Chapter 6: For a smile...

 

“That’s it, you have no where else to go.”

“I’m not going to surrender! Never!”

“Face it, you lost, and I promise it’ll be painless.”

“No, wait...I still have a chance...please wait...WAIT!!! ARRGGHHHH!!”

Okina laughed cruelly and vivaciously, lifting his head up and in proud splendour, savouring his imaginary glory. Misao stared blankly at the chess set where she was mercilessly defeated, and banged on the table in frustration. “No!!!!Not again!!!” They rounded up the 8th game before she finally admitted her status to be no match to him. There they were in Aoshi’s room in the Oniwabanshu’s home having fun as usual, but Misao secretly trying damn hard to twich Aoshi’s mouth into a smile. 

“How did I do Aoshi-sama? How did you think I did?”

He nodded towards her, sipping his Jasmine tea in silence, watching the game from a distance. Or at least she thought he was watching the game. It may be just a small gesture compared to Okina’s encouraging patting on her shoulder, but any response from her beloved was treasured. Misao was dearly overjoyed. 

They put the chess aside, Okina excusing himself to leave to attend to some business, leaving Misao with Aoshi alone in the room. For minutes they sat silent, each occupied with a thought or an object, but again as usual, she broke the silence.

“How are you today, Aoshi-same? Well...I mean, how are you feeling?”

He looked up from facing down. “Fine.”

“Oh, erm...then...” Misao always stammered when making conversations with Aoshi, picking the words carefully in her head to ensure she does not displease him, always putting her best act that she could. She knew that he doesn’t mind such details, but she would want the best for him, never ceasing to make him happy. “Do you want to go out today? To do...erm...get some fresh air? hehheh..”

“There’s fresh air from here.” Aoshi replied her in his normal expressionless tone, still looking at her.

“Oh...then...”

“But I don’t mind going out for a while.” 

That was all that was needed to make her day, even her week.


The hard cracking sound of boken against boken rang loudly from the walls of the dojo, at times muffled by the shouting and screaming of the teacher to her disciple. 

“More force! Aim accurately! Faster!!”

To Enishi reading quietly in his room, he thought Kaoru was pure torturing her student. In the past, he did undergo such training, even more tedious ones that ached his whole body for weeks on end. Furthermore, real sharp swords were used, increasing the risk or getting severely injured should stances not be done to the utmost accuracy. But for a sweet dame of 17 years, shrouded by beauty external and within, it was hard to accept the fact of her holding any weapon at all, much less be a skilled and strict teacher. 

He heard someone tapping lightly on his paper door, and gave the permission of entrance.

“Enishi-dono, lunch is ready. Would you like to join us?”

He turned his head slowly from the book he wasn’t so engrossed in, smiled and nodded. Kenshin looked wide-eyed in surprise at his easy display of emotions, a little convinced he would be the new member in their Kenshin-gumi, just like Sano and Yahiko had. 


“This will do for today, practice a few more hundred times.” ordered Kaoru, sweating with exhaustion.

“What?! you’re merciless, busu.” Yahiko was no less tired, after all being the one that was beaten up. But before he let her have a chance to reply and increase his practice, he reluctantly obliged to whatever that was told. His schedule was tight, someone was waiting for him at the Akabeko. He picked up his boken, ignoring lunch and began on his downward shinai attacks. Indeed he had learnt the master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, but as Kaoru said, there were so much of the basic foundation that were waiting to be learnt. “You’re not a Tokyo Samurai if you think you can stop learning.” he remembered her advise, knowing that his role model, Kenshin, still strives to be like his teacher, Hiko Seijuro. I’m good, but not good enough. But I’ll go on forward...and on...and on...

“Two hundred!”


Lunch was enjoyed quietly, all three wishing they ate at the Akabeko instead of trying Kaoru’s new recipe. Kenshin had the laundry to finish, Kaoru had to travel elsewhere to teach her lessons. Enishi was about to retreat into his room, when stopped by Kaoru. 

“Are you busy, or heading to somewhere?”

He had to, the folks at Rakuninmura were waiting, a little angry at his pretty long absence. During breakfast, he had asked for extra portions, very much delighting Kaoru, but secretly hiding it in some compartment in the room, where he planned to bring it out later. The same were done for lunch, but he knew it was not enough to feed even half the population there. Maybe even disgusting them with it.

“Erm, no, why?”

He couldn’t let her or anyone know he’s stealing food, or his stay there would be cut off. It’s been a year since he enjoyed something close to decent. Back in the old days when he still had the power and money, nothing was a problem. Why, he could sail around the world anytime he wanted to. But now...now...

“Want to come along with me? It should be interesting.”

Interesting? Why would training be interesting? But he remember the morning incident overheard from his room, and would like to see it. He was still skilled after all, but really rusty. I’ll teach her a thing or two, he thought amusingly. He could settle the food later, perhaps sneak more from dinner, where Kenshin would cook and it be more edible.

“Sure.”

Hence taking along his sword and diary, the two headed out across town, where eager students are waiting with their bokens to learn a killing skill they would only use for defence. Enishi wondered why he still stuck with his sword when he would not be needing it anymore, it never occured to him to throw it away after having it for years. But, it seems now more of a burden than a weapon. All I need is her diary.

“Kaoru-san,” he started softly with a more polite tone than he used when he was her captor.

“Enishi-san, I admit the lunch was not that delicious as usual...” she cut in, didn’t heard what he said.

Er...delicious as usual? 

“I apologise, would you like something at the Akabeko? My treat!” she said, beaming at him. “We still have enough time before my lesson starts.” She felt sorry, but mostly hungry for real food. For the sake of food, she’ll let Megumi into the house to do lunch tomorrow.

He glanced at her, puzzled, at little loss for words. Wow, she can really eat. The Akabeko was what I blew up before...right? 

“Let’s go!” she said before he could reply, pulling his arm with her.