Chapter 9: Crossroads (Epilogue)


A cold wind freed the trees of their beautiful load and whirled golden
and red leaves through the air, turning the world into a colourful
autumn dream, before letting them settle on the solid ground before the
huge but empty and lifeless house whose utilitarian ugliness they
masked. The sky showed a brilliant blue, so vivid that it nearly hurt
the eyes, creating a stark contrast to the bright sunshine.

But the two figures in front of the house didn't pay attention to the
golden warmth which was shifting over their skin by inches.

"So...", Misao began hesitantly while balancing from one feet to the other.

Saitou leaned back on the closed door, a cigarette in the corner of his
mouth. "So?"

She blushed a bit, not quite knowing what to say.

Was it just her or was the situation really absolute grotesque?

Yesterday, after separating from their embrace after what seemed a whole
eternity, she and Saitou had returned to their residence in silence,
where they had sit together nearly the whole night, not really
conversating, but also not willing to spent the night all alone. She had
been weary, but nevertheless somehow content. It had felt ... well,
*good* just to sit close to him and watching him breathing slowly. It
had felt safe.
She had even thought that she actually got to LIKE Saitou in spite of
all his countless mistakes!

...and the next morning, without any preamble, he had told her in the
most laconic way that their mission was over by now and that they should
separate to return to daily life!

Well, the girl thought sarcastically, in theory the idea sound really
well, but why the hell was saying goodbye to the damn wolf so damn hard?
And why was she unable to say a word when hundred of question were
floating through her mind?

*Are you going to miss me? Just a little bit?*
*Do you not notice that I am wearing the kimono you gave me?*
*And can't you quit smoking just for three minutes for God's sake?!?!*

"It's time to say goodbye, I guess", she finally muttered, her eyes
still focussed on the cloudless blue sky. So perfect. Almost too much to
take.

"Indeed."

VERY helpful, Saitou, really very helpful!

"What are you going to do now?" she asked further, this time directly
confronting him with her stare, but he only shrugged his shoulders
laconically.

"There is just one way of life for me, you know that well enough." He
hesitated for one moment. "I suppose you are returning to your people in
Kyoto?"

The girl nodded, for one moment forgetting her insecurity and showing
nothing but grim determination. "Hai." Then she sighed deeply. "I will
try one last time for Aoshi-sama. But if he...Well, then I will free
myself. I can't let it defeat me and become like Nanjo-san. After all I
am the Okashira - and there are people who need me."

Saitou didn't comment on this, just took another drag from his
cigarette, but she could feel that he approved this decision.

Yes, when there was one thing that she learned from the wolf, then that
she had duties she couldn't ignore. She had chosen her path, and there
was no way in hell she would let her grandfather's organisation, Aoshi´s
organisation, *her* organisation down. Even if Aoshi denied her his
support, even if she never found what she had hoped to find behind his
cold facade - she would continue her self-chosen path. It made her what
she was.

And furthermore there was at least one person who would respect this
decision.

"Saitou?"

"What else?"

She had to say it. She really had to say it.

"The time with you...We were a good team, weren't we?"

The wolf rose an eyebrow. "You did your part and I did mine, if you mean
that", he returned with infuriating coolness. As he saw her brows
narrowing in fury, a wry smile appeared on his lips. "No need to sulk,
Weasel."

"Nani?!"

Lifting the burning cigarette to his mouth, he regarded her mockingly.
"Well, after all you helped stopping a lot of death and destruction.
Don't misunderstand me, that doesn't change the fact that you are acting
like a mindless child most of the time, but you really can be proud of
yourself." Quirking his lips and letting a trail of smoke issuing, he
let his glance rest on her, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm
sure your grandfather would be."

Misao´s heart made a painful jump, but nevertheless the girl remained
suspiciously. She got to knew the wolf too good to fall for a compliment
directly. "Do you really mean this?"

The corner of his mouth quirked. "Otherwise I would not say it, stupid
one." With his seldom tenderness, he reached out to push a stride of
Misao´s hair back behind her ears. For one moment his thumb, callused
from all the years he already wielded his sword, rested on her cheek.
"Until we meet again, Weasel."

Misao smiled warmly. "Goodbye, wolf."



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

Ta-da! The tale of Wolf and Weasel is finally finished!

Well, my babbling isn't, so here some comments:

(1) From the beginning on I intended to write a lemon, but then came the
NC-17 ban and this wasn´t an option anymore. Well, perhaps this was for
the best since as far as I can see, the relationship between the two
bases on an odd mixture of fascination, esteem and of course their
constant quarrelling. Certainly there are sparks flying between them
from time to time, but I don't think that these sparks are enough to
turn them into "slaves of their lust" (isn't that a hilarious
expression? A good friend of mine uses it all of the time...). Not at
the moment, anyway. But well, when they have dealed with their own love
problems, who knows...(Have I mentioned that I play with the thought of
writing a sequel =^_~=)


(2) Yes, Tokio´s mysterious past remains a mystery. I decided not to
elaborate it since I'm sure that whatever you imagine is better than
whatever I could make up! So, instead, I just gave a few hints toward my
favourite possibility. I hope that satisfies everyone's curiosity.

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