Madam Hydra's That Which Lingers

Part Eighteen: Unexpected Views [B]

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Sony, Shonen Jump, Shuiesha Comics and any other parties involved. This fanfic is not for sale or profit and is purely for entertainment purposes.

   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 to be 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."
&nbps;  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."

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