Chapter 12 : Arrival at Unknown Destination “What?” Kenshin asked again, this time leaning forward to peer closer. “What did you say again?” “Ken-chan,” Kaoru sighed, sipping her green tea slowly. “I’ve said it more than 10 times! I would be teaching for free at the Rakuninmura, where you would accompany me and Enishi-san take over my actual paying students. How’s that idea?” she put her cup down and went over to him squatting by the ground doing the laundry. “Ne, Ken-chan?” Kaoru whispered in his ear as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yo...yokatta...but what made you suddenly want to...Rakuninmura?” he gently pried her hands off him, turning around to look at her closely again. “What happened?” She tilted her head to the side, now a little frustrated. “Does it matter? Isn’t it a good thing?” Kaoru pushed away his hands on her shoulders, standing up and retreating back to the dojo, where Yahiko was waiting. “It’s okay if you don’t want to come, I’ll ask Yahiko-kun to follow then.” He just looked blankly at her. ** “Soujiro!! Where are you?” she called out again into dense greenery, her view shrouded by more branches sticking out in her way, one which she put an arm on and rested for a while. After a week together, she forgo the prefix to his name as they both grew closer, each time knowing each other better though chats that lasted for hours into the night, in the day they would resume on the journey with him mostly walking far ahead of her, leading the way. That particular day she was more tired than ever, they had not approached a town yet and supplies was running low. Furthermore, their journey was an impromptu one, they had barely supplies to last a day, much less a week. Misao wasn’t coping well with that, she had been sneezing since she woke up. “Soujiro no baka, where are you??” She asked again, more anxiously this time. She didn’t want to lose someone again, not after having recently lost one in the same circumstances, in a forest. She felt desperate to hear an answer, any answer would do. “Who are you calling a baka?” a voice behind lifted her up and carried her to a higher branch, just like when they first met. “What the...” she pushed away from him before her tiredness gave in and she fell into his arms. “please go slower next time, I can’t catch up...Aachoo!” “You can’t catch up?” he was startled at her falling, but didn’t move to disturb her resting on his lap. He remembered telling Yumi how comfortable it was on her lap...maybe...oh well, back to the present. “This speed used to be easy for you. Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” Misao managed to sit up at that. She didn’t want to be weak again and depend on another, be a burden to another. “Let’s...Aachoo!...continue.” She forced a smile through rubbing her nose. Branch by branch she climbed down, refusing his help and walked ahead when she reached the ground. She knew he was behind her closely but didn’t want to look around, for she also knew he was concerned about her. The nearest lake was miles away, and the forest they’re in happen to be weirdly barren, except for a few birds who flew too fast to be caught. Misao ignored her grumbling stomach and went on, pretending to be normal when she was far from it. After a few more painful hours for her, a ray of hope shone, faintly at first but becoming brighter as they neared it. “Look, Soujiro!! I see a town up ahead! A town!!” With all the might she could muster, she sprinted full speed towards the clearing that got bigger with view. “Come on, Let’s go!!” “Hai.” a soft voice behind her assured. The bright sun shone ahead, splendidly illuminated little dews of the damp morning that hung on tips of grasses, making what they were trudging on seem like a crystal carpet. But more of it was ahead, they neared large land masses and more greenery, this time with a sweet scent that floated in the air with it, a sweet familiar scent. “Misao,” he easily caught her pace and stepped in line with her. “know that smell?” Soujiro smiled. “Is it, is it O-cha?” “Yes, now you know where we are?” She eagerly nodded her head, making a smile she hasn’t been able to make the past few days. Finally they were away, away from it all. They were in agricultural land overflowing with fresh stalks of green tea, one of the largest manufacture in Japan. They were in a place where no one would recognised them, find them, to dig up pasts they so wanted to escape from. It was worth the wait, and at the same time, scary to think how easy it could be to just let go everything they had in Kyoto, Tokyo. But for now, it didn’t matter, for they, they were in Shizuoka. A new life? together? Those were the only things in their heads. Unknowingly, their bodies found the answer already. ** He stood in his room, looking at the sabakatou and the bokken Kaoru had just passed him. Both were weapons he could easily manoeuvre around, useful yet not essential to bring both. But it was a habit, so Kenshin slid his sword under his belt and brought the bokken along, trying to think positively, or at least act supportive in front of Kaoru, lest worry or anger her again. The whole Kenshin-gumi came along, Yahiko was specially excited at the prospect of being a teacher, after being a student all the while, he very much wanted to pass skills along to his juniors since Yutarou was not counted as one. ‘Yahiko-SAMA!’ That’s what they would call me! Hahaa... Sano chewed on the fishbone left over from breakfast and behaving normally, as if it was usual others were dying to learn from him. He was a little disappointed when told it was voluntary work, which meant no payment in money or better, food. But heck, he had nothing to do anyway, and thought it was a good chance to repay Kaoru’s kindness for helping Miko with her marriage. Miko...I wonder how she’s doing... Megumi came along too, ever ready to tend to any injury, except two she couldn’t cure - death and stupidity, she repeated before especially in front of Sano. It was sweet of him to give her flowers yesterday, if only they weren’t chrysanthemums, a symbolic flower offered to the deceased. “They rest were sold out!” he argued, after which complained of her ungratefulness in his red-hot cheeks. Rakuninmura, a place for those who rejected to live in the Meiji era and fall back on their own, let go of the past and live a life where everything was lost. A feared place avoided by women and children, now awaits 6 people, including Tsubame who wanted to see and help out, to bring a new hope in their lives, something to their nothing. “What...what is it?” a burly one whom you can smell foul odour a mile away greeted them. He recognised Kaoru from that day with Enishi. “Have you come here to bring more food?” “We’re here to bring you something better than that!” she quipped. “’Duh...what’s better than food?” Megumi took this chance to pat Sano’s shoulders. “’Look, we’ve found your brother.” she whispered in his ear. He eyed her sarcastically. “So many things!” Kaoru smiled, her joyous mood was unwavering. “The sun, the trees, the birds...” “Ano...Kaoru-dono...” started Kenshin. “...the world, the people...” “Weird old man! We’ve got a crazy one here!” he shouted back inside. “they brought their crazy friends along!” Tsubame hid behind Kaoru’s kimono. “Crazy?!” Yahiko shouted back. “Nono...we’re here to help you! You see,...” Kaoru continued. “Ano...” “Ne, Jou-chan, just forget about him. There are more people inside.” “Ah...the baka speaks.” “Baka?!” Tsubame hid lower. “WHAT’S THIS?!?” A voice bellowed from the depths of Rakuninmura. “CAN’T WE EVER HAVE PEACE AROUND HERE?!?” Tsubame grabbed Kaoru’s kimono so hard she could have fell backwards. Akabeko needs me...Akabeko needs me...she chanted to herself. The lady who led the group stepped forward. She was determined to get her chance. “Can we speak to the leader here?” Kaoru tried to maintain her subtle composure. From the rustle in the darkness encompassed by dust and dirt galore, a tall man stood out with a frown on his face. His hakama was torn and patched untidily, his shorts no different, but he stood up unashamed, striding forward in large steps. “Oh, it’s you again. I haven’t thanked you last time.” “Oro?...again...? Kaoru-dono...” “It’s ok, I brought my friends along this time.” He glanced at the weapons all of them were holding, and felt a tinge of threat. “Weird old man is not here, I’m currently in-charge. What do you want now? Trouble?” “Bakaero, does it look like we want to attack this place?” Sano, who just can’t be silent for too long. “We’re here to teach, that’s what!” Yahiko added. “Teach?” he stared at them dumbfounded, as if he never heard more absurd stuff. “What are you talking about?” “*sigh* How many times must...” Megumi quickly covered Sano’s mouth. “Kaoru...” she urged. “We are gonna teach all of you fighting skills, which you can use for your defence, and perhaps, survival.” she got the hint from Megumi and explained. “Fighting skills? We already know them!!” “We...we do?” the first burly guy whom they met, asked in uncertainly. “Yes! Have you forgotten? Our pride! Our honour!” “THEY have pride? Are they serious?” Sano asked in disbelief. He pulled away Megumi’s hand from his mouth but held onto it. Megumi herself left it there in his warm embrace. They both were at the back row, hence no one noticed even as they intertwined fingers. “Oh no...not THAT one...” Yahiko slapped his forehead. “Yahiko-kun, you know of they attacks?” questioned Kaoru curiously. “the ‘48 crushing people stance’!!” he bellowed out loud “Hmm...you weren’t part of it...ne?” The other burly guy shook his head. “No, I couldn’t make it to the finals.” “Oh boy, it’s THAT one.” the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu deshi smiled knowingly. “You want to see REAL stuff??” He took out his bokken. “Hey, even you came along!” the deputy leader bent down to meet Tsubame face to face, quite ignoring Yahiko. “Ko...Konichiwa!” she did a little bow. “Good girl!” he patted her head and stood back up, giving the little timid girl a reason to smile. “Ah! I see your intentions” He faced Kaoru now. “Forgive my imprudence, I’m Chutsu!” he rubbed his right hand behind him and brought it out, remembering what hospitality manners Enishi had taught him before. “Chutsu-san?” Kaoru stared at his hand, then proceeded to shake it like how she’s seen western people do. “Kamiya Kaoru here, and this is my assistant, Kenshin, Himura Kenshin.” “Ano...Hajimemashite.” Kenshin did a slight bow, he hoped enough to hide his face, the people in Rakuninmura recognised him for sure. “Himura Kenshin? I know I’ve seen you before!” “Of course! He’s the legendary Ba...” Yahiko boasted out loud. “Baka!” Kaoru was stunned her deshi could spurt out something like that. “Baka? The legendary baka??” “Oorrroooo....” yes, they did recognised him. ** With the rest of the money they had, a night in an inn was well worth it. Soujiro and Misao trotted upstairs to the room and flopped flat on the bed. The money could rent but a room, the rest were needed for food. At their tiredness, they didn’t mind sharing rooms, just grateful to have one. “Aah...” she rested lazily on her futon she shabbily laid out. The bath and dinner could come later, and true enough, her rumbling stomach was forgotten in a minute, Misao was fast asleep. Soujiro looked amusedly at her sleeping form from a corner, such trackings were normal when running errands for Shishio, what he went through with Misao was just the tip of it. But harmless to take a rest and catch up with his thinking. There was much to do and settle, a new life can’t be started just on willpower alone. Somehow, amidst all the trouble faced, there was now a presense of calmness that surrounded him. A calmness felt so close, as when they entered the town together, hand in hand, fingers clasped closely without hesitation or uneasiness, as if it was what they wanted to do all along. Soujiro looked at his hand that just left that warmness, and glanced at the person who gave him it. Getting up, he rolled out another futon neatly and placed the headrest on it. Soujiro knelt by Misao, sleeping soundly and all, and carried her up, trying his best not to least wake her. Softly again he placed her on his futon, and covered her with a warm blanket. Like a little angel... Soujiro bent closer, a hand brushing stray strands of hair from her face, and revealed a sweet glow that brought an even wider smile to his face, a genuine one. She fidgeted under his touch, which made him held his breath for an instant. But Misao with her eyes still closed lifted her head and sank in more under the thick covers which she pulled closer to her cold body. Soujiro breathed out a sigh of relief, he didn’t want to face an awkward situation. “Oyasumi nasai, Misao-chan.” he whispered, and got up to rest somewhere else.