Subject: Aching Gifts: cpt 1: Weak Bonds Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 23:21:53 -0000 From: NVRPARRIS@aol.com To: rkfanfics@egroups.com What you are about to read is a fanfic for entainment purposes only! I have used characters (Aoshi, Misao, Jiya etc.) from the manga/anime 'Rurounin Kenshin' by Nobuhiro Watsuki that i, myself did not create. Please don't sue me, because you won't be happy with what you get, and because this is for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONly! so take your shoes off and cuddle with Aoshi and Misao!!I hope you enjoy CHAPTER 1:"Weak bonds" of my spinoff series... Aching Gifts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weak Bonds 'just another day at the Aoiya' Misao thought to herself. A couple of hours ago, the sun had spread across the eastern skies, illuminating the crystalline dew on the grass. As she groggily made her way to the kitchen Misao heard Jiya and the other Oniwa Banshuu bustling around the restaurant. Still sleepy, she couldn't help but imagine Aoshi meditating in the nearby temple. She could clearly engrave in her mind the chisled features on his countenance, and the way he seemed to always be thinking of something, anything, other than her. She plopped herself on the floor, reaching for the kettle, the same kettled that whistled, forcing her out of sleep's welcome grasp. 'Baka' she said to herself. Scolding herself guiltily, because of her thoughts. being that that the first thought of the day was him. She sunk inwardly taking a deep breath, drawn with exasperation. She was tired. Tired of waiting, tired of longing, tired of trying to catch the wind and chasing waterfalls. Tired of living her life without the one thing she wanted and cherished the most. Life just wasn't simple anymore and even the simple things that she cherished, began to take on a ceremonious sacredness. Taking great care to preserve the delicate, crystal moments in her daily routine, Misao slowly began to pour a cup of green tea, careful not to spill one drop. Careful not to destroy the one thing in her life that she had complete control over. Saa saa saa, the green tea slowly slithered out of the kettle into a porcelain cup. The cup she cherished. the cup that was given to her by her unwilling savoir. The cup given by Aoshi before he left. Before he changed. Saa saa saa, she remembered the way the way the rain trickled down the post and fell creating concentric circles, in a dark puddles that continued to enlarge. It was a terrible day for a celebration, but she smiled. Bright, innocent. It didn't matter to her. No matter how terrible the weather outside, the warmth inside, emanating from her smile, emanating from being surrounded by everyone that was most precious in her world, everything inside could overcome whatever stormclouds gathered outside. Saa saa saa. She began to fall deeper and deeper in the transe of her safe memories forgetting the world, or at least trying to forget. So she sat in the calm. Basking in the surreal blanket that the silence spread. she felt alone, yet safe. Bringing the cup to her open lips was more pleasing than she had imagined. The tea slithered out of the cup, making it's long descent through her body. She felt each gulp of tea moving slowly down her esophagus. warming her insides. By the time the cup was empty, she could still feel the tea that penetrated her stomach walls. That was all. she wasn't hungry, at least not hungry for something that would fill her stomach. She had no business in the kitchen. She was drowning in her sorrow, she wanted to scream. She felt like leaving the kithcen. Something told her to leave. But she stayed. Not knowing why. No sound, just silence. No sound...except voices? She heard a voice. A voice shattering the silence that once collapsed around her ears. After a few long minutes she could hear footsteps and pounding against the hardwood floorboards, almost blond with dust. They neeeded cleaning, but not now. She heard a voice... no...two voices. Aoshi. Yes, she recognized his voice, but whose was the other voice? It was a woman. She sounded pretty. She could hear it in her voice. Her heart began to pound. tum ta tam tum ta tam tum ta tam tum. The original rythm disrupted by the soft melody of the voice of a temptress. She wanted to leave now more than ever, but her body was paralyzed. The woman spoke. Laughingly, tauntingly. "I love you." "I know." said the man. Calmly. His monotone voice conveying no feeling, no emotion. The door slid, revealing the girl clutching a cup. They stopped talking. They stood in the doorway focusing on the girl. It was quiet. unbarebly quiet. Aoshi stared blankly in front of him. 'love'. they used the word so freely. The emotion put behind it was the same emotion used in buying tofu. The same emotion put into breathing, but even that had more importance than these two displayed. She knew 'love' all to well. She knew the power and destruction of 'love'. She wanted to run away and crawl under a rock. She wanted to escape the blank boring of his eyes. The examination from a two hundred yen whore. Then he spoke. "Ohayo" She knew his tone all too well. Plain, almost taunting, while belting out a casual greeting. her hands began to tremble inoluntarily so she quickly tucked them into her sleeve. "excuse me" she said abruptly, pushing past the man and the woman. hands in sleeve and cup in hands. She ran upatairs. Her body taking the lead when her mind had failed and betrayed her. Who was that woman? Misao plopped herself on her futon. This was all happening too fast. Her mind began to assess her surroundings and she realized she practically bolted out of the kitchen. "Baka" she sighed..."I'm so obvious" she chuckled sarcastically, almost hysterically as seemingly languid tears began to form in her eyes. 'Aoshi-sama'. She began to laugh again, only this time half- sobbing. The tears rolled down her cheek leaving a crusted path of bitter salt. She loved him. She couldn't lie or deny to herself. Why didn't he love her? He didn't even seem to care. He never spoke to her, nor did he acknowledge her mere existence... He would rather be in the embrace of a whore. That's what that woman seemed like anyway. She was very beautiful, and she looked easy... But was there even something going on? No...that's impossible...It was a figment of her imagination... yes Aoshi was saving himself for her... It wasn't true... Life just wasn't simple any more. "well, let's get cracking then." Misao began to stretch her weary muscles. She would not allow herself to get rusty, Fighting was too important to her...Not necesarily fighting as in violence, but fighting as a means of protecting herself and those around her. Fighting as a media upholding honor and truth of the values she beleived in. Aoshi hadn't been doing the greatest job as leader, and since he was gone, she felt that she had to step up. She made her way to the entrance hall not stopping at the kitchen. "Misao!" said a flabbergasted voice... Jiya ran towards the approaching figure. "Nani? Jiya, What's wrong?" "Well the police just sent a message" There was quaint excitement in his voice... "Some prisoners escaped from the prison... They've asked me if the Oniwa Banshuu can assist." "What do you mean?" probed the girl... she couldn't contemplate what was so important about this. "They need us to help them protect the civilians and search for the criminals..." "And this is good because?" "Each of us get 20,000 yen!" At this Misao grabbed the old man by the collar of his neck. "Oji-san are you kidding me...Were you inhaling plaster again?" "No, I'm serious...and that only happened once!" This was a dream come true... with the money, they could do anything... well not now... "Jiya, give me the details..." "Well you are the only person I told... I'll tell everyone the details this afternoon." "Hai...well i'll be gone for a little while... I'll be back in a few hours... Don't you dare start without me, or i'll have your head on my plate." "Hai hai" said the old man in return. The streets of the city bustled with life. Misao made her way through the market area that divided the Aoiya from the hill where she trained. The hill was distant and covered with trees. Deep in the forest, there was an abandonned garden that grew lush and free. After practicing for hours on end, she allowed herself to be consumed with the smell of wild flowers and honey. She would lay on the bed of flowers and let the cool breeze evaporate the thin frost of sweat that collected on her body. The smell filled her with euphoria, She wasn't sure if there was some drug in one of the flowers that caused her to feel that way, but she knew it was comforting... "WATCH OUT!" Misao felt more than heard the warning. A man pushed her out of his way before she collided with his wife, or lover. They were young and happy. In love...she then remembered this morning. 'I love you' huh. Mammoth grey clouds rolled lazily across the formerly blue skies. "Aoshi-sama" she sighed. She wished that she was that couple, she wished someone loved her and only her... But instead she journeyed alone into the forest. Aoshi sighed as the cool droplets trickled down his bare skin. The bath water had cooled his senses somewhat, and he sank his naked body deeper into the bath. He wanted to feel like this all the time. Feeling safe, sure, knowing exactly what would happen. Here he couldn't hurt anybody. Here he couldn't cause anyone to die. But after 2 long years, he realized that by separating himself, he hurt them even more. Moreso than if he died. At least that way everyone would Know why he wasn't there, and Misao would understand why he couldn't just hold her. Life just wasn't simple anymore. He needed everyone, just as he yearned for air and food and water. He needed people. He needed her. Plop plop plop. The late spring rain began to fall outside. It softly began to pound against the high window in the corner of the bathing room. Closing his eyes, he tried to remember the last time it rained. Closing his eyes he returned to his own safe place. In the safe memories he clung to. And he fell into a dream-like transe. "Aoshi-san, it's raining". a melodious voice sounded, calling him back to his complicated world. "What is it Toko?" "It's just that it's raining, i hate thunder." The pattern of the water was disrupting creating a mixture of loud splashes and soft splishes. Toko made her way closer to Aoshi, nestling her bare body under the crook of his arm. Aoshi sighed inwardly. Sure he liked Toko... He could easily say he was in lo--...well... he cared for her at least. He needed someone to fill the dark void in his life. All his life, a huge peice of him was missing... He always felt like half of him was somewhere, while the other half searched in vain. Toko was there...She was a distraction...He even might lo--... He liked her enough. "It's Okay" Aoshi said, nonchalant "I'm right here". "Yokatte" she said closing her eyes "yokatte" Misao began to breathe heavily. She had been training for about an hour, yet the wet earth, became a damp, cold obstacle. Her clothes were soaked, and the stray strands of hair clung, pasted on her skin. She stopped for a minute to breathe. Before she knew it, a sharp, stinging sensation crept up her arm. She turned around quickly enough only to see a figure running away. Another figure began to approach, and her vision began to blur. She fell against the moist earth. "Misao!" Aoshi stood up out of the water. A chill crept up his spine. He felt as if he was called. He knew something happened...Misao... "Aoshi-sama is everything okay?" "I don't know" he replied, his voice trembling...Misao... "I don't Know." Th rain pounded even harder on his leather cloak. He ran towards the fallen body...It was a woman. He bent over the body, supporting her head with his hand. "Kimi...kimi..." the man stood over her, calling idly. He got no response. "Oi...Oi!" TO BE CONTINUED... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: 1.This story takes place about two years after The kenshin Gumi left Kyoto... Also... it is during the late spring/early summer. Misao is 18 and Aoshi is 28. 2. Toko is a new character I made up...This Aoshi's 'friend'... I don't like her much either. She, just like Yumi, is a former oriran (expensive whore). 3. I have no idea what currency (if currency was used at all) was used back then, However, the police reward of 20,000 yen, is about $200 in U.S. Money...well that was the currency rate when i went to Japan in October. 4. The next episode intrduces Tamoru... He he he...The next episode will BE VERY GRAPHIC on account of the fact that Tamoru Knows, Practices and will have to utilize Bochu Magic. For those who have seen Fushigi Yuugi, you will know what i'm talking about, for those who haven't seen it...Bochu Magic is Basically a technique of controlling ones and others chi, through sexual intercourse or very close physical contact... You can try to guess what happens! 5. I PROMISE the next episode will be MUCH more interesting than this one. If you weren't bored to death this time, I promise you won't be the next time. It's just that intro's are so hard to write and one must do a whole lot of explaining while trying to develop a catchy plot...There is a plot? YES! So i HOPE to see you soon. 6. Well last but definately not least, I must wrap up this episode with some sorts of an ending song...SO EVERYONE SING ALONG: (warning: there is some imagination required... actual music not included!) 1, 2, 3 Ashi dori mo karuku shite Ciao, Ciao toru mono mo tori Aezu CIAO, Ciao. Li-on ga unaru mitai no raimei ga. Tai-san wo unagishite iru... dou naru no... So-o... Mou SUGU AME! Da-i kirai Ame nan-ka Ciao, ciao mou sukoshi it-ai no-ni Ciao, ciao. Kai-kan ga kai-san ni ka-waru shun-kan wo. Li-on ga isoga seta no-wa mei-haku...no mei-waku! It's gonna rain! Ame wa mou... Alibai wo kesu no. Kare wa mou... Wasurete shinmau no. Futari wa mou... kore kiri naru no Subete Ame no se-ite ko-to ni shite okou... It's gonna rain! It's gonna rain!