Standard disclaimers:
I don't own Ruroken. Unfortunately Watsuki and some big name companies already 
have this
privilege. BUT: 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, because they are MINE!

Special thanks to Hana Himura who edited this story, for giving me helpful hints 
and
advice. You know Hana's stories? So you might know what awaits you here.

This is my first attempt to an alternate universe story AND romance, so please 
be gentle
with me =^^=.

I will break 'some' rules here, well, let us see if it is still possible to 
surprise you.
I will play a 'little' bit with the characters, so: OOC, but I try my best to 
stick to the
original ones.

This story will explore the darker sides of some characters (I won't tell you 
here whose).
The deeper insights will start around chapter 5.
Come on, be honest! Everyone has a dark side, no one is 100% 'correct' and 
'good'.
Furthermore the definition what is 'good' and what is 'evil' depends on your 
cultural
environment, your education, your social background. =^^=

Please don't judge with 'common' standards and try to keep an open mind.

Just relax and enjoy!



Chapter 1: Returning



The loudspeaker crackled just in the moment as the plane was pitching down
"Please take your seats and fasten your seat belts. We are passing some 
turbulence."

A young woman, slim built, who was just walking down the aisle, stumpled
over the sudden movement. The long plait hanging down to her hips swung 
uncontrolled
aside from the unexpected movement, she barely managed to catch herself at the 
row of
seats, otherwise she would have fallen to the ground.

"I'm sorry." She apologised to the indignant businessman she bumped into and was 
rewarded
with an arrogant and condescending look of his eye.

Turning around "I'm sorry." she excused to the second businessman who looked 
indignant
at his coffee where the very end of her plait was still swimming.

"Oh, I'm very sorry." Quickly she pulled her plait out of his coffee, waved the 
end to dry
it a little and continued to trip down the aisle to her seat followed by the 
man's
deadly stare, clearly showing how he hated young, clumsy humans who disturbed 
his
business-trips. He waved the stewardess and with a naughty statement he handed 
her the
cup ordering a new coffee.

The young woman had reached her seat and let herself fall into it with a sigh, 
addressing
her sister seated beside her.
"These rough turbulence came out of nowhere, all of a sudden."

"Yeah, Misao, you're right, I spilled my coffee over my clothes."
The relationship between the to young women was undeniable as they owned the 
same
features. The other, obviously older, sister's black hair was arranged in a bun 
which
was being about to let down.
Judging from the coffee stains and the tousled hair of both women they conveyed 
an untidy,
tousled, but somewhat likeable, impression on an accidental viewer.

Misao inspected the stains from the coffee on her sister's dark-green shirt and 
black skirt
"I see no chance you could get the coffee out of the silk of the black skirt."

Annoyed the addressed one wrinkled her nose and wiped across the stain with her 
hand
"Yes, but luckily it is black, nobody will notice. The shirt is worse and my 
cloths are
all in my suitcase"

A wide grin spread over the Misao's face, eyeing the short length of the skirt 
and
her sister's exposed legs. "Not that anyone will look at the shirt or the skirt 
when
they have the chance to look at your legs."

They both giggled behind their hands while the plane pitched down a second time, 
letting
them lift of their seats a bit.

"WOW, this is fun." The younger sister cheered up clapping in her hands 
over-exited,
causing a few annoyed stares from the commercial travellers around them.

"I'd prefer being back on earth again, Misao." The older one replied in a dry 
voice.

"Come on, Tokio, you are not THAT sensible other times. IAIIIII!" Misao screamed 
effusive
as the plane fell into the next air pocket, an outburst that made her sister 
slam her
hand against her forehead and provoked some annoyed muttering from the 
fellow-travellers.

"These businessmen are no fun" Misao stated and waved backwards with her hand "I 
fell onto
one as we past the first air pocket and my hair landed in the coffee of another. 
They have
no sense for humour, they were not very amused. I even excused and without 
batting an
eyelid they ignored me. Freaks. Why can't we fly tourist-class? There are HUMANS 
there."

Shaking her head Tokio decided to take her younger sister seriously, after all 
she was
responsible for her behaviour now.

"Father was of the opinion that his precious two daughters, belonging to the
Makimachi-family, being representatives of Japan for being daughters of an 
ambassador,
have to fly appropriate in the business-class."

Cheering up again Misao leaned back, trying to make the best of their situation
"At last we have enough space and the service is excellent." She paused a moment 
recalling
her fellow passengers "But all these boring, serious, old business-freaks. They 
are
half-dead. There is no fun here... IAIIIIII!" Misao screamed again, enjoying the 
next
pitching down "Except this air-pockets."

Seriously Tokio still tried to explain the awkward situation the fellow 
travellers had to
face "Well, Misao, this IS the business-class, it is Friday and this is the 
route
London-Tokyo. They are flying back home, on Sunday they will have to fly back to 
their
business. I can imagine they are a bit annoyed and bored flying so long and so 
often."

The loudspeaker crackled once more:
"We are preparing the landing approach to Narita Airport, please remain seated 
and keep
your seat belts fastened."

Excitedly Misao leaned over Tokio to catch a glimpse of the city beneath them, 
the sun had
already set down and the city-lights shone through the high clouds
"I'm exited how Tokyo is now. It sure has changed a lot in ten years."

"Yeah, I think you are right, but London was a great city to live in the last 
years."

"It was an interesting experience! We were lucky that father was ordered to 
London."

Enthusiastically Misao clapped her hands together "But now we can live together 
in Tokyo!"
A wide grin appeared on her face "No longer with Mum and Dad around!"

With a nod coming from the bottom of her heart, Tokio had to agree.
"Yes, no more annoying rules, boring receptions and representative stuff. 
Luckily that we
can live with Megumi, Tomoe and Enishi now."

"Unbelievable that our parents bought us the house!"

"Running a private hospital means a good and safe income. The Takagis are a 
family famous
for their medicine skills and our parents are still good friends. They have 
enough money
and they considered it to be a good idea."

Misao yawned and lolling extensive, scarcely understandable as she continued to 
refresh her
knowledge about her intended inmates
"And now Megumi starts her research at the Institute Hospital as well? Together 
with you?"

Casting a punishing glance at Misao about her behaviour at which Misao only 
rolled her
eyes, Tokio filled her in
"Yeah, she already started to work there after she visited us in London."

The sisters fell silent, watching the ground getting closer. As they had lost 
most of
their height Misao spoke again thoughtfully.
"Tokio?"

Turning her head, looking at her sister's thoughtful statement she indicated her 
to go on
"MMM?"

"Four young women in one house? Do you think this will work?" Misao wondered 
while lolling
a second time delightful.

"It has to, Misao. Our parents bought this house together for us all. At last we 
all have
a room for our own. But poor Enishi will have a hard stand against four of us."

They smiled at each other remembering the young man and fell quiet, this time 
Tokio broke
the silence after a while
"Misao?"

"MMM?"

"University courses start next week. or?"

Misao sat upright in her seat, wrinkling her nose while thinking about her 
starting to
study
"Yes, I'll decide which courses I take after the introduction week. I'm very 
exited about
studying at the University of Tokyo , I mean,... I guess it will be very 
different from
your studying in Cambridge."

"I guess so too. But honestly: I'm happy to have the chance to make my PhD at 
the
University-Hospital and not in Cambridge. I missed Tokyo a lot." Tokio's eyes 
got lost
when recalling her first school-years in Tokyo together with her friends Megumi 
and Tomoe.

Narrowing her eyebrows while reflecting her few memories of the city, Misao 
finally
shrugged her shoulders "I can barely remember. I was seven when we left and you 
were
twelve. Being back for vacation was too short to get to know this huge city."
She paused a second trying to recall the location "The house is near the 
University,
somewhere in Ueno?"

"Yes, you are right. But we don't have to care, Megumi will pick us up at the 
Airport, she
wrote it in her last mail."

Cheering up, Misao clapped her hands
"Really? Great! I thought we would have to take a taxi. This is much more 
comfortable."

"Yes, I agree. Megumi is great sometimes."

Meaningful Misao took the hint "You mentioned an important word, Tokio. 
Sometimes."

Tokio had to smile about Misao's under-tone.
"Still annoyed about her behaviour and comments in London, Misao?"

Joining her sister's smile Misao corrected the wrong impression her sister got
"No, I know, that is Megumi."

During their conversation the plane had been going down and with a slight 
rumbling it
touched the ground.

A last time the loudspeaker crackled:
"We have landed at Narita Airport. The time is 18.30, the temperature is 25°C. 
Please
remain seated till we reach our gate. Thank you very much for choosing Japan 
Airlines, we
hope you had a pleasant flight and enjoy your stay in Japan."

The first men had already raised, grabbing their document-cases and heading 
towards the
exit. Silently the sisters waited in their seats till the first passengers left 
the plane
before they picked up their own rucksacks and followed the crowd to the 
registration which
they passed without any trouble producing their Japanese passport. At the 
baggage claim
they had to wait some time, for their suitcases were nearly the last ones coming 
out on
the baggage conveyor.

"My Gods." Groaning under the weight of her suitcase, Misao heaved it on the 
luggage van
"I can't tell you how happy I am. To have arrived finally."

Hastily Tokio gathered some bags from the conveyor as they passed them, throwing 
them on
the van "And that father send our other stuff with the ship."

Misao's eyes widened as the first bag moved slightly aside, in the last moment 
she jumped
forward to catch it while her sister struggled with a second bag.
"Is it already delivered?"

"Megumi told me, that it arrived yesterday."

Lying half over their luggage-pile, arms wide-spread to hold it in place Misao 
wondered
while Tokio was looking for the last of their bags.
"Geez, that took nearly THREE months."

Tokio followed the passing luggage and suitcases closely, not to miss her 
suitcase and to
wait one more round before she could get it
"Yes, in wise foresight father forced us to finish our preparations so early."

Misao had arranged the bags in an at last half-stable pile on the van and joined 
her
sister waiting for the last suitcase.
"Me too, me too. At last we can walk around again. Being 12 hours cooped up in 
this loud,
sticky aeroplane got on my nerves. Luckily they decided to have the long 
distance flights
non-smoking flights. THIS would have been too much."

Nodding in approval Tokio agreed
"Yes, I really don't want to die from lung cancer at such tender age."

Finally they found Tokio's suitcase, heaved it under some more groans on the 
luggage van
and proceeded to the customs clearance. In a joint effort they managed to push 
the luggage
van into the right direction, Tokio pushing from behind, trying to hold onto the 
huge mass
of bags lying on top of the suitcases while Misao pulled on the front, trying to
give the van the right direction for her sister's sight was blocked.

Much to the officer's delight, who scarcely stifled a laughter at their efforts 
instead of
helping, they managed to reach the customs clearance.

"Anything to declare?" The officer asked and both shacked their head in unity 
innocently
while he took the passports.

"Looks like you are changing the residue."
He inquired with a winning smile around his lips.

"Yes, we move from London to Tokyo, but most of our belongings came by ship."
Misao answered trying to smile seductive back, failing miserably.

Unbelieving the officer stared at the huge mount of luggage on the van, 
swallowed and
whispered "Most of your belongings... by ship?"

The sisters giggled innocently at his dump-folded statement what remembered the 
officer of
his duties and after having a short glimpse inside their passports and a wide 
grin at their
exhausted faces he indicated them with a nod of his head to go on.

They entered the main hall and started to search the waiting people for their 
friend, they
spotted her in the first row at the very end already waving her hands. Tokio and 
Misao
waved back to indicate that they saw her and started to walk in her direction.

In a whisper Misao said to her sister
"My God! She looks prettier every time I see her. Maybe she can tell you her 
secret."

Misao let her eyes wander over her slender sister, the wet coffee stains on her 
shirt and
short skirt, the hair sticking out in every possible direction as the bun had 
loosened
even more now. Then she took a closer look at the womanly, graceful appearance 
of the
perfectly styled, neat doctor in front of them and shook her head.

"The same goes for you, Misao." Tokio whispered back pinched while looking from 
the corner
of her eye at her younger sister's black trousers, dented from the journey, at 
the
worn-out blue-green shirt she was wearing -the same as hers- and the tousled 
plait.

By now they were standing in front of the admired woman and addressed her 
unanimous
excitedly, a wide enthusiastic smile on their faces

"Megumi!"

No less enthusiastic Megumi smiled back.

"Tokio! Wonderful to see you again! And Misao! How are you two? How was your 
flight?"

"We had some turbulence the last two hours, I spilled some coffee over my shirt, 
but
everything else was pleasant."

Megumi took a closer look at the two skinny, tousled, messy old friends of hers 
and
decided not to waste more time at the airport, they both looked like they needed 
a bath
urgently.

"Let's drive home, you two must be exhausted after the long flight."

Megumi shoved them into the direction of the exit.

"Well,... Yes. I can't wait to have a hot bath." Tokio agreed while trying to 
give
together with Misao the van the right impulse.

They pushed the heavy luggage van through the crowds, trying to avoid a 
collision while
Megumi cleared a path for the two. Finally she stopped beside a silver car and 
Tokio's
eyes nearly bulged of their sockets.

"My Gods! MEGUMI! A Skyline!?"

Proudly Megumi nodded
"Yes, after my exam, when I came back from my visit in London I persuaded father 
to buy me
one. Well, after I started working in the clinic, TADA! He bought it."

Tokio ran around the car enthusiastically, unable to stifle her excitement, 
soaking up
every detail "WOW, great! A 25 GT Turbo!"

Interested, remembering Tokio's car in England, Megumi investigated
"What about your Lotus?"

Tokio's eyes clouded
"I had to sell him. The idea of shipping the car didn't appeal to Father."

Impatiently about the two elders Misao started to pick up the first bags
"PLEASE, you two! I want to have a bath. Stop chatting about these idiotic cars, 
you can do
this the whole evening at home."

Admitting that Misao was right they started to load the luggage into the car 
together, in
the end the car was crammed full and they set off taking one of Tokyo's 
expressways.

As they had reached the nearly empty expressway, Megumi concentrated back on her 
passengers
"We arranged a small welcome party for you tonight."

"Welcome party?"
Tokio's and Misao's eyes widened in surprise. A welcome party was the last thing 
they had
expected after being away for ten years. The only one's they still had contact 
to were
Megumi, for being Tokio's friend over all these years and due to the friendship 
of their
parents, and to Tomoe who was Tokio's best friend. But Misao knew no one in 
Tokyo except
her sister's old friends for she had been too young when they had left.

"Who will be there?" Tokio finally wondered.

"Ow, just we three, Tomoe, her brother Enishi, an acquaintance of Enishi, 
Kenshin is his
name I believe, they have something to plan and..."
calculating for effect Megumi paused "...Aoshi."

"Who is Aoshi?" Misao wanted to know, she already heard of Enishi for being 
Tomoe's
brother, but Aoshi was a new name for her.

Megumi's foxy red-brown eyes got a bit dreamy as she explained
"He is my new boyfriend, he is assistant professor at the department for 
Political Science
at the University of Tokyo."

Interested Misao's head popped up between the two older women.
"WOW, really? That sounds pretty old and respectable."

Tokio could not hold back her comment
"Since when are you preferring the serious type, Megumi?"

Megumi's statement darkened indicating her annoyance
"I haven't said I will marry him. Just see this as an experiment, you know."

In agreement Tokio nodded sympathetic while Misao investigated further
"How old is he?"

"Well, actually he is young for an assistant professor. He is very ambitious and
successful, he reached the position quite early. He is 25."

Sighing Tokio explained Misao's relation to age. "Megumi, that IS old for Misao. 
To be
precise she thinks he is half dead already."

"Yes, exactly. I wonder what you do with such on old bone" Misao dropped back 
again while
Megumi grinned evilly inside. 'Wait till you see him, Misao.'

Thinking of another theme to side-track the sisters Megumi remembered Tokio's 
last
boyfriend, the British student.

"What about Dave, Tokio?"

Misao giggled effusive from the back-seat and popped up between the two a second 
time
"Father found him in Tokio's room one night." She fell back holding her stomach 
from
laughing while Tokio looked indignant out of the side-window.
"He threw him out of the house and told him never to come back again, a 
foreigner would
not be good enough for his daughter. First time I saw Dad not being diplomatic, 
or Tokio?"

"To think that such a man could be scared by Dad." Tokio murmured disgruntled 
while
looking at the bright neon lights they were passing, suggesting to test a new 
sort of
beer, to buy a new camera in loud, garish colours, shining into the night.
"We weren't able to do anything." Tokio grumbled bad-tempered "He was even still 
wearing
his trousers when father charged into my room. I really wanted it that night and 
then
mother and father came back earlier from the banquet. After being threatened by 
father he
did not dare to have a look at me again. What a wimp."

Megumi laughed about the image of Dave being frightened by Mr. Makimachi

"Come on, Tokio, admit it. He was handsome, but not very convincing."
She paused recalling the impressive father of the sisters
"Otherwise I don't know anybody who wouldn't be scared by your Dad."

Subdued both sisters sat back in their seats reminded of their father's 
instructions and
rules, letting the passing nightly scene of Tokyo taking effect on them.

Megumi took the next exit and they left the expressways after paying the toll, 
driving
through smaller streets till they finally stopped in front of a house with a 
small garden
in front, barely distinguishable from the other houses in the street.

"Here we are." She turned of the engine and the three got out of the car, picked 
up the
luggage and entered the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To be continued...

Or not????

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's notes:
*MMMMMM* I want to mention: The alternate universe fics I read are:
'Fatal love' by Gypsy-chan
'To love you again' by Hana Himura
and, of course, all AU-fics written by Noa, my all time favourite author 
(besides Firuze
Khanume, but she writes a completely different story).

I hope I didn't miss one, I don't think so. If you feel that I copied someone's 
work I
did not mention here, please drop me a line, because this was NOT my intention. 
Please be
sure I will check if it is true and than honestly correcting my mistake, 
meaning:
admitting I missed an author or telling you that I unfortunately had the same 
idea
(believe it or leave it).

There are some fics out there I reviewed, but did not continue to read, please 
be sure
when I read, I submit a review every chapter or at the last chapter when I read 
the story
in one sitting or missed some updates. PHEW, this was necessary, because copying 
happens.

Besides (can't mention it often enough): I'm not a native speaker, SO: if you 
complain
about my English without giving me hints for improvements, you will be the one 
who has to
correct it. IT IS BRITISH ENGLISH (spelling/vocabulary) USED HERE!!



started on April 1st 2002
finished on April 5th 2002
first posted on April 5th 2002

Mara