truth. However, if you
get caught trying to pass the checkpoints without permission, it is the
death-sentence, meaning execution without an exception. Of course, there
were always ways to pass these points: with the right connections, enough
money, being more sharp than the Banshi... but it was a high risk, I think.
People trying to change the domain had to be really desperated in my
opinion. Otherwise you would not risk your life on such an attempt.
AND: of course getting a travel-pass for women of the Samurai-class were even
tougher.I have no exact idea why, I could imagine that they did not like the
idea of their women travelling around.

(2) Roads in and out of Edo
There were some roads out of Edo going west-wards. One is the famous
'Tokaido', one the 'Nakasendo' and one the 'Koshudo', naming a few, these were
the MAIN roads out of Edo to the west. '-do' means 'way', 'road'.
Today one route of the Shinkansen is named Tokaido, taking the same way as
this ancient road. 'Koshudo' lead to Kaga.
If a woman of the Samurai-class travelled (with enough money, of course) she
would have been carried around in a cabin. Money was really a problem (I think)
because the Samurai did not work and earned salary, a reason why the merchants
became more powerful, I guess. =^_^= The Samurai did not work because of this
'bushido'- and 'zen'-stuff, I'll explain it in more detail in next chapter, if
you are interested.

(3) Fushimi-Inari-taisha
A shrine in the south of Kyoto, famous for its paths with thousands of vermilion
torii (Shinto shrine gates).
BTW: The expression 'shrine' is used for Shinto 'buildings', the expression
'temple' is used for Buddhismn 'buildings'.
To the shrine (from: Kyoto: One city, twelve centuries-find your yen for Zen,
Lonely Planet, 2001, page 148):
This intriguing shrine was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake by the Hata
family in the 8th century. As the role of agriculture dimished, deities were
enrolled to ensure prosperity in business. Nowadays, the shrine is the head
shrine for some 40,000 Inari shrines scattered the length and breadth of the
country.
The entire complex, consisting of five shrines, sprawls across the wooded
slopes of Inari-san (Mara: Japanese use -san for mountains, e.g.: Fuji-san).
A pathway wanders 4km up the mountain and is lined with hundreds of red torii
(Mara: this torii are gifts from families to the shrine). There are also
dozens of stone foxes. The fox is considered the messenger of Inari, the god
of cereals, and the stone foxes, too, are often referred to as Inari. The key
often seen in the fox's mouth is for the rice granary. On an incidental note,
the Japanese traditionally see the fox as a sacred, somewhat mysterious figure
capable of 'possessing' humans - the favoured point of entry is under the
fingernails.
On 8 April there's a Sangyo-sai festival with offerings and dances to ensure
prosperity for national industry. During the first few days in January,
thousands of believers visit this shrine as their hatsu-mode to pray for good
fortune (Mara: at this occasion, you light a tie for good fortune).
Local delicacies sold on the approach streets include barbecued sparrow and
inari-sushi, which is fried tofu wrapped around sweetened sushi- commonly
believed to be the favourite food of the fox (Mara: I have to mention it: one
of my favourite foods too!!- Besides kimu-chi and Kyushu-Ramen and...
many many more).

(4)
Before entering the shrine area you usually clean your hands and your mouth.

(5)
Well, Japanese NEVER NEVER hug each other in public and for sure don't kiss in
the public! NEVER NEVER! At least if you are well-educated... AND: You don't
walk through the streets holding hands (I LOVE these guys =^_^=).

The notes (1), (2), (4) and (5) are extracts from my notes of my Japanese
background studies, my expiriences with this culture and the manga 'Blade of
the Immortal' (especially note 1).