[KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 15 (revised draft)

Okay, the fiscal year is over, but my brain's overloaded.  Revising
Part 15 was all I could manage today.  However, Part 16 is 3/4
finished.

I've added some important bits to Tokio's and Risako's discussion
toward the end of the story.  Check it out!

---------------
This story is set in my own ALTERNATE REALITY Rurouni Kenshin universe
which I've called "The Nightwitch Tales" -- think of it as Rurouni
Kenshin mixed with various supernatural and paranormal elements.
Other stories in this alternate reality are: "Night Visitor"; "All in
the Family"; and "Romancing the Wolf".
 
It takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc.  After that, all
bets are off.  Elements of the Revenge story arc may show up in the
story.
 
WARNING:  This story is "semi-dark" -- it has dark elements
(violence, profanity, etc.) but it's not a darkfic!  Actually, there's

quite a bit of romance in it....     ^_-

As always, C&C is greatly appreciated!   ^_^

======================================================================
    THAT WHICH LINGERS:  A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
======================================================================
        Part 15:  FAMILY TIES
======================================================================

---------------
Disclaimer
    All rights and privileges to Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro
Watsuki, Shuiesha, Sony Music Entertainment, and associated parties.
The characters of these series are used WITHOUT permission for the
purpose of entertainment only.  This work of fiction is not meant for
sale or profit.  Original portion of the fiction included here is
considered to be the sole property and copyrighted to the author.

---------------
Text Conventions
    (  ) are character thoughts
    / / and // // represent various sorts of mental dialogue
    * ----- * ----- *  marks the start/end of dreams or flashbacks
    [ ] denote visual or time notes

**********************************************************************

[the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, summer]

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

    In the late evening, three days after leaving Tokyo, the steamship
entered Osaka harbor.  As the ship pulled up to the dock, a steady,
cold drizzle began to fall.

    After Saitoh, Kenshin, and the others disembarked, they realized
that someone was waiting for them.  Actually, there were two different
people waiting for them under the shelter of a nearby porch.  Nearby,
two carriages waited.  Kenshin and the others recognized the first
man.  Shiro of the Oniwabanshuu looked tense, unnerved.  It was easy
to see that he had bad news to tell them.

    Exactly the same could be said of the policeman waiting for
Saitoh.  He saluted smartly and said, "Inspector Fujita.  Here's the
information that you requested.  And the Chief Inspector wanted me to
fill you in on new developments."  The young officer glanced at
Kenshin and the others, then hesitated.

    Saitoh gave the others a bored look, then shrugged.  "Go ahead."
 
    The policeman took a deep breath.  "You heard about the... the
things... apparitions that have been showing up in the streets of the
city."

    "Yes."
 
    "Things have gotten worse since then."
 
    "How so?"
 
    "There have been increasing number of reports of... of erratic
behavior in the city.  People attacking other people for no rational
reason.  And two nights ago, a woman reported that she unexpectedly
encountered some armed men walking near her house.  She claims that
one of the men physically shoved her out of the way... then vanished
before her eyes."

    "Hmmm."
 
    "The next day, there was a flurry of reports about the same sort
of thing... people who say they actually touched or were touched by
these apparitions that mysteriously appear and vanish.  It started out
with minor things like a touch or a shove, but the contacts have
steadily escalated to actually serious blows or assaults."

    The young policeman hesitated, then said, "Last night, a man was
seriously injured.  He claimed that his attacker was a man who died
over a decade ago."

    As Sano and the others exchanged stunned looks, Kenshin said
quietly, "You said injured.  How so?"
 
    The policeman glanced questioningly at Saitoh, who gave him a curt
nod.

    "He was slashed along his leg and chest, apparently with a sword.
But it gets even worse.  Sir," he hastily added, turning back to
Saitoh.

    "Go on."
 
    "Three more similar incidents have occurred since last night.  And
the doctors don't think that the last two men will survive."
 
    "And they claim the same thing?"
 
    "Basically, yes.  It's either someone they already knew to be dead
and/or the attacker vanishes into thin air.  These are the only
attacks which have independent witnesses or in which the victims were
able to describe what happened.  There may be more which have gone
unreported or which are unverified for various reasons, sir."

    Misao and Aoshi gave Shiro sharp looks.  He nodded discretely.

    Yahiko glared at Saitoh and shouted, "You KNEW something like this
was going to happen!"

    Saitoh gave the boy an irritated stare, but shrugged it off.
Turning back to the young officer, he said, "Anything else?"

    The young man handed him a few sheets of paper.  "The information
that you requested."

    Saitoh took the papers and said, "Very well.  Wait by the
carriage.  We'll be leaving shortly."

    As the young policeman saluted and hurried away, Saitoh quickly
skimmed through the papers.

    Sano said, "What the hell is that about?"
 
    Saitoh smirked slightly.  "It's a report on Minobe Junichi.  It
seems that he died just over a week ago in Tokyo.  For the last
thirteen years, he's been a crippled invalid, tended by his sister,
Junko."

    Misao whispered, "The timing.... that CAN'T be just a
coincidence."

    Kenshin said, "And what happened to his sister?"
 
    Saitoh smiled slowly.  "She's dead.  Suicide.  She threw herself
off a bridge and drowned after her fiance and his entire family was
massacred by a mysterious assailant.  The fiance's name was Uboshita
Sachi."

    All three of the Oniwabanshuu stiffened.
 
    Misao thought, (Uboshita!  That's Jiya's old friend... he and his
family were the first to die in the killing spree caused by that
damned black sword!)

    Kenshin said thoughtfully, "The connection's starting to become
clear."

    Sano muttered, "It's making no sense to ME!"
 
    Saitoh snorted and said, "Moron.  Minobe Junichi's death appears
to have been the trigger for this whole series of events."  He flicked
the papers in his hand.  "Because it says here that Minobe Junichi
owned a sword, a weapon that never left his hands even though he was
hopelessly crippled.  After his death, the sword disappeared.  Now do
you get it, you idiot?"

    Yahiko muttered, "So... if that sword was the same black sword we
saw...."

    "Then his sister must have been the very first one taken over by
that sword!  And... and she slaughtered her fiance and his entire
family... then she probably killed herself because of what she'd
done," Misao said in a horrified whisper.

    (Oh god... if I had succeeded in killing Aoshi... I would have
done the exactly same thing....)  She shivered and huddled against to
Aoshi, who silently put a hand on her shoulder.
 
    "But what does he want with Kenshin!?" yelled Yahiko.
 
    "Isn't it obvious?" purred Saitoh, giving Kenshin a look of
malicious amusement.  "The Battousai's the one who crippled Minobe
Junichi all those years ago."
 
    Kenshin inhaled sharply.  "How do you know that?"
 
    Saitoh shrugged carelessly.  "Minobe was Shinsengumi, a swordsman
in my unit."

    Sano clenched his fists.  "You bastard!  You knew who this guy was
all this time and didn't tell us!?"

    "I'm telling you now."
 
    "Why didn't you tell us earlier!?"
 
    "What good would that have been?"
 
    "Arghhh!"  Sano was so irritated that he was at a total loss for
words.

    Kenshin's voice was detached, devoid of all emotion.  "Describe
the incident in question, Saitoh."

    The former Shinsengumi captain smiled nastily.  "It happened
thirteen years ago almost exactly.  It was early August during a rainy
night... rather like tonight.  Minobe, the idiot, challenged you on a
bridge near the southern end of the city.  During the fight, the
bridge collapsed, nearly taking my entire troop with it.  Is this
starting to sound familiar to you?"

    From the look on Kenshin's face, it definitely was.  He said, "So
that was Minobe.  But how did he become crippled?  I didn't...."

    Saitoh snorted.  "It could have been you.  Or it could have been
the falling debris from the bridge.  Who knows?  All that matters is
that Minobe and his sister blamed you for his condition."

    "Which was?"
 
    "He was almost totally paralyzed, unable to move anything below
his neck.  I'm surprised that he lived for so long."

    Yahiko complained, "Now wait a minute!  All this explains why this
Minobe guy hates Kenshin so badly, but what does he have against YOU?"
 
    Saitoh shrugged.  "Who knows?  I imagine he blames me for some
perceived slight which has been magnified all out of proportion after
all these years.  Minobe was a conceited fool, whose arrogance far
outstripped his abilities.  An idiot, rather like Roosterhead," he
said, glancing at Sano.

    "Now wait a minute...!"

    While Sano yelled and Saitoh ignored, Aoshi was having a quiet
conversation of his own with Shiro.  The ninja basically confirmed the
young police officer's information, except for the scope.  The
government, either inadvertently or deliberately, had badly
underestimated the number of unexplained incidents.

    Finally Kenshin said, "Sano, please calm down.  We have more
important matters to worry about.  I want to get to Kyoto as soon as
possible.  We also need more information about that sword... its
history and its capabilities."  There was no need for Kenshin to
mention the most important reason to go to Kyoto.

    Kaoru would be there... eventually.

    Saitoh said, "Ah yes, the sword.  Well, I'm going to talk to an
expert as soon as we get to Kyoto."  He scowled irritably.  "Tag along
if you like."

    "Who might that be?" asked Misao, briefly turning her attention
away from Shiro.
 
    Tokio stepped forward and murmured, "My grand-aunt Asuko is very
knowledgeable in history and legends, particularly those of the Kyoto
area and those of the supernatural kind.  And if she can't help us,
then she can undoubtedly refer us to someone who can."

    Sano grinned.  "Oh ho!  We're going to get a chance to meet some
of your in-laws, eh, Saitoh?  I'm looking forward to that!"

    A very disconcerting smirk appeared on Saitoh's face.  "Be careful
what you wish for, fool."

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

    Saitoh, Tokio, Kenshin and Sano ended up in the first carriage,
with Misao, Aoshi, Yahiko and Shiro taking the second.  There was no
conversation in the first carriage as it raced toward Kyoto.  Saitoh
and Kenshin were both busy with their own thoughts while Tokio looked
the very picture of tranquil patience.

    As for Sano, he couldn't help but remember the last time they
travelled this road -- the tense, headlong rush from Kyoto to Osaka to
destroy Shishio's warship and the more leisurely, triumphant return
back to the unburned city.

    (And now, here we go again.  But this time, things are a hell of a
lot messier.)

    This new enemy was completely different from any opponent they'd
ever faced before... one whose hatred was so powerful that it could
reach from beyond the grave and twist reality itself.  And in one fell
swoop, the cursed sword had made Kaoru bait for a trap, a human
shield, and very possibly -- the most horrifying prospect of all -- a
deadly weapon against Kenshin.

    (And Kenshin...,) Sano thought.  This time, his friend was facing
enemies both inside and out.  Not only did he have to worry about the
sword, Minobe, and Kaoru, but Kenshin now had to face the very real
danger of losing himself in memories of the past... of returning to
the feared Hitokiri Battousai in both mind and soul.  In comparison,
the battle against Shishio seemed almost pathetically simple and
straightforward.

    The fighter glanced at Kenshin.  (All that time on the boat... I'm
sure he's already thought this thing through a dozen times over.  But
like he said, there's no choice.  This won't go away by itself.  We've
got to do something before something truly terrible happens to Kaoru
and the entire city of Kyoto.)
 
    The fighter gazed out at the rapidly approaching city with a
growing sense of dread.
 
    (Kyoto... the old killing ground of both the Hitokiri Battousai
and Mibu's Wolf.)

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

    In the second carriage, things were a bit more lively.  After
listening to Shiro describing the events that seemed to steadily grow
in both number and strangeness, Yahiko muttered, "I can't believe it.
How can this happen?  What could possibly affect not just a few
people, but an entire city?"

    Shiro shrugged helplessly.
 
    "I don't know.  But you can feel the fear in Kyoto.  The temples
have been packed with worshippers.  People are seeking out
spiritualists and anyone with any pretense of occult knowledge,
looking for answers or protection."

    Aoshi said, "All the apparitions date from the period of the
Bakamatsu no Douran?"

    With a grim nod, the Oniwabanshuu muttered, "As far as we can
tell."

    Misao asked worriedly, "How's Jiya doing?  You said that he
actually saw...."

    "Yes.  Okina saw the ghost of his old friend in the Aoiya garden."

    "It's going to get worse," said Aoshi.

    Misao muttered, "The apparitions... they're becoming more
tangible... more real as time goes on, aren't they?"

    "That's what Saitoh's been hinting at all along.  If the cause of
these events isn't stopped and destroyed, Kyoto is going become a
bloody battleground again all over again."
 
-----------------------------------

    The carriages finally stopped in front of a large compound within
Kyoto.  Sano, Misao, and Yahiko gaped at the exquisite taste and
understated elegance -- unmistakable signs of a family which had
plenty of old money and knew how to use it without tastelessly
flaunting it.  Even Kenshin and Aoshi looked a bit taken aback by the
sight.

    "Man, Saitoh's in-laws must be loaded with cash.  This place makes
even Yatarou's mansion look cheap!" muttered Yahiko.

    Misao sputtered, "Wait a second, this is the Takagi estate!"
 
    As Saitoh made an annoyed sound, his wife bowed slightly and said,
"That's correct."

    The massive doors opened and a middle-aged woman stepped out to
greet them.  Bowing deeply, she says, "Tokio-sama!  I'm so happy to
see you again."

    Tokio smiled and graciously nodded her head.  "I'm glad to be
back, Suzue."

    "Asuko-sama has been awaiting your arrival."  In more restrained
tones, the woman turned and said, "Good evening, Inspector Fujita."

    Saitoh snorted and stalked through the gates into the compound.
The others trailed after him, with the exception of Shiro who headed
off to the Aoiya to notify the others of their arrival.

    As Suzue led them through the main house, Kenshin abruptly stopped
at a display of rustic-looking pottery in a little nook.

    "Kenshin, what's up?" ask Sano.
 
    The swordsman stared at the artfully arranged bowls and murmured,
"Those dishes look familiar...."

    Suzue chuckled, "Ah!  Asuko-sama has a particular fondness for the
works of the artist Kakunoshin Niistu.  That's just part of her
collection."

    Kenshin looked rather startled.  "Did you say 'Kakunoshin
Niistu'?"

    "Why, yes.  Is there something wrong?"
 
    "Uh, no.  Please excuse me.  It's very rude for us to keep
Tokio-dono's grand-aunt waiting."

    As they continued on their way, Misao leaned over and whispered to
Kenshin, "Isn't 'Kakunoshin Niistu'...?"

    The red-haired swordsman nodded, "Yes, that's the name my master
Hiko Seijuro's been using for the last several years."

    "What a bizarre coincidence...."

-----------------------------------
 
    They ended up in a large room toward the back of the large house.
The room overlooked a stark rock garden.  In the far end sat three
women.  The first woman was very old, yet she was obviously still in
excellent and vigorous health.  Her cold, steely gray eyes scanned the
group with a ruthless intensity that missed nothing.  The other two
women were both younger and considerably less intimidating.  The
second woman was attractive and wore her forty-some years well.  Her
face had a cheerful smile which only brightened as she caught sight of
Tokio.  The third woman was young, perhaps in her mid-twenties, with
austere facial features which made her look more striking in
appearance than beautiful.  She didn't look at them, but kept her gaze
modestly downcast.

    Tokio introduced the ladies to Kenshin and his companions.
Gesturing to the women in order of age, she murmured, "My grand-aunt
Takagi Asuko.  My aunt Takagi Yuki.  And this is Risako."

    The old woman said in a crisp, acid voice, "So, Saitoh, you
finally get up the courage to pay me a visit, eh?"
 
    The policeman glared at Asuko and he said shortly, "I've been very
busy.  Obligatory family visits were the last thing on my mind."

    "Excuses, excuses."  Asuko's gaze turned to Kenshin and smiled
slowly.  "Come here, boy."  At first they thought she was referring to
Yahiko, then she pointed a long-nailed finger in Kenshin's direction.

    The redhead obligingly approached the seated women, but Sano was
startled to notice that Kenshin's hand was not so casually resting on
his sword.  He glanced at Aoshi and was even more startled to see the
wary look in the man's eyes, even as the former Okashira kept his
kodachi close at hand.  And Saitoh's tension was self-evident.  It
seemed impossible but all three men -- probably the best swordsmen
he'd ever met -- was treating this positively ancient old woman as if
she was a potential threat.

    But when Asuko's gray eyes skimmed over him, Sano felt a chill run
down his spine and understood their reaction.  The woman was SCARY.

    Asuko stared at Kenshin for a moment, rather like a buyer
examining a colt for sale, before turning to the young woman sitting
behind her.  "So, what do you think of him, Risako?"

    The young woman briefly examined Kenshin with pale brown eyes, but
said nothing.

    "And what brings both the old and the new Okashiras of the
Oniwabanshuu, the Mibu's Wolf AND the Hitokiri Battousai to visit a
old woman at this hour?" Asuko said with a chilly smile.

    Saitoh bared his teeth slightly and snapped, "Not my choice,
certainly."
 
    "Of course not.  I know your opinion of me.  I make you nervous."
In response to Saitoh's sneer, Asuko said, "Only your fanatical sense
of duty would bring you calling.  So you must want information from
me.  Oh, sit down, all of you.  You're spraining my neck."  Once they
were all seated, she snapped, "Well, spit it out.  What do you want to
know?"

    Sano thought nervously, (God, this woman has a tongue like an
ox-whip!)  He fervently hoped that he wouldn't do anything to attract
her attention.

    Kenshin coolly said, "We're seeking information about a black
katana and the Minobe family.  We have reason to believe that these
things are related to the strange events recently taking place in
Kyoto."

    "Tell me, was there a design of a dancing dog somewhere on the
sword?"

    A startled Misao said, "Yes, there is.  It's on the hilt ornaments
and the tsuba of the sword."

    Asuko chuckled ominously.  "Then your question is hardly a
challenge.  You're talking about the infamous cursed sword of the
Minobe family."  She glanced at her patiently waiting grand-niece and
said, "Tokio, fetch the Isimara text, if you please.  Risako, show her
where it is."

    Risako got up and bowed to the formidable Asuko.  As the young
woman led Tokio out the door, Asuko continued, "The dancing dog was an
old crest of the Minobe family, but it has fallen out of use in the
last century or so."
 
    "Well?  What else?" Saitoh said with a scowl.

    "You youngsters are so impatient.  Very well.  The black sword was
created over 400 years ago by a young woman as a gift to the man she
loved, Minobe Koji.  Is the name familiar to you?"

    "No, it isn't," said Kenshin.

    "Small wonder, considering what happened.  Minobe Koji was the
finest swordsman of his day and possible for more than two centuries
afterward.  Unfortunately for this young woman, Koji was already
married to a lady whom he loved dearly.  The romantic poems he sent
his wife are famed to this day for their beauty and sensuality."
Asuko gave Saitoh a malicious look.  "Which reminds me, Saitoh.   I'm
still waiting for a great-grandniece or grandnephew from you.  I'm not
getting any younger, you know.  Just what have you and Tokio been
doing all this years?"

    Everyone's head swivelled to see Saitoh's reaction.  They could
hear him slowly grinding his teeth together and it took a few seconds
before the policeman gritted out, "That's none of your business.  Now
about this sword?"

    The old woman smirked, but continued with the story.  "Well,
legend has it that this young woman made a pact with a demon in an
effort to win the man she so desperately loved.  First, the demon was
supposed to create a weapon that would make Koji the deadliest
swordsman alive.  Second, the demon was supposed to find a way to get
rid of Koji's beloved wife."  Asuko shrugged.  "The woman was a naive
fool and careless.  She botched the wording of the pact in a
spectacular fashion."

    Misao whispered in a sick voice, "Oh no.  I think I can see what's
coming."

    Asuko chuckled nastily.  "Indeed.  The demon-forged blade
accomplished what the young woman wanted... just not in the way she
wanted.  As soon as Koji drew the sword to examine it, he was overcome
by insane hatred and bloodlust.  He turned and slaughtered his
pregnant wife and their two young children.  He then nearly wiped out
the entire Minobe clan before he somehow managed to kill himself.
From that day on, the black sword was known as 'Kinslayer'.  It was
supposedly locked away deep within the Minobe family treasure vaults
and that's the last that anyone's ever heard about it."

    Aoshi spoke up for the first time.  "Why wasn't the sword
destroyed?"

    Tokio's grand-aunt gave him a long, penetrating stare.  She pursed
her lips and said, "Easier said than done.  Various people tried their
best to either break or lose the sword.  They failed and usually paid
a severe price for the attempt."

    Saitoh snapped, "So how did this dangerous weapon end up in the
hands of someone like Minobe Junichi?"

    The old woman shrugged.  "That I do not know.  Ask the Minobe
family."  She sipped her tea and said, "Now tell me why you ask about
Kinslayer."

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

    Tokio and Risako silently strolled across the estate grounds after
fetching the requested text from Asuko's rooms .  They chose to take a
roundabout path through one of the many gardens.  As they strolled
along a dimly lit walkway, Risako said, "I just received another
report.  Kamiya's due to arrive in Kyoto sometime tomorrow."

    "Indeed.  She's made good time, then.  I hope that she hasn't been
pushed too hard," Tokio murmured.

    "No.  She's been getting sufficient rest and food.  As you
predicted, Kinslayer wants her in good physical condition when she
arrives."

    "And her mental state?"
 
    Risako shrugged.  "She cries in her sleep a lot."

    "Oh dear."
 
    "But the protective wards you put on Kamiya are working fine.
Kinslayer hasn't been able to tamper directly with her mind."
 
    "That's good.  I'd prefer to resolve this situation with a minimum
of mental and emotional trauma for everyone involved."

    The younger woman uttered a dainty snort.  "Then you have your
work cut out for you.  The skeins of time are rapidly being rewoven
into a new design."

    "I know.  All this trouble from a cursed demon sword and an old
woman's meddling.  And the Council?"

    "They said to do as you see fit.  The matter of Kinslayer needs to
be handled, once and for all."

    "Excellent."  Tokio glanced at the young woman and said, "I was
somewhat surprised to see you here."
 
    With a casual shrug, Risako said, "When I heard you were arriving
in Kyoto, I decided to drop in to take a look at Father and the boy."

    "He's twenty-eight years old... hardly a boy now.  Is this the
first time you've really seen him since he was born?"

    "Yes."

    Tokio was silent for a moment, then she said a bit sadly, "I
regret that you gave up your chance to raise him and watch him grow
up."

    In a faint tone of irritation, Risako said, "I'm a Nightwitch.
What would I have done with a male child, anyway?"

    "Was it the fact that he was a boy... or the fact that he
resembled his father so very much, even as a newborn baby?"

    Risako sighed and shook her head ruefully.  "I see that there's no
point trying to hide anything from you, Mother."

    Tokio smiled but said nothing as she watched her daughter, born
from an union with one of her husband's previous mortal incarnations.
 
    Risako murmured, "You're right.  He had his father's hair and his
eyes, even as a baby....  I couldn't bear to look at him, so I chose
the path of vengeance instead of motherhood."
 
    "You could have left him with me, instead of abandoning him with a
peasant family."
 
    Her daughter snapped, "There was no time.  My husband's murderers
would have escaped."  She added indifferently, "It seemed to have
turned out well enough.  The peasants were poor, but kind.  They had
no children of their own."

    "You chose well.  They cherished him for the few years they had
him.  Did you know they called him Shinta?"
 
    Tokio's daughter smiled wistfully.  "Shinta.  How appropriate.
The smell of shinta blossoms always reminds me of my first meeting
with his father."

    "Did Seijuro notify you...?"
 
    Risako made a faint sound of annoyance.  "Yes, Hiko sent me a
message about picking up the boy."

    "Seijuro's encounter with Shinta wasn't a total accident.  Blood
tends to call to blood, my dear, especially in times of need."
 
    "That's true enough.  Anyway, the child was in good hands, so I
saw no reason to interfere."
 
    Tokio chuckled.  "I believe this is the first time I've heard you
say anything complimentary about Seijuro."

    "Don't you dare tell Hiko that I said anything of the sort,
Mother.  He's insufferably arrogant as it is.  And changing the boy's
name to Kenshin... where does Hiko get these ridiculously romantic
ideas of his?"

    "The name suits him very well."
 
    "I suppose."  There was a brief pause, then Risako said softly,
"Kenshin looks so much like his father now."

    "Yes.  Along with the red hair and violet eyes, he possesses his
father's sweet and gentle temperament.  But he also has many of your
traits, daughter.  Through you, Kenshin's inherited his grandfather's
golden eyes, his ruthlessness, and his gift for killing."  Tokio
glanced at her daughter's eyes and noted their true amber color, no
longer obscured by a minor illusion.

    Far from being offended by her mother's words, Risako seemed
almost pleased. "Who hasn't heard of the infamous Hitokiri Battousai?
And how is Father, by the way?"

    "Except for the current situation with Kinslayer, his current
incarnation's doing quite well."  Tokio sighed.  "At this moment,
Asuko's probably teasing Hajime about the lack of children."
 
    "And when am I going to have another brother or sister, Mother?"
 
    "Hm?  Oh, soon enough.  I'm thinking about twins, a boy and a
girl."

    As they paused to gaze at a small pond glimmering in the
moonlight, Risako quietly said, "Do you think your plan will work?
It's not without its risks, especially for Father.  It could even be
fatal."

    Tokio's lips thinned briefly, giving her face a look of cold,
dangerous beauty.  "I am very aware of that possibility, daughter.
Rest assured that I'm keeping a very close eye on Hajime.
Unfortunately, the awakening of Kinslayer has forced our hand.
There's no going back now.  The demon must be destroyed or it will
destroy your father, my mate.  It's that simple."

    "And we can't destroy the demon ourselves, Mother?"

    "No.  Otherwise, I would have done it myself long ago.  The
demon's destruction requires a man with both the power and the desire
to do so.  It is the nature of this particular beast that no woman,
not even a Nightwitch, can destroy it.  Hiko has the necessary power,
but he doesn't have the desire or the burning need to do it.  Kenshin
has the desire.  I can only hope that he also has the power.  My task
is to give Kenshin the opportunity by luring the demon out into the
open."
 
    They finally reached the house. As her daughter turned to leave
her, Tokio said gently, "Are you going to remain in Kyoto?"

    Risako hesitated, then nodded.  "It's taken me years to get over
his father's death, but I would like an opportunity to know my son a
little better.  I was never a mother to him, but if I can do something
to help him...."

    Tokio cocked her head inquisitively.  "Are you ever going to tell
him the truth?"
 
    "....I don't know.  After all this time, it seems rather
pointless."
 
    "Well, I'll leave that up to you, my dear."

    "Mother?"
 
    Tokio turned back at the oddly hesitant tone in her daughter's
voice.  "Yes?"
 
    "What would... my husband think of our child?"
 
    Tokio smiled contentedly.  "Oh, I think he'd be very proud of the
man Himura Kenshin has become."

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

    As Kenshin and the others told Asuko all about the events in
Tokyo, Yahiko edged a little further behind Sano and nervously watched
Tokio's grand-aunt.  If a few hours earlier someone had told him that
he'd be scared of an old woman in her nineties, he would have laughed
in their faces.  But now, the idea was not at all funny.  He'd faced
dangerous opponents before, but he'd never encountered someone like
this old crone.  There was a frightening sense of ruthlessness about
her.  She would be a terrible opponent and the three men sitting in
front -- Saitoh, Kenshin, and Aoshi -- recognized that instantly.  She
wasn't a physical threat, but she could do more damage than any sword
with her words alone.  And as for deviousness and cunning....

    The boy thought, (Well, if this is the sort of relatives Tokio
got, it's no wonder she's got no problems dealing with Saitoh!)

    Tokio's aunt Yuki had remained silent throughout the conversation,
still smiling and patiently sipping tea.  Now she leaned forward and
whispered something into Asuko's ear.

    To their surprise, the older woman abruptly turned to Misao and
said curtly, "Do you love him?" pointed her bony finger at Aoshi.

    A bit startled by the woman's bluntness, the ninja girl gaped,
then replied in a resolute voice, "I do."

    Her steely gaze turned to Kenshin.  "I don't need to ask how you
feel about this Kaoru girl."

    Before Kenshin could respond, Asuko said, "Then pay close
attention to what I say, girl, and you too, Battousai.  Because of its
demonic creation, Kinslayer's sole function is to kill and destroy,
much more so than ordinary swords.  And once when a weapon like that
has tasted a person's blood, it never forgets and it thirsts for more
of the same.  Its hunger will never be satisfied until its victims are
dead.  More importantly, from what you've told me, that weapon
undoubtedly gains power over the wounds it inflicts.  Those injuries
will never truly heal as long as the blade exists."

    The blood slowly drained from both Misao's and Kenshin's faces.

    Asuko glanced sharply at Misao.  "Best sharpen your claws, little
kitten, because if you or Himura fail to destroy Kinslayer, your
precious Shinomori Aoshi and Kamiya Kaoru will most certainly die a
most slow and agonizing death."

-----------------------------------
(end of part 15)

**********************************************************************

Next part:   Back to the Aoiya and the return of Kaoru.   =^_^=

And if you're wondering how Tokio could have a daughter who appears to
be in her twenties, just remember that Tokio is a lot older than she
looks.  Also, check out my other story "The Wolf and the 'Witch".

--------------------------------------------
madamhydra@aol.com         /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E

http://www.oocities.org/~madamhydra/