Subj:	 [KFFDISC] A Crooked Path- Chapter One
Date:	5/4/00 7:40:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:	calico@dragonslave.com (Calico )


Author's note:  It has been a long time since I've last 
worked on this one. Hopefully, the next couple of chapters
should be finished soon. Comments and constructive 
criticism are always appreciated-- please send any to 
calico@dragonslave.com. Also, this fic can be found at:
http://keruberos.tripod.com/fanfic/ffindex.htm

A Crooked Path- Chapter 1 

 Misao sat quietly, listening to Sano’s footsteps fade
away until all she could hear was the sound of rain once 
more. 

 The news he had brought was not welcome.  This was their
last hideout and if it was discovered, then they would be 
put at a great disadvantage.  As if we could be in a 
worse situation than we are now, thought Misao. It seems 
like ever since that day we’ve lost our will to fight.  
For after all, how can we expect to succeed where he
 failed? 

 Misao pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she got 
up.  She had to go see Okina to let him know of their 
upcoming guest.  A proper welcome needed to be planned. 

=================================

 Sano walked through the hallways of the Oniwabanshu 
hideout.  It had been awhile since he was last there, but 
he still knew his way.  He fancied that he would still 
know the way to that room even if blindfolded. 

 Sano closed his eyes and kept walking. I wonder why I’m still doing this, he thought. After all, there’s really 
nothing here for me.  Misao and the Oniwabanshu are 
great but... they don’t need me.  Besides, I’ve already
 had my chance.. and I failed, miserably.  I was useless 
and I couldn’t stop any of it from happening. 

 "If you’re starting to sleepwalk, perhaps you should 
consider seeing that doctor about it." 

 "For your information, I was thinking until someone came 
along and interrupted my train of thought." 

 "That doesn’t take much of an effort." Myoujin Yahiko
 smirked up at Sano. "All in all, I’m surprised you even 
have a train of thought.  I thought that intelligence was 
needed for things like that." 

 "Very funny.  I can see that your sense of humor has 
improved, just like your fighting skills.  Which is to 
say, not at all," Sano replied. 

 "I’m still better than you-- at least I know the meaning 
of the word defense. How did your spying trip go?" 

 "Well, I’m back in one piece.  I wasn’t really able to 
find out much except..." Sano paused, waiting for a 
reaction. 

 "Except what?" asked Yahiko. 

 "Except for something that you’ll probably hear about 
later." Sano finished with a grin. 

 "Bakayarou.  You enjoy doing things like that, don’t 
you?" accused Yahiko. 

 Sano smiled at that.  "Well since I don’t have the
 intelligence required to keep a coherent train of 
thought, what made you think that I could remember
little details like that?" 

 Yahiko sighed.  "All right, I give up.  Stop baiting me, will you?" 

 "We are going to have the unexpected honor of receiving a 
guest from them. While I didn’t hear who exactly the guest 
will be, I did find out that he should be arriving soon." 

 "I take it that Misao and the others are planning a
 welcome party." 

 "That’s what she said at least." 

 "Well, I’ll better get going then."  Yahiko grinned.  "If
 I know that Weasel Girl, she’ll be making plans to get 
rid of our visitor in next to no time...and if I want any 
part in the festivities, then I’d best be at the meeting. 
Coming?" 

 Sano looked away, then said, "Not yet.  I have something 
that I need to do." 

 "Ah, of course," said Yahiko, "I should have remembered 
that.  You’re going to go see her, aren’t you?" 

 "Yeah." 

 "I’ll hold a spot for you then.  And Sano..." 

 "What?" 

 "Don’t think too much.  It’s not good for you.  And 
besides, no matter how many times you think about what you 
could have done, you can’t change the past.  He would 
tell you that himself, if he were here," Yahiko said.  
"I’ll see you later then." 

 Sano started walking towards his destination once again 
after Yahiko had left. "Yeah, I’m sure he’d say the same 
thing, if he was here."  He sighed.  "But the point is 
that he’s not." 

=================================

 Misao knocked on the door to Okina’s office.  "Jiya, I’m
 coming in." 

 Okina looked up as Misao entered the room.  He looked 
older than he did a year ago.  It was not something that 
was obviously in a physical sense.  Okina had been the 
senior member of the Oniwabanshu for quite some time.  
However, since that day, he had been responsible for 
running the Oniwabanshu and ensuring their survival
during hostile times.  While Misao was ostensibly the 
okashira, Okina was the actual one in charge since he was 
the one with the needed experience.  But it seemed as if 
it was taking its toll on him, to Misao’s eyes.  But then 
again,Misao thought, everything looks faded in my eyes 
these days. 

 "Sano came back from his trip?" questioned Okina. 

 "Yes.  And it seems like we will be having a visitor
 rather soon."  Misao reported. 

 "I see," said Okina.  "In that case, I’ll start planning 
about what to do about that. Thank you for telling me 
about this, Misao." 

 "That’s not going to work, Jiya."  Misao walked forward 
until she was right in front of Okina.  "I’m not going to 
be let out of this one." 

 Okina smiled, but not without effort.  "Of course, my 
dear Misao-chan.  The meeting will take place in the 
regular room.  So could you please get everyone for me?" 

 "Not yet," she replied with a look of determination on 
her face. "I know that if I leave you here alone, you’ll 
concoct some plan that will somehow leave me waiting here. 
And I’m letting you know that I won’t stand for that 
anymore." 

 "Misao, you know that the best people for the mission are 
always the ones chosen."  Okina held up his hands as if to 
protest his innocence.  "So far, the others have been more 
suitable for the missions than you because they have more
experience.  Besides, we need someone to stay here and 
protect...."  He stopped when he noticed the gleam in 
Misao’s eyes. 

 "I have had enough of such excuses,"  Misao said very 
quietly.  "If you decide to plan a mission that does not 
require my skills, then that is fine.  I really can't do 
anything about that."  She started to walk out of the 
room.  "But I'm letting you know now that I’ll simply go 
on ahead of you guys and implement my own plan." 

 "Misao-chan, we don’t mean to..." 

 Misao stopped, then turned around to face Okina.  "I know 
that you guys just want to protect me, Jiya.  But you’re 
smothering me, and I can’t allow that. Besides..." She 
sighed and looked out the window at the rain that was 
still pouring down. 

 "Besides what?" Okina prompted. 

 "I’m afraid that if I just let you all protect me... and 
if you all should just happen to die...then I would, 
become like her."  Misao shook her head, as if to clear it 
of any depressing thoughts.  "I’ll tell the others about 
the meeting, Jiya."  She turned away and continued out of 
the room. 

=================================

 "It has been a long time hasn’t it," Sano said to the
 other occupant of the room. He looked over at her before 
continuing, "I think that you’ve been losing weight.  You 
really should eat more you know." 

 Sano walked over to the lone bed in the room.  He stood 
there for awhile, just thinking of days past. 

 Sano took a deep breath and started talking again.  "I 
just thought you should know that the others are planning
 to greet a visitor soon.  Yeah...it’s one of those 
bastards.  I’m sure the others would love to have you in 
their planning session." 

 "No response to that.  Ah well, I shouldn’t have expected 
anything different. Seriously though, you should try to 
take a more active interest in your surroundings, you 
know?" 

 "Yahiko looks well.  I saw him earlier while coming here. 
Yahiko’s really beginning to remind me of him.  You should 
see it too, I think.  I haven’t seen Megumi yet but you 
probably have.  Misao is also well, although she seems to 
be restless." Sano started to pace back and forth in front 
of the bed. 

 "I guess that just leaves me and you.  I’m fine.  Really 
I am.  Just got back from a reconnaissance mission.  I 
still have yet to find anything out about Saitou, but I’m 
sure he’s out there." 

 "And you Jouchan.... aside from the weight loss, you look 
the same as ever." Sano stopped his pacing. 

 "I’ve been wondering Jouchan... is he still protecting
 you, somewhere in your mind?  Do you see him there, 
Jouchan, everyday?"  Sano sighed.  "Even if that’s the 
case,it would be nice if you would acknowledge one of us 
once in a while.  And somehow, I don’t think that he would 
approve of how you’re like right now."

 Sano looked straight at the figure in the bed.  "No, I
really can’t imagine him liking you being this way," said 
Sano as he gazed into the lifeless eyes of Kamiya Kaoru.