[KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 18 (very rough draft)

Like it says, a very rough draft.  Pardon any stupid mistakes or
incoherency.

---------------
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 18:  UNEXPECTED VIEWS
======================================================================

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

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

[ Kyoto, mid-August, 1878 (11th year of the Meiji period) ]

    If she wasn't in hell, it felt pretty damn close.
 
    Kamiya Kaoru stalked down the lonely forest path, her pace quick
and purposeful.  So far she hadn't encountered anyone on this obscure
route and was pathetically grateful for that fact.  She lived in
constant dread of what the demon blade would do if someone foolishly
attempted to confront her or attack her.  She had no doubts that the
sword would force her to kill them without hesitation.  However,
worrying about others helped to keep her from brooding about the
sword's plans for HER.

    Kaoru had been a hostage before and she never forgot that feeling
of total helplessness.  This time, things were infinitely worse.
Instead of ropes and gags, chains and locks... this time, her own body
was her prison.

    When she had awoken in the clinic three nights ago, she had been
unaware of anything being wrong... not when she got up in the middle
of the night... not when she softly murmured Kenshin's name... not
even when she picked up the whimsical little stone figurine that sat
in Dr. Genzai's office.  She'd had no idea of what she was about to do
until she had brutally slammed the figurine down on the back of an
unsuspecting Kenshin's head.

    * ----- * ----- *

    Instead of being frozen in horror at what she had just done, Kaoru
found herself calmly stepping over Kenshin's body and picking the
sword... that cursed black sword.

    Trapped inside a body which no longer was hers to command, she
could only watch helplessly as she easily peeled the loose wrappings
away from the dark blade.  At that moment, she fully expected to find
herself hacking off Kenshin's head with a single stroke.  There was
nothing she could do except weep in despair

    However, it seemed that the sword had other ideas.  It wasn't
ready to kill Kenshin... not yet.  When Aoshi appeared in the doorway
and called her name, she spoke but the voice was not hers.  The alien
voice was ugly and choked with hatred.  And when whatever had
possessed her finished delivering its threats, Kaoru found herself
leaving the clinic, but not before the sword left Aoshi a parting
reminder of its power.

    (It did something to him.  I don't know what, but I'm sure of it.)
 Kaoru could remember too clearly the sudden flash of agony that
stopped Shinomori Aoshi dead in his tracks and drove him to his knees.

    After fleeing the clinic, she found herself running through the
darkening streets at terrific speed.  Her breath rasped in her throat
and her leg muscles burned with the exertion, but she was just a
helpless passenger, unable to slow down or stop.  She ended up in a
modest house located on the outskirts of Tokyo.  Fortunately, the
building had been empty and deserted.  The aura of old, old pain and
bitterness clung around the place like a perceptible stench.

    Her captor -- the THING that now had total control of her body --
knew exactly what it wanted and where to find it.  She first retrieved
a black lacquered scabbard that fitted the sword perfectly.  She then
walked through the house, picking up a few more items.  A silken bag
to hide the now sheathed sword.  Clothing that fit her adequately.  A
hefty money pouch from a hidden cache.

    Stepping out into the garden, she had gazed down into the still
waters of the pond.  Kaoru could see her wavering reflection and
shuddered as a cold, wicked smile appeared on her lips.  As she left
the house, she paused briefly to look back.  Her hand lifted and Kaoru
watched herself abruptly snap her fingers.  There was a muffled
whoosh, a flash of yellow flames, and a thick column of black smoke
began to climb into the night sky.  Kaoru walked away into the
darkness, leaving the small house to be devoured by the hungry fire.

    * ----- * ----- *

    As she sat in the dark woods and stared blankly into the campfire,
Kaoru thought long and hard about her current situation.  It wasn't as
if there was anything else for her to do. Her possession was different
from Misao's.  Her senses were unaffected, and as far as she could
tell, her mind was entirely her own.  Unlike Misao, she was not
swamped by irrational hatred or driven by an urge to kill.  But she
was trapped inside her own skull, unable to do anything more than
occasionally weep when she was alone... and that was purely on the
whim of whatever monster or spirit was in control of her body.

    Her captor -- or possessor -- was clearly interested in keeping
her alive and well.  That was perhaps the most worrisome aspect of it
all.  That mean that this mysterious bodiless enemy had a purpose for
her and she had plenty of horrifying ideas -- all of which involved
using her against Kenshin.

    And when she had found her feet headed toward Kyoto, she knew....

    Sometimes she wished for oblivion, to be unaware of what was going
on around her, but most of the time, she was glad to be conscious.
She clung to the hope that she might find some opening, some way to
free herself.  But no matter how she concentrated or struggled, there
seemed to be an impenetrable wall between her mind and her body.

    As time passed and she moved closer and closer to Kyoto, Kaoru
gradually became almost grateful for that mental wall.  While the wall
kept her trapped inside her own mind....

    ....that same mental barrier also kept things OUT.

    She could sense not one, but two presences in the sword.  The
first entity seemed to be that of a young man, consumed by an
unspeakable hatred and hell-bent on facing Kenshin -- or rather the
Hitokiri Battousai -- again.

    The second presence was much fainter, but also much more
frightening.

    It was powerful... and it was not human.
 
    Although the second presence or entity kept a low profile compared
to the first entity, Kaoru was not fooled into thinking that it was
harmless.  There were times when she thought she could sense the
second entity quietly scratching at the mental walls imprisoning
her... testing them... trying to find a way inside.  It was just like
a predator clawing and gnawing at a turtle shell in an effort to get
to the tasty insides....  She would have shuddered if she could.

    Curiously, the first entity seemed totally unaware of the second
entity.  That made her wonder exactly who -- or what -- was the true
puppetmaster in this horror show.  Was it the first presence, the
entity that hated Kenshin so badly, or was it second, more secretive
and cunning presence?

    (I'll be in Kyoto early tomorrow morning.  And what happens then?)

    Kaoru never doubted that Kenshin would come to Kyoto to confront
her, but she couldn't help wonder just who would she face in Kyoto?

    (Himura Kenshin... or the dreaded Battousai?)

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

    Just after dawn, Misao dashed down the stairs of the Aoiya at her
usual reckless pace and headed for Jiya's favorite sitting room.  She
thought back to last night and her conversation with Aoshi.  She
couldn't help smiling every time she thought about it.

    The effort required to bare his inner feelings had apparently
exhausted Aoshi.  Misao barely had time to savor the intimacy of the
moment before he had retreated behind his emotional walls again.
Aoshi had politely informed her that he could handle the rebandaging
of his leg wounds himself.

    But thanks to Tokio's advice, Misao was figuring out just how to
deal with Aoshi's outward coldness.  Instead of feeling hurt or
rejected, she had backed off and left him with a perky smile.

    (He wants to change.  He wants to FEEL.  It's just that he doesn't
really know how... but I'll be there to teach him, no matter how long
it takes.  I swear!)

    On the ground floor, she saw Yahiko trudging sleepily toward the
bathhouse, then she passed by Okon who was carrying an empty water
basin.  From around the corner, Misao could hear the sound of
sputtering and cursing which could only be coming from an outraged
Sano.

    "Damn you, Okon! What's with the cold water!?  Couldn't you have
just kicked me in the ribs or something!?"

    The older woman gave her a wicked grin and a wink before heading
off toward the kitchen.

    Misao excitedly flung open the door to the sitting room and came
to a screeching halt.  Jiya, the lech, was happily flirting with Tokio
as she calmly served tea to the old man, Himura, Aoshi, and her
husband Saitoh.

    Aoshi tensed almost imperceptibly when Misao burst in.  Any
ordinary person wouldn't have noticed, but all men in the room were
far from ordinary.  Aoshi's brief flicker of tension was enough to
attract the attention of at least one other person in the room

    As he sipped his tea, Kenshin wondered just what was going on
between Aoshi and Misao.

    Misao opened her mouth to speak, then suddenly bit back the words
when she realized that Aoshi definitely wouldn't be happy if she
blurted out the more intimate details of their late night
conversation.  She settled for a cheery smile and said, "Did you get a
good night's rest, Aoshi... -sama?"

    She was well rewarded for her restraint.  Aoshi relaxed ever so
slightly when he realized that Misao isn't going to make an exhibition
of herself and him.  Misao was also glad to get a very subtle look of
approval from Tokio.

    Eyeing the perky girl with disfavor, Saitoh said, "Hmph.  If you
were a puppy, you'd be wetting the floor in excitement."

    "I'd what!?" shouted Misao.

    "But now that you're finally up...."

    "Finally!?  Why you jerk, how dare you act like you've been
waiting for hours?  It's barely dawn!  I told you I'd be ready to go
with you to the Minobe...."

    "No, you're not," Saitoh said with a decided smirk.  Before Misao
start shouting again, he reached into his tunic, pulled out a folded
message, and flicked it in Misao's direction.  She snatched the paper
in midair and scowled at it.  It was plainly addressed to her.

    "What does Takagi Asuko want with me?"

    Saitoh shrugged.  "You're asking me?  You're the one with the
note.  Try reading it."

    With a low growl of aggravation, Misao opened the note, then said
in a startled voice, "She wants to see Aoshi-sama and me as soon as
possible."

    Kenshin gave her a curious look and said, "Does she give any
reasons?"

    "Not really.  She says that she wants the two of us to retrieve
some information for her.  But why us?"  Misao glanced uncertainly at
Aoshi.

    He put down his tea cup and said quietly, "Because she feels that
Himura should remain around Kyoto to await Kamiya Kaoru's arrival
since he's Junichi's main target."

    "So you think we should go?"

    "Takagi Asuko is a difficult, abrasive woman, but no fool.  If she
wants us to retrieve some information for her, it's most likely to be
critical."

    Saitoh smiled nastily.  "Then that leaves just you and me to
interrogate that Minobe woman, Battousai."

    "Sano and Yahiko will be accompanying us," was Kenshin's cool
response.

    "They'd better show up in the next two minutes because I'm not
going to sit around waiting until the chickenhead decides to crawl out
of bed."

    At that moment, a grouchy, still damp Sano stomped into the room.

    "Speak of the idiot and he appears," said Saitoh with a malicious
grin.

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

    It was just after dawn when the young woman called Kamiya Kaoru
arrived in Kyoto.  With increasing numbers of panicked people leaving
the city, it had been easy for her to lose herself in the commotion
and slip into Kyoto unobserved.  She paused in an alleyway to orient
herself, then headed off purposefully.

    It only took a few minutes for her to arrive at the old Minobe
compound.  The grounds were badly kept, hinting at an owner who was no
longer capable of maintaining the property.  Or perhaps an owner who
simply didn't care any more.

    She smiled coldly as she ignored the front entrance and slipped in
through the back gates.  Her caution was unnecessary.  The large house
was essentially deserted.  Except for a single elderly maid, there
seemed to be no other servants around.  Kaoru silently made her way
toward front of the house and the quarters of the only member of the
Minobe family still in residence.

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

    Minobe Emi was an old, lonely, bitter woman.  She had never had
many friends and as the years went by, those friends had drifted away,
alienated by her increasingly hostile and strange behavior.  For the
last decade or so, she'd spent an increasing portion of her time
sitting in her rooms, muttering to herself, and waiting.  However, the
eerie events plaguing Kyoto told her that the her revenge against the
Battousai had finally truly begun after thirteen long years.
 
    The door slid open with no warning.  Emi whirled around to
viciously reprimand the intruder, but something in the young woman's
malicious smile stopped her in the tracks.

    "The years have been unkind to you, Aunt."
 
    Emi slowly rose to her feet and babbled, "You... you know me?"
She blinked and whispered, "Junichi?"

    The younger woman laughed bitterly.  "Oh yes.  It's me.  In
spirit, if not in body."
 
    Before the conversation could continue, the elderly house servant
knocked on the door to the room and said, "Minobe-sama, you have
several visitors."

    The old woman said irritably, "Oh, do make them go away."
 
    "But they insist," said the nervous female servant in a
near-whimper.  "And I don't think they're the sort to take 'no' as an
answer."
 
    "Who are they?" Emi asked.
 
    "I don't know, but one of them is a tall, evil-looking police
officer.  He called himself Inspector Fujita Goro or something like
that.  He's accompanied by a lady, a scruffy streetfighter, and a
young boy."

    Inside her mind, Kaoru couldn't decide whether to dance for joy or
to have a fit of panic.  If Saitoh, Sano, and Yahiko were here, it was
almost certain that....

    "Is that all?" muttered Emi.
 
    "No, Minobe-sama.  The last one's a young man with red hair and a
nasty set of scars on his face."

    (KENSHIN!!!)

    However, Kaoru's body threw back her head and laughed cruelly.

    "What's so funny!?" snapped Emi.
 
    "You mean you don't know, you stupid old woman?  Your visitors
could only be Saitoh Hajime and Himura Battousai."

    "What!?"
 
    "Don't tell me that you didn't realize that they were bound to
come here once I told them my name."

    "You told them your name!?  Why?"
 
    A vicious expression appeared on Kaoru's face as she snarled,
"Because they have to know what this is all about.  That's why!
Otherwise it's all pointless!"

    The old Minobe aunt edged away nervously from Kaoru as the younger
woman's expression turned thoughtful.

    "But the time isn't right.  My enemy hasn't fully returned yet."

    (You bastard!  How DARE you try to force Kenshin into becoming the
Battousai again!), Kaoru fumed silently.
 
    Junichi made Kaoru's body advance menacingly toward the quivering
servant.  After a brutal slap, she grabbed a hold of the servant's
kimono and hissed, "Let them in.  But if you give them any hint of my
presence...."  She gave the servant a vicious shaking.  "You'll be
begging for death.  Do you understand me?"

    "Y-y-y-yes.  I understand."  The servant groveled a bit, then
scurried down the hall.

    Kaoru turned back to Emi.  "The same goes for you, old crone. If
they find out that I'm here, I'll be happy to demonstrate the power
all these years of suffering have bought me."

    Emi couldn't stop her knees shaking.  This wasn't the way she'd
planned it.  She should be in control.  She should be the one giving
orders.  But the malicious gleam in the young woman's eyes told her
that the slightest mistake or attempt at disobedience would not be
tolerated.

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

    Misao and Aoshi were escorted to Tokio's grand-aunt as soon as
they arrived.  Just like the previous day, the old woman was
accompanied by Tokio's aunt.  Takagi Yuka reminded Misao of a happy,
plump sparrow with her bright black eyes, her cheerful smile, and the
quick little movements of her head.

    Asuko watched Aoshi as they sat down in front of her and said,
"You seem recovering well enough."

    Aoshi coolly replied, "I am not incapacitated."

    "Apparently not," came the old woman's sharp reply.

    Misao jumped to her feet and snapped, "You said you wanted us to
get some information for you.  Well, what is it and why do you need
it?"

    "Patience, kitten."  Asuko waited for Misao to sit down before
saying, "You asked if I knew how to destroy this demon sword last
night, correct?"

    The girl leaned forward eagerly.  "You know of a way?"

    "I've narrowed the possibilities, but I need to know the exact
name of the demon which created the weapon before I can be more
certain."

    "So that's the information you want us to locate," said Aoshi.

    "It's more a matter of retrieving the information, not finding it.
 I know where the answer lies.  Now someone has to fetch it."

    Misao looked suspicious.  "Why didn't YOU send one of your own
people to get the demon's name?"

    "I could have done that, true, but it's not that simple, girl.
The mission is not without its hazards.  Since you have a vested
interest in that knowledge and since the Battousai and Saitoh have
other matters to deal with, it is appropriate that you two should go."

    Aoshi gave her a nod of acknowledgment.  "Where is the information
located?"
 
    Asuko tossed him a folded map.  Misao hovered over his shoulder as
he examined it.

    "At a shrine dedicated to an ancient primordial spirit.  Its real
name is lost in time but the local folk call it the Hantaakiraa.  The
Hunter-killer or something like that," said Asuko with a shrug.

    "So this is the demon...?" asked Misao.

    The old woman chuckled.  "Oh no.  Hardly.  This spirit is reputed
to be the relentless foe of our unnamed demon.  If the demon's name is
written down anywhere, it will be at this shrine.  It's located in the
mountains, east of Kyoto.  It's only a few hours walk."

    Misao whispered to Aoshi, "Hey, that shrine's not too far from
Hiko Seijuro's place."

    Aoshi murmured to Misao, " Hiko?"  A brief pause, then he added,
"I see.  In case Himura loses himself in his memories of the past."

    "Yeah.  On our way back, we can drop in and see if he's around."

    Aoshi folded the map and addressed the old woman.  "Very well.  Is
that all?"

    Asuko gave him an arrogant stare and said, "Leave us.  I wish to
speak to the girl alone."

    He gracefully rose to his feet but did not move away.  He stared
coldly at Asuko and said, "You do not command me."  He turned at Misao
and awaited her decision.

    As she hesitated, Asuko snapped, "Girl, do you need a man to hold
your hand or give you permission to speak to an old woman?"

    Misao flushed angrily, then turned to Aoshi and gave him a sharp
nod.  "I'll be with you in a few minutes."
 
    After Aoshi exited the room, Asuko snapped her fingers and held
out a bony hand.  Misao stared at her blankly.
 
    "Well, girl?  Don't just stand there gaping like an idiot!  I'm an
old woman.  I don't have all day!"

    "Well what?" asked Misao in a confused voice.
 
    "Your knives, girl.  Your knives!"  Turning to the other woman,
Asuko muttered, "Silly little fool."

    Becoming only more confused, Misao pulled out one of her throwing
knives and handed it to Asuko, who examined it with a surprisingly
knowledgeable eye.  The old woman then handed it to the plump woman
behind her.

    Yuka tilted her head and said in a chirpy voice, "Nice weapon.
Good balance and weight, but readily disposable if necessary.  Then
again, Omakamatsu always does good work.  He's a practical man."

    Misao stared at Yuka, her mouth agape.  (How... how does she know
the craftsman who makes those knives for me?)

    "But it's not the usual Oniwabanshuu style, my dear.  Who designed
it for you?" asked the cheerful woman as she expertly flipped the
blade in her hand.

    Misao muttered, "Ah... someone who helped to raised me."  It had
been Hanya who had given Misao her first set.
 
    Asuko said impatiently, "So you have some decent weapons.  Now,
can you use them?"
 
    The girl snapped, "Of course I can!  Pick a target!"

    Without warning, Asuko snatched a plum from a dish and tossed it
high and fast into the air.  Misao instantly snatched out a kunai with
her good right hand and hurled it.  The throwing knife split the fruit
neatly before thunking into one of the support beams.

    Without pause, Asuko snapped, "The third slat, eye level on the
left door."
 
    Misao grabbed for three of her kunai and flung them as fast as she
could.  Two of the knives landed precisely on target, but one was a
thumbnail off.

    There was a brief pause as Asuko rose to her feet.  After
examining the knives and the sliced plum, the old woman reluctantly
said, "Not bad, girl, but your form's absolutely atrocious.  Where did
you ever pick up such bad habits?"

    "Wha... What's wrong with my form!?"

    In a disgusted voice, Asuko scolded, "Sloppy.  Too much wasted
motion.  Too much unnecessary noise.  And much, much too slow."
 
    Yuka waved her hands in a placating gesture and murmured, "Maa
maa!  She's still young.  She does quite well for someone who's
basically self-taught...."

    "Taught herself.  Hmph.  You would think that there has to be at
least one of the famed Oniwabanshuu who's capable of giving her some
badly needed coaching."

    Misao gaped at the absolutely bizarre scene of a middle-aged
matron and an old woman critiquing her knife throwing skills as
casually as if they were discussing embroidery or flower arranging.
Finally, she sputtered, "And... and I suppose you can do better!?"

    Asuko snorted contemptuously.  "I leave all that high energy
activity to the younger folk, but I can tell you that my technique was
never as bad as yours."  The old woman shrugged, then added, "But if
you survive the next few days, you may come back and have Risako teach
you how to use those throwing knives of yours properly."

    Tokio's grand-aunt picked up an object and casually tossed it to
Misao who instinctively caught it.  To the girl's surprise, it was a
sheathed blade, slightly longer than a normal tanto.
 
    "Huh?"  Misao partially removed the blade from its sheath and was
astounded by its quality and exquisite workmanship.  She stammered,
"I... I can't...."
 
    Asuko said nastily, "You DO know how to use it, don't you?"
 
    "Of course I know how to use it!  But I don't need...."
 
    "It's your decision, of course.  Throwing knives are well and
good, but you need to carry something better designed for hand-to-hand
work."  The old woman paused and added in slightly gentler voice, "The
gift is freely offered, girl.  There is no price or obligation that
goes with it."

    Yuka said softly, "But it would be well to remember that this is
not often the case, Misao-chan.  This is one of the few occasions that
you will receive an offer this generous or unencumbered, my dear."

    "Now go away and get that information."  Asuko flicked her hand as
if she was shooing away a pesky cat.

    Sliding the blade back into its scabbard, Misao found herself
respectfully bowing to Asuko.  She retrieved her throwing knives and
left the room in a daze.

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

    Now alone with Asuko, Yuka murmured, "You were overly harsh with
your criticism, you know. Considering her age and the woefully
inadequate raining she's had with those knives of hers, the girl's
quite impressive.  Give her some good coaching and she can be
formidable."

    "She's not bad," admitted Asuko in a reluctant voice.

    Yuka tipped her head like a curious bird.  "You're not trying to
make a Nightwitch out of her, are you?"

    Yuka's last words had a teasing tone but Asuko answered seriously.
 "Unfortunately, she doesn't have the blood or if she does, it
appeared in her family so many generations ago that it doesn't
matter."  The old woman shrugged and smiled coldly. "That's not why
I'm interested in her.  I just can't stand a waste of good talent."

    Yuka giggled and said, "I think she's charming."
 
    "Hmph.  She has spirit, I'll say that for her.  With a little
discipline and self-control, she'll do nicely.  And if the girl
follows Tokio's advice and develops some patience, she'll have that
man of hers in the palm of her hand."

    "Shinomori's SO handsome," the middle-aged woman said with a
wistful sigh.
 
    Asuko groaned and said in a threatening voice, "Yuka, if you're
going to become all starry-eyed and gushy...."

    "Oops, I'm sorry.  But I'm sure that some of the youngsters are
wondering what kind of children he'd sire."

    "Well, at least a few of them show decent taste in men.  They
could do much worse.  Hmph.  That reminds me.  I often played Go with
Shinomori's grandfather.  He was much the same as his grandson, with
all this passion and emotion buried underneath that cold, reserved
outward manner.  I suppose that many females find all that mystery
very enticing."

    "Oh my, but I don't think Misao-chan would approve of sharing
Shinomori-san with anyone.  And besides, the two of them are in love,
even if he doesn't admit it to himself yet." said Yuka in a worried
voice.

    "What's love got to do with producing children?" said Asuko
pragmatically.  "If the girls want a child sired by Shinomori, all
they need is a quick tumble and that's that.  The only reason that
they haven't tried that with that rogue Saitoh is because no one in
their right mind would dare to cross Tokio.  Talk about a possessive
woman!"  She chuckled nastily.
 
    "Hajime-san knows a good thing when he sees it.  Do you think
Misao-chan will take you up on your offer?"

    "She's a fool if she doesn't.  She's going to realize that her
current skills aren't good enough, especially if she wants to hang
around with the likes of Shinomori Aoshi.  It's equally obvious that
the Oniwabanshuu are not training her properly.  Either she's going to
have to give up fighting altogether or she's going to have to get
better.  Much better.  One should do something superbly or not at all.
 Being a mediocre fighter is one of the quickest ways to die."

    Yuka sighed, "If that's true for Shinomori and Misao-chan, then it
goes double for Himura and that Kamiya girl."

    "Yes, but that's not my problem.  Let Tokio and Risako sort that
mess out."

    The two women concentrated on their tea for several minutes, then
Yuka said, "You heard that Misao-chan and Shinomori are planning to
visit Hiko Seijuro."
 
    A trace of warmth appeared on Asuko's face.  "Seijuro.  I've
always had a sneaking fondness for that boy."

    "But he and Risako don't like each other much, do they?"
 
    "Seijuro and Risako have cordially despised each other since
Risako was born.  She thinks that he doesn't know a male's proper
place.  He's never forgiven her for abandoning her baby, the child of
his best friend."

-----------------------------------
(end of part 18)

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Next part:  I didn't get as far as I hoped, but I'm working on it!
=^_^=

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

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