Title: New Life
I glanced over at my new companion. She had taken the blindfold off revealing a concise set of blade marks. I wondered what her life was like before. Whatever the case, she was shattered. Having recently reaching an epiphany of my own, I could easily recognize it in others. While not a pretty sight, it fosters this interesting feeling I haven't felt in years. Companionship? Friendship? Comradry? Despite my choices and calm exterior, something had been missing in my life.
"Ouch!"
And my silent thoughts being interrupted certainly wasn't it. Being a destructive, anti-social outcast of society hadn't done great things for my tolerance levels. In fact, silence was one of the most precious things I enjoyed.
"Damn fire." She spat.
"Here." I said patiently, brushing my annoyance aside. Glancing over her palm, I gently poked a raised lump of skin. She would have a nice blister in a few more minutes. Too bad I used all the cold water already. She hissed, but didn't pull back.
"Wonderful. Now I'm not only blind, but cripple too!"
I smiled. It was good to know she had gotten past the denial and blaming. She was starting to think positive.
"Stupid thing." She gave the stack of wood a swift, powerful kick sending sparks flying. Satisfied at her outburst, she settled down to poke her new blister. "It deserved it."
"I do believe that it feels sufficiently punished."
She gave a smile. It was a pretty smile, when she gave it a chance.
Observation has not always been my gift but recently I had been learning how to employ it. I had quite a few guesses about her past life and why she was on the road in the first place. When I asked her name, she claimed to have none. When pressed, she muttered a foreign word that sounded like 'mink.' I don't claim to understand, but perhaps it was a childhood nickname.
"Do you wish for me to tidy your hair?"
It had been a struggle to convince her that she required aid in such a simple task, however, she was adapting. Of course, the first few days were trying. Her bandages needed to be changed constantly because she wouldn't allow herself to be carried despite her injuries. Then there was the task of bathing and dressing. As I said, it was trying, in many ways. Chastity had value, but only in the correct context.
"Yes please." She dug around in her new pack for the brush that had been purchased. Hair cutting, or care for that matter, was a foreign matter to me. I'm afraid I blotched the cut badly; however, she couldn't run around looking like a bunch of samurai had used their swords to trim it. The white, milky eyes got their fair share of attention as it was.
Dressing her as a boy had proven to be a useful idea. It certainly didn't incite the normal reaction from drunks or townspeople. There were no lewd comments and no coos of pity, which I'm sure she would have resented. The downside was the loss of that very short outfit she had been wearing when we met.
With measured, precise strokes, I combed the short bob. It truly was a pleasant activity. Very relaxing, almost like meditating.
My blissful peace was interrupted by a soft thump. To my surprise she had fallen asleep. I suppose it made sense, considering her ribs were still healing, as well as the tissue on her face. The strain on her body must be great.
Unfortunately, when I tried to move, it turned out to be far more difficult than I anticipated.
"Isn't that sweet?" A voice called out sarcastically from the shadows beyond the fire. I merely blinked, not wishing to fight anymore. My scarred body was the only visible signs I wished to have, rather than a display of skills or a touchy temperament. The scars inside were much easier to hide, but so much more disruptive. Years of training were near impossible to fight.
"Who are you?" I called out warily.
A coil of smoke drifted and the fire glinted off a pair of slanted, dangerous eyes.
"Anji the Destroyer."
"I believe you are mistaken. There is no one here that goes by that name." This was looking like it was going to be unpleasant. Anyone who knew of my ties to Shishio's group couldn't be anything but bad news. Although I couldn't see him, I got the feeling I knew this man already.
"Anji Yukyuzan then. The fallen monk."
"You have not given me the honor of your name, sir."
"It's not important."
"I beg to differ. All names are important."
"Fujita."
I glanced skeptically at the lean man as he melted out of the shadows. He was wearing a police uniform; however, nestled at his side was a katana. He wore it like the gloves on his hand: snuggly. My mind tugged, but I couldn't place him.
His gaze lingered only a moment on me before going to my companion. I didn't wish to wake her, however, I didn't appreciate his stare. It was cunning and speculating. He was planning something for my new friend, and it was not something I would approve of, I could tell.
"Who--." She snuffled and coughed. Rubbing her nose, she made a face, "Go away Saitoh."
Click.
"So you're awake Weasel. I thought you'd want to know that your master has suffered an accident and won't be coming."
The aura of pure hatred that rolled off of her made me flinch. Even our uninvited guest seemed surprised, but no less amused by her reaction.
A smirk teased across his face.
She stood up strongly and hissed, "May he forever rot in hell!"
"My, my, I believe this simply proves the saying 'the line between love and hate is thin indeed' quite well. Adoration is sickening in any form. However, vengeance doesn't seem to suit you much." He took a drag of his tobacco and continued, "You seem well adjusted, and you're choice of traveling companion is more intriguing. Odd how you two were enemies just a mere two weeks ago."
I looked at her in surprise.
So just who was Mink?
"What do you mean?"
A humorless chuckle escaped his lips, "You don't know? Heh, maybe some heart-to-heart is needed. Or perhaps you should be more wary of strangers you meet on the street. Not everyone can be taken at face value."
"Well, I don't care who he was!" She declared forcefully, "And you need to butt out! There's no reason for you to be here harassing me! Why don't you go bother Himura?"
"Because he was murdered."
"What?"
"Battousai was murdered?" It was true that we were on opposing sides, however, if Sanosuke Sagara idolized the short man so much, then he must have been a worthy man. Yet he was murdered. By whom I wonder.
This seemed to please him, our reactions that is.
"The fox witness it all. The culprit was one you'd never imagine. However, I didn't come here to speak of that. It's old news."
"Old news!" Mink screeched, "You heartless bastard."
"He has been dead for a week. I just found out yesterday. I also found out you were missing, run away from your precious master, leaving him to insanity and Hiko. Also, the moron is missing, presumed dead. Anything else you wish to know? Because I'm not here to keep you up to date."
"Well, if you hadn't nosed your way in here and shoved my nose in that life…!"
"Ah," He flicked the butt on the ground and smashed it with the heel of his shoe, "That life. So have you forsaken your life as Misao the ninja? What are you now? The disloyal, cowardly weasel? Or the weak-willed woman?" He paused, eyeing her carefully, "I thought you had more respect for yourself and your former friends."
She snorted, "This coming from you!"
"I would never abandon my comrades."
"Ha! How many of them betrayed you? Would you just sit there and let them slice you up?" There was a deep bitterness in her voice, "Get the hell out of here before I go 'ninja' on your sorry, lying ass."
He flicked a piece of paper at me, which I easily caught.
"If you change your mind and show some spine, go there."
There was a moment of frothing silence.
"Misao?"
"That's not my name!"
"But it was?"
She stared angrily at the darkness and ground her teeth. I watched her fingers clench and unclench. I decided not to push. She would either tell me when she was ready, or she would never tell me. As she had claimed with this Saitoh, our pasts didn't matter. Living in the past served no purpose, as I had most painfully learned at the hands of Sagara.
"Forgive me. That was discourteous and thoughtless of me."
Flipping her head around and destroying all the work put into making her hair lay down smoothly, she smiled. Properly directed anger is a mark of maturity, yet somehow I get the feeling that she wouldn't have had this control had I met her before.
"No, you're just curious about the poor, little blind girl you picked up off the street. Saitoh was right; you could have been some psycho who got off on--." She paused and blushed, realizing what she was about to say, "Anyway, I got lucky, didn't I? Considering you were one of Shishio's men?"
I jumped. Truly, she was smarter than I had given her credit for.
"Yes, I was Anji the Destroyer."
She waved a hand, "That's nice. I was Misao Makimachi of the Oniwaban. So, what does the paper say?"
Again, I was surprised.
"It is an address." I said carefully, scrutinizing the jagged handwriting. It belonged to a man who preferred the sword to the pen. I didn't like playing Saitoh's game. I vaguely recalled him being at the sidelines of my fight with Sagara. That was how he knew me. And as it was, I'm now on the wrong side of the law, so why didn't he arrest me? He would… unless it would spoil his game.
"What, so we can be his puppies?" She snorted, feeling her way around the fire to put her brush away. "No thank you."
"Mis—Mink, I do believe you understand him far more than I do."
"That bastard! He just likes using people to get what he wants. And he wants us to do something for him! I can't believe Himura's dead. Do you think he was telling the truth, or was it just a half truth to drag us out?"
I was pleased by her use of us, but leery of the topic.
"He was well after my battle. However, he would have fought Seta the assassin before he ever reached Lord Shishio. Two battles such as that would take a great toll on even the strongest fighter. Perhaps he survived, but was easy prey afterwards because of his weakened state?"
"That makes sense. Poor Kaoru."
"Do you wish to go back?"
"No, at least not back to Saitoh. Or the Aoiya." There was the cold, harsh voice again. Whatever had led her down her current path, it must reside at the Aoiya, which could only lead me to believe that one of them had hurt her. It was merely luck that I wasn't holding something at the moment. If I had been, it would be dust. Just as the person who hurt Mink would be if they ever came near her again.
She stared off, thinking. I let her be, cleaning up camp and preparing to sleep.
It was a good hour before she came to me.
"Anji?"
"Hmm? Yes, Mink."
"Uh…"
"You wish to go somewhere, correct?"
"Yes, I do." She paused again and shifted nervously. Having seen nothing but grit and steel from her, nervousness was a pleasant surprise. It meant that she wasn't being ruled by her hatred. It was still there, don't mistake me, but it was shifted, prioritized. She was gaining a new purpose, but I'd already found mine.
It didn't take long to pack up.
"Stupid tree." She mumbled after smacking into a low hanging branch.
"Here." She stiffened slightly before leaning into me. So trusting. So warm. So off-limits. "Dammit." I glanced down to see a crimson line around her middle.
"Sit."
"No way; it's nothing."
"Sit."
"Fine."
"It isn't too bad." I commented after unwrapping everything. She probably should be in bed right now, not tramping through the woods. And I intended to tell her so… before I got distracted that is. "You're cold."
"Yeah, it's a little nippy being topless."
"Hold on a moment." Ignoring the quivering flesh beneath my fingers, I diligently wrapped the bandages again. If my fingers lingered, I had no knowledge of it. Once finished, I held out her clothing and turned away. Modesty is funny.
"Okay, let's go Anji."
"Well, well, if'n it ain' ol' Anji."
"Swordhunter Chou."
"Jerk."
"Eh, and a Weasel too?"
"Broomhead!"
"Wench!"
"Disgusting baby-slinger!"
"Er… hey, I didn' skewer the brat!"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Anyhow, that ol' bastard Saitoh sent meh ta pick ya two up." He gestured to a pair on horses behind his. "Stingy. Wouldn't even put up fer a carriage."
"No."
"'Ey, this is my ass on th' line. Ya damn well will come wit' meh. Right now!"
Mink smiled sweetly and I sensed disaster coming.
"Why don't you go screw your boss? I'm sure that'll make it all better." She grinned, "Or isn't that what you meant about your ass?"
"Why you—!"
"Enough."
"But she start'd it!"
"Nah!"
I waited for the glares and tongues to return to where they were supposed to be before continuing. "Where is Kamiya?"
"Oh, Battousai's woman? She 'n' the brat 'n' the doc went home ta Tokyo."
"Thank you. One more thing."
"Wha?"
He didn't even see it coming. I regretfully untied the two horses, leaving his hitched near him. Hopefully it wouldn't step or poop on him. I doubt he'd be up before morning.
"Wow, neat trick."
"Do not emulate it please."
She smirked, "Of course not. When I'm dealing with men I usually use a kempo to the head."
"Remind me never to make you angry."
To that, she just grinned.
AN: Yeah E wrote this part. I can't believe we haven't updated in a while. Any excuses for the prolonged update? I'll say busy lives or lack of reviews … you pick
Reviews…Sorry it's been so long that I don't think any of us remember. I/we hope to see some new faces and reviewers this time around. Oh yes the insanity ensues (meaning I updated), and I'm sure E will say the same thing. Updates are :shrug: whenever I feel like it since I'm posting it.