[kenshinfanfics] That Which Lingers - Part 2 (draft)

This is a rough draft of Part 2 my new story.

This story is set in my own ALTERNATE REALITY 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"
        "Romancing the Wolf"

WARNING:  This story is "semi-dark" -- it has dark elements
(violence, etc) but it's not a darkfic!  Actually, there's
quite a bit of romance in it....     ^_-

This story takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc.  After
that, it takes a sharp left turn into its own world.  Elements of the
Revenge story arc may or may not show up later on in the story.  The
Kenshin Gumi already know that Saitoh survived the destruction of
Shishio's stronghold.

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

======================================================================
    THAT WHICH LINGERS:  A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
======================================================================
        Part 2: Pursuit and Prey
======================================================================

---------------
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
    * ----- * ----- *  marks the start and end of flashbacks
    [ ] denote visual or time notes

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

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

    Somehow, Tokio managed to flag down a passing carriage.  Before
anyone quite knew what happened, the wealthy carriage owner was
falling over himself to be helpful to the beautiful lady with the
injured companion.  Of course he wouldn't mind letting her borrow his
carriage for a few hours.  Just send it back when she's through using
it.  A few bloodstains on the upholstery?  No problem....

    "Kamiya-san, I'll take you to a doctor...."

    Kaoru grabbed Tokio's arm with a bloodied hand.

    "Saitoh-san...."

    "Yes?"

    "Take me to Megumi... Takani Megumi.  She's a doctor....  Please,
it's very important!"

    Tokio checked the long slash along Kaoru's stomach.  It was
bleeding steadily but not too heavily.  Reapplying her makeshift
bandage, she said, "All right, if it's not too far away."

    She raised her voice slightly.  "Driver?  Do you know where a Dr.
Takani lives?"

    He said, "Oh yes!  She's a very good doctor.  Here we go."  The
driver snapped the reins and the horses headed off at a brisk trot.

    Inside the carriage, Tokio held Kaoru against her and applied firm
pressure on her wound.  A very quiet Eiji sat on the opposite side of
the carriage, clutching Tokio's and Kaoru's packages.

    "Saitoh-san...," Kaoru murmured.

    "Call me Tokio."

    Kaoru smiled weakly.  "Then... you can hardly go on calling me
Kamiya-san."  She took a few deep breaths.  "Tokio, no matter what
happens, please make sure... that Megumi gets in touch with Kenshin
and Sano.  Tell them... that they have to... stop Misao.
Something's... terribly wrong with her.  Tell them to warn Shinomori
Aoshi.  She means to... kill him...."

    "Yes, I will.  Now relax, Kaoru."

    The quiet confidence in Tokio's voice reassured Kaoru that no
matter what happened, Kenshin would get her warning.

    (I don't understand.  Why are you doing this, Misao?  What are you
trying to do?  Is she really capable of killing Aoshi?  Does she have
a chance of succeeding?  Yes, she just might.  He'd never expect an
attack from her....)

    As she fretted about Misao's inexplicable actions, Kaoru gradually
slipped into unconsciousness.

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

    It had been a quiet morning at the clinic so Megumi took the
opportunity to do a little reorganization of her medical supplies.
She was trying to figure out just where to put that last stack of
bandages when she heard the clatter of hooves outside the door.

    A few seconds later, a man ran in and shouted, "Dr. Takani!
There's an injured woman in the carriage!"

    Megumi quickly ran outside and flung open the carriage door.
Inside, there was a thin, almost scrawny boy.  On the other side of
the carriage was a beautiful woman who was holding a blood-soaked
bandage against the stomach of a younger woman....

    "Kaoru!"  Megumi glanced to the other woman and demanded, "What
happened to her!?  Never mind!  You can tell me later!  You, driver!
Help me get her inside!"

    A few minutes later, Megumi had Kaoru in bed and was examining her
wound.  Fortunately, it wasn't too deep and was bleeding only
sluggishly.  She stared at the long clean slash and turned to Tokio.

    "What was it?  A knife or a sword?"

    "It was a sword."

    Megumi gasped sharply.

    "She was very quick.  If she hadn't managed to dodge, she would
probably be dead."

    "Yes....  It will require stitches, but she should recover without
any complications."

    "Takani-san.  Kaoru insisted that I give you a message.  She wants
to you get in touch with Himura Battousai and warn him...."

    Megumi interrupted before Tokio could finish speaking.  "Warn him
about what!?"

    "I think it would be best if I explained things personally.  The
matter is somewhat complicated."

    The doctor rushed over to the table and quickly scribbled out a
note.  Sticking her head outside the clinic, she called one of the
neighborhood boys over.

    "You know Kenshin?"  When the boy nodded, she said, "Give him this
note right away.  If you can't find him, get right back here.  Run!"

    Megumi watched the boy scamper off on his errand, then turned back
toward the patiently waiting Tokio.

    "I'm sorry, I haven't had an opportunity to thank you for taking
care of Kaoru."

    "I'm glad to help in any way I can."

    "Well, I better take care of that wound."

    However, before Megumi took another step, there was a tremendous
commotion in the clinic as a whole crowd of people rushed in.  One of
the men was holding a severely bleeding child.  The sound in the
clinic was deafening as the child wailed, women cried, and men
shouted.  The only thing Megumi could figure out was that the child
had an accident in his father's workshop.

    She bit her lip.  The child was much more badly hurt than Kaoru.
If should didn't do something immediately, the boy could die within
minutes.  Megumi turned to Tokio and said, "Excuse me, but could you
keep an eye on Kaoru?  Dr. Genzai's out of town visiting some patients
and I have to deal with this first.  Just make sure the bleeding
doesn't get any worse...."

    "Of course."  Tokio give Megumi a deep bow.  "If you will forgive
my presumption, but I do have some medical skill.  If Kaoru's injury
only needs stitching, then perhaps you will allow me to take care of
it while you tend to the child?"

    Megumi liked her quiet air of competence.  An extremely loud
scream from the boy made her decision easy.  "Thank you!  The supplies
are in that cabinet.  Excuse me!"  She rushed over to the seething
crowd of panicked people.

    "Sir, put the child down here.  No, let go of him!  Please you
have to give me room to work.  Can you please get that woman out of
here!  I can't tell you how bad it is until I've had a chance to
examine....  BE QUIET!!!"

-----------------------------------
 
    At the Kamiya Dojo, Yahiko was watching Kenshin absently washing
the same shirt for the fifth time in the row.

    (He's really out of it today.  He's been like this ever since the
Chief Inspector dropped by.)

    Sano was sitting on the porch, chewing on a twig.  He yelled,
"Hey!  Aren't you supposed to be scrubbing the floor or something?"

    Yahiko stalked over to him and snarled, "I finished that an hour
ago!  So there!  Bleeh!" and stuck out his tongue.

    The sounds of the ensuing wrestling match barely registered on
Kenshin's mind.  He thought, (Something's not right.  The sun's
shining and there's only a few clouds in the sky... but it just
doesn't feel right.  I can almost smell the stench of death and
violence in the air....  Just like Kyoto, all those years ago... when
blood ran in the streets like rainwater....)

    (Over thirty people dead in a week.  But who can it be?  It can't
be Saitoh.  This isn't his style at all... it's much too wasteful.
But I definitely saw traces of Shinsengumi blade work....)

    He glanced up as soon as he heard the patter of footsteps.  A
local boy ran into the compound and stopped in front of Kenshin,
gasping heavily for air.

    "Here... a... message... from Takani-... san....  Important...."

    Yahiko and Sano stopped in mid-grapple and watched as Kenshin
quietly rose to his feet and wiped his hands dry.  He opened the note
and started reading.

    Sano dumped Yahiko on the ground as soon as he saw Kenshin's jaws
clench and his hands tighten on the paper.

    "What's up, Kenshin?"

    Crumpling the note in one hand, Kenshin reached for his sakabatou
and said in a flat voice, "It's a note from Megumi-dono.  Kaoru-dono's
been hurt."

    As one, the three of them headed out of the Kamiya compound at a
dead run.

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

    When they arrived, the clinic looked like a disaster area.  There
was blood all over the floor, hordes of people crying or shouting, and
general chaos everywhere.  Just as they entered the building, a thin
boy ran past them out the door.

    (That boy... looked familiar,) thought Kenshin, before
concentrating on more important things like....

    "Megumi-dono!  Where's Kaoru-dono?"

    The doctor glanced up at them with a harried look on her face.
She snapped, "Didn't you get my message?  Her injuries aren't
life-threatening.  However, this boy's injuries ARE.  Sano!  I don't
care how you do it, but get these fools out of here!  I can't work
with all this commotion!  Yahiko, get me a basin of cold water!"

    "Ah... right."  The boy scurried off while Sano started to haul
away various people.

    "Where's Kaoru-dono?"

    "She's over in the other room."  Megumi jerked her head toward the
back of the clinic.

    Kenshin swiftly walked to the door and flung it open.  The first
thing he saw was Kaoru, lying pale and still on the bed.  There was
another woman in the room, who was just drying her hands.

    He closed the door behind him, shutting out the shouting and other
noise.  Kenshin sank down beside the bed and gently grasped Kaoru's
wrist.  He could feel her pulse under his fingers... a bit fast, but
reassuringly steady.  He sighed quietly and closed his eyes in relief.

    "She'll be fine with some rest."

    Kenshin glanced up at the woman standing next to the bed.  She
gave him a gentle smile in return.

    "I see."

    "Excuse me, but you are Kenshin, correct?"

    "Yes.  Why...."

    Tokio gave him a polite bow and said, "Then I have an very
important message and a warning for you from Kaoru."

    He rose to his feet and said, "What is it?"

    Behind him, Sano and Yahiko rushed into the room.  Sano said,
"How's Jo-chan...."

    Kenshin made a sharp gesture.  "Sano.  Wait a moment."  Turning
back to Tokio, he said, "What is the warning?"

    "She said that you must stop Misao from killing Shinomori Aoshi."

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

    They stared at Tokio for a long moment, before Sano blurted,
"That's crazy!  I don't know who the hell you are, lady, but you've
got no idea what or who you're talking about!"

    "Yeah!" chimed in Yahiko.

    Tokio didn't appear to be the least bit offended by their
comments.  She patiently waited for Kenshin to respond.

    In even tones, he said, "Why would Misao do such a thing?"

    She bowed her head.  "I don't know.  I met Kaoru and Misao for the
very  first time this morning.  I can only tell you what I saw."

    "Which is?"

    "I saw Misao attack her friend Kaoru with no apparent
provocation."

    "Hold it!  You mean to tell us that MISAO did this to Jo-chan!?"

    "Yes."

    Sano reached out and grabbed a hold of Tokio's wrist.  She gasped
quietly, but didn't try to struggle.  Clutching the front of her
kimono with his other hand, he hauled her halfway into the air and
snarled, "I don't know what your game is, you lying little bitch...."
 

    "She's not lying," a weak voice whispered.

    Kenshin was instantly kneeling by Kaoru's side.  "Kaoru-dono!  Are
you all right?"

    "I'm fine.  And it's all true.  One moment she was fine and the
next moment, Misao tried to kill me."  Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Kenshin, something's horribly wrong with her!  I don't know what's
going on, but she really means to kill Aoshi!  I could see it in her
eyes!  You have to stop her!"  She struggled to sit up, but Kenshin
gently pushed her back down again.

    "Fine, we'll take care of that.  You just rest, Kaoru-dono."

    Lying against the pillows, Kaoru gave them a faint smile.  Her
eyes abruptly widened as she saw what Sano was doing.  With a definite
expression of panic, she yelped, "Sano, you idiot!  What are you
doing!?  Let go of her!"

    "Huh?"

    "Baka!  She's Saitoh Hajime's WIFE!"

    Dead silence followed.

    Sano stared blankly at Kaoru's anxious face.  Without even
noticing, his hand opened and dropped Tokio.  She landed on the floor
with a hard thump.  She sat there for a moment, giving them all a
faintly bemused look.

    With a stunned expression, Kenshin stammered, "You're... you're...
T-T-Tokio!?"

    "....duhhh...," was Yahiko's only comment.

    Tokio slowly got to her feet, discretely rubbing her sore hip.
She edged away from a still frozen Sano and gave them an exquisitely
graceful bow.

    "Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Saitoh Tokio.  I've heard a
great deal about you, Himura Battousai."

    "You've GOT to be kidding, Jo-chan," mumbled Sano.

    "Do I look like I'm joking!?"

    Tokio coughed delicately and said, "Um, about Misao...?"

    Kenshin shook his head rapidly.  Shocking as this discovery was,
they had much more serious things to worry about.  "Kaoru-dono, is
there anything else I need to know right now?"

    "No, that's it.  I can tell you the rest when you get back."

    "Sano!  We need to get a message to Kyoto right away!  Yahiko,
stay here with Kaoru-dono."

    Getting no response from Sano, Kenshin ended up forcibly dragging
the still stupefied man out of the clinic.

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

    As they ran down the streets, Sano muttered, "I don't believe it!
It can't be!  How can an total, psychotic bastard like Saitoh be
MARRIED!?!?  It's impossible!  Someone's playing a bad joke on me...."

    Kenshin said, "No.  It's true.  So that's Tokio."

    Sano gave his friend an accusing stare.  "You knew!?  And you
didn't tell me!?"

    "It didn't seem that important...," Kenshin mumbled.

    "I still don't believe it....  Naw, can't be....  Uh, Kenshin?
Just where are we headed, anyway?"

    With a grim look on his face, the swordsman replied, "To one of
the Oniwabanshuu message centers.  They have carrier pigeons.  I'm not
sure what's going on, but we need to put Okina and Aoshi on guard."

    "Oh, I get it!"

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

    Kenshin abruptly skidded to a stop in front of a small shop and
put his hand on the hilt of his sakabatou.

    "What's wrong, Kenshin?" Sano whispered.

    "I smell... fresh blood," was the quiet reply.

    "Oh hell...."

    They circled around to the backyard.  There was a large wooden
shed, its door smashed open.  Kenshin carefully pushed it open a bit
further.

    The room was littered with gray feathers and the corpses of dead
pigeons.

    Kenshin said, "We're too late."

    "Do... do you think that Misao did this?"

    "I don't know.  It's a strong possibility.  The person who did
this was good.  Most of these birds have been sliced cleanly in half,
probably while on the wing."

    "So what do we do now?"

    "The Oniwabanshuu must have more than one station of carrier
pigeons in Tokyo, but I don't know where they might be."

    "The pigeon handler... do you think... Misao killed him?"

    Kenshin sighed, "I don't know.  I can't imagine Misao trying to
kill Kaoru-dono or Aoshi, but Kaoru-dono and Tokio-dono both said....
We need to concentrate on finding her first.  Once we've done that,
maybe we can figure out what's really going on."

    As they stepped back into the street, they saw an elderly man
trudging in their direction.  The man stopped suddenly, then quickly
walked forward.  "Himura-san!  What can I do for you today?"

    "Where have you been?"

    The man blinked.  "I just stepped out to get some food."

    "Have you seen Misao?"

    "No, I haven't.  And I have an important message for her."

    "What is it?"

    The man blinked.  "Uh..."

    "It's very important!  Something terribly wrong has happened to
Misao and we need to get in touch with Okina and Aoshi as soon as
possible!"

    "Well, certainly, I'll send a message to Okina right away...."

    "You can't.  Someone's slaughtered all the pigeons.  And I suspect
that if you had been here, you would have suffered the same fate."

    "What!?"

    "You must have an alternate way of getting in touch with Kyoto!"

    "Yes, yes.  I'll take care of it right away.  But don't worry
about Aoshi-sama."

    Kenshin frowned.  "Why not?"

    "He's already on his way here.  He should be arriving either today
or tomorrow...."

    "WHAT!?" Kenshin and Sano both shouted.

    "Yes, I was about to forward that message to Misao."

    "Where is the actual message?  The one delivered by the pigeon?"

    "In the shed.  Why?" the old man said.

    A few minutes later, their worst fears were confirmed.  The
message was missing.

    Sano said, "Kenshin, do you think...?"

    "If she's found it, Misao will know he's coming.  And there's no
way to warn him!"

    Kenshin turned back to the old man.  "Is there a special trail
that the Oniwabanshuu prefer to use between Kyoto and Tokyo?"

    Unnerved by Kenshin's urgency, the old man said, "Uh, yes, there
is.  It's a forest track that runs parallel to the Toukai Way."

    "Come on, Sano!  She can't be more than a hour or two ahead of us.
 We have a chance of catching up with her, especially if she decides
to wait in ambush."  Armed with the old man's detailed directions,
they set off in the direction of Kyoto.

    "Kenshin, what are we going do when we find her?"

    "I don't know, Sano."

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

[Kyoto, five days earlier]

    Okina walked into Aoshi's room and said, "I would like you to go
to Tokyo."

    Aoshi glanced up from his book, but said nothing.

    "You know I sent Misao away for a little vacation.  Aside from the
fact that she was driving everyone crazy with her antics, she was also
supposed to check with our local agents about the suspicious deaths of
my old friend Uboshita and his family."

    Aoshi nodded impassively.

    "I just received news of more suspicious deaths.  Another fifteen,
to be exact."

    "What?"  Aoshi looked visible surprised.

    Okina nodded grimly.  "All dead within the last two days.  Which
brings the current total to over twenty.  Three entire families and
close friends... all killed by the sword.  Something's going on in
Tokyo and I don't like it.  I don't like the idea of Misao wandering
around alone in that mess."

    Aoshi glanced down at his hands.  "She's hardly unprotected,
considering that she's staying with Himura Battousai."

    "But you know Misao.  She's as curious as a cat.  And like a cat,
she's liable to go snooping a bit too far and a bit too carelessly.
Besides, I think Himura has more than enough to do keeping an eye on
Kaoru and that scamp Yahiko.  I would prefer that you were there to
keep Misao out of trouble."

    Aoshi was silent for a long moment.  Okina could only guess at the
thoughts going on in the young man's head.  Finally, Aoshi uttered a
faint sigh.  "Very well.  I'll leave after lunch."

-----------------------------------
(end of part 2)

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

Next part:  Aoshi finds out just how sharp Misao's claws can be.   ^_^

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

http://members.aol.com/madamhydra/index.html