Author:
When I started this fic, I never thought it would end up being like this. I never thought I would write it so fast or that it would become this long. I haven't planned this fic and so writing it has been fascinating. It has been a pleasure to write this. (But I have to say that I hated writing chapter 10.)
Sorry for the delay! I am sooo sorry! I just suddenly had more stuff to do than I can and no time to write. (I still ain't really happy with this one...)
Thank you to all those who have had time and patience to review practically every chapter
Susan
blue eyes
Dynast
le bleu phenix
erin
Kmye-chan
Mariana-chan. (Hopefully I didn't forget anyone...)
Also thanks to all others who have reviewed, but not mentioned here.
I want to thank all of you that have supported me with your words. I don't know if I ever would have continued this if not for you. Every time I have felt like leaving this fic untouched for months, I have read reviews and then found inspiration from them.
So, thank you so much.
This chapter isn't that long cause this just sums things up and cuts loose ends.
Chapter 12.
Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
A World without an Image
Epilogue: She will come back
Yahiko woke up yawning. He had a strange feeling of something missing. He had slept for hours, the sun was already high up on the sky. He was tempted to stay there laying, but forced himself to get up. He wanted to talk to Mei, or rather to Misao.
He had been so surprised when he had understood what she had meant. Mei was so different from Misao. She was mature and calm. Misao was childish and wild. They were like complete opposites. But considering what Misao had gone trough, maybe such change was possible. She had said that she had wanted to avoid pain at all costs and that her spirit had been almost dead.
What would she be like after this new journey she would do? Would there be any signs of Mei anymore?
Yahiko stood up and changed his clothes. He hurried to Misao's room and rushed in. She wasn't there. There were no signs that she had ever been there. Her bag and her cane were gone and the room was clean as if it hadn't ever been used. Had she left already?
"Looking for Mei?"
Yahiko turned around surprised. Aoshi was standing at the door in his western suit Yahiko had never seen before. He nodded, alarmed. *What has he done with Mei? Misao.*
"She left hours ago. Her friend, Himiko-san came just ten minutes ago and paid her bill." He talked calmly and uncaring. Yahiko frowned. These people had suspected Mei all the time for being a spy. Had they just allowed her to leave?
"Mei told me that you have something to tell us." Aoshi looked at Yahiko and he felt uncomfortable under his studying gaze. He nodded, not trusting his voice.
"Come to the garden. Others are waiting." Then he left. Yahiko followed him after checking that Mei was really gone. There were no signs that she had ever been there. He walked down the stairs and to the garden. Okina, Okon, Omasu, Shiro, Kuro and Aoshi were all there.
He heard Okina yell to Aoshi something, but the only word he heard clearly was Mei. So Aoshi had been the one to allow her to leave, others probably disagreed. Okon and Kuro were talking, Omasu and Shiro were silent.
When Aoshi turned to him, others noticed him too. He walked nervously forward. He was the only one that could defend Mei, Misao, and he couldn't tell them who she really was, which would automaticly free her from their suspicions.
"Yahiko. Good morning. Aoshi told us that you have something to tell us about Mei." It was Okina. He sounded cheery but his eyes were deadly serious.
Now all of them were looking at him, waiting for him to speak. He collected his thoughts and straightened himself. Mei/Misao was his friend. He would defend her without telling them. He would keep his promise without failure.
"Yes, I have something to tell you. Mei trusted this to me and asked me to tell you this so that you wouldn't be suspicious of her anymore. You told me that the war had been declared, I tell you that it started already five years ago. Then Mei was still a member of Oniwabanshu. She was one of you and the first victim."
"She has lied. There has never been member like her among us." Okina almost laughed, they had caught her. She had lied and she was a spy. This was a proof.
"Listen to Yahiko." Aoshi said coldly startling them all. From the look on his eyes, Yahiko could tell that he knew more than others did.
Yahiko continued. "She did not lie. Takahashi Mei is not her real name. She changed it to hide from her enemies." Yahiko was angry. Okina just insulted Misao. Of course he didn't know the truth, but it still felt... wrong.
"What happened to her all those years ago was too painful for her bear. She was attacked and captured with poison and taken to the enemy. To Shimabara. He had her tied up while he, he, he---" Yahiko tightened his hands into fists and could feel his nails digging into his palm. Misao. All of this had happened to Misao. That bastard Shimabara!
"You have seen that eye cover she has, right? She wears it to hide her eyes. Five years ago Shimabara destroyed her eyes. I have seen the scars. They cover almost half of the face. There is nothing, NOTHING, left of her eyes. For that Mei hates Shimabara. She would never side herself with him. NEVER!" Yahiko hissed from between his teeth.
Then he pointed his hand at them. "She wanted me to tell you this to help you. To help you! She knows what he looks like and she wants to help you if she can. But she doesn't want to involve herself into this matter. She never wants to be in the same room with that man again!"
Yahiko breathed heavily and then he looked at Aoshi. His eyes widened.
That look. The last time that Yahiko had seen that look on Aoshi's face before when he had been after Kenshin. He was scary. He seemed to emit pure anger and hatred. His hands were tight fists. The others noticed this also and backed away from him.
He spoke and his voice sent chills down everyone's backs. "Okina. Find Shimabara. Now." Then he turned to Yahiko. "You, come." He strode forward. Yahiko pitied everyone who got in his way and followed. Disagreeing was out of question.
Aoshi walked inside of the Aoiya and straight to his own room. There he took his kodachi's from the wall. "She told me that you know." He turned to look at Yahiko with burning eyes.
"Know what?" Yahiko was scared, seriously, but he didn't show it. In some ways this anger was even scarier than the one he had held against Kenshin.
"That Mei is Misao."
Yahiko almost gasped. Aoshi knew? That explained his anger. So he really cared for her. When Yahiko looked at Aoshi again, his face was cold and uncaring. But his current coldness was scarier than anything. He would do anything to get his hands on Shimabara for what he had done.
Aoshi had almost asked Misao to take the cover of, but then decided against it. He had thought that it was only to mask her from them so that she could go unnoticed. What Yahiko had told him changed all. This man, this Shimabara dared to touch, dared to harm Misao? That was unforgivable. There was no way that he would ever forgive this crime he had committed.
Misao. There was no other person he had ever loved as much as he loved her. No one mattered as much as she did to him. She was all he wanted. And she had been hurt. Badly.
"Shimabara will pay." His eyes burned. No one harmed his Misao and lived.
A week later
Okina found Shimabara's location easily. He changed it all the time, but now he wouldn't have time. The minute they found out, they moved out. Everything had already been prepared. Yahiko had insisted on coming with them. For Mei. Aoshi had agreed on it ingnoring the protests the other voiced.
Mostly Shimabara had lived far from Kyoto, but now he was very close. Every member that they could gather together in time were there and Aoshi led them. For the first time Yahiko saw the okashira. He was brilliant and resourceful. Yaminobus were surprised by this sudden attack and there weren't nearly enough members to counter to the amount that Aoshi threw at them. Yahiko had his own share of battles and found that he was better. The time he had spent training with Misao really paid off.
Aoshi in the matter of fact put him against the second best man they had and especially then the training with Misao was proven useful. Ninjas fought differently and Yahiko hadn't been used to fighting an enemy such as that. Now he was and he won. He was injured, but not so badly that he wouldn't be able to watch Aoshi fight Shimabara.
He noticed immediately that Aoshi was in a different level, way above Shimabara. He charged and all Shimabara could do was defend. Yahiko had witnessed Aoshi's strength already long ago, but now he saw it again. The first time when Yahiko had seen Aoshi fight had been at Kanryuu's mansion, the second on Enishi's beach, but then he had had an enemy of his own to consentrate on.
Aoshi didn't even have to use his ougi. Shimabara was scared of this raging monster before him and Aoshi soon found an opening. His kodachi slid easily into Shimabara's body like a knife to butter. Aoshi calmly twisted it in his body and Shimabara fell to his knees. When he pleaded for his life, Yahiko could almost swear Aoshi saying to him something about Misao. The widening of Shimabara's eyes supported his hearing. Aoshi pulled his kodachi free and left Shimabara there for death to collect.
Yahiko walked to him and looked at his face. He had almost kicked the dying man, but decided against it. He now understood what Misao had once said. She had said that she had no will to take revenge since it would change nothing. This pathetic man before him was not worthy of it. So he knelt beside his body. He was still conscious.
"Shimabara. Five years ago you took away Misao's eyes. I want you to die knowing that she is fine. She is strong and lives strongly. She doesn't even think that you are worthy of her attention. In the end, she won." Shimabara whimpered.
Yahiko rose up and walked away.
No member of Yaminobu rose to avenge Shimabara, instead they all abandoned him. They felt no real loyalty towards him and apologized for themselves. Peace was easily achieved. Neither side had never really wanted to fight. The casualties were few on both sides.
So in the end Shimabara died alone and cops that came there to investigate the matter, burned his body.
The nightmare was over.
Misao walked through a forest. She was finally on the right road. She listened to the sounds of the forest, enjoying it immensely. She was free from all boundaries, expect for her promise to return. She had all the time she needed to repair the damage that Shimabara had inflicted in her. Her face melted into a smile. She inhaled her lungs full of fresh air and then released it calmly. If she had been able to, she would have cried. But now they would have been tears of joy.
There were times that she felt stronger and times when she had been weaker. She had given her life up. Living hadn't really meant so much for her when she was unhappy. Now she enjoyed life again, she was happy to be alive. To feel and to care.
She would return. She had friends waiting for her.
~ O*W*A*R*I ~
Author's final words:
And it is over. Those of you who want to read more, you have to wait for A World of Images, which will continue from here. I don't know when I'll start/continue to write it, but I don't think it will take long.
I am happy that I have finally finished this also because maybe now I can write others as well.
Thank you to you all for your time.
Yours,
Tiian
I may revise this chapter a little later, but I doubt that there will be any major changes. I am not so happy with this expecially the Shimabara part. This fic was of Misao and her hard journey to move forward, but I would like to make a better ending to Shimabara since he was the bad guy. So when I have time, I'll see if I can make the ending better.
When I started this fic, I never thought it would end up being like this. I never thought I would write it so fast or that it would become this long. I haven't planned this fic and so writing it has been fascinating. It has been a pleasure to write this. (But I have to say that I hated writing chapter 10.)
Sorry for the delay! I am sooo sorry! I just suddenly had more stuff to do than I can and no time to write. (I still ain't really happy with this one...)
Thank you to all those who have had time and patience to review practically every chapter
Susan
blue eyes
Dynast
le bleu phenix
erin
Kmye-chan
Mariana-chan. (Hopefully I didn't forget anyone...)
Also thanks to all others who have reviewed, but not mentioned here.
I want to thank all of you that have supported me with your words. I don't know if I ever would have continued this if not for you. Every time I have felt like leaving this fic untouched for months, I have read reviews and then found inspiration from them.
So, thank you so much.
This chapter isn't that long cause this just sums things up and cuts loose ends.
Chapter 12.
Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
A World without an Image
Epilogue: She will come back
Yahiko woke up yawning. He had a strange feeling of something missing. He had slept for hours, the sun was already high up on the sky. He was tempted to stay there laying, but forced himself to get up. He wanted to talk to Mei, or rather to Misao.
He had been so surprised when he had understood what she had meant. Mei was so different from Misao. She was mature and calm. Misao was childish and wild. They were like complete opposites. But considering what Misao had gone trough, maybe such change was possible. She had said that she had wanted to avoid pain at all costs and that her spirit had been almost dead.
What would she be like after this new journey she would do? Would there be any signs of Mei anymore?
Yahiko stood up and changed his clothes. He hurried to Misao's room and rushed in. She wasn't there. There were no signs that she had ever been there. Her bag and her cane were gone and the room was clean as if it hadn't ever been used. Had she left already?
"Looking for Mei?"
Yahiko turned around surprised. Aoshi was standing at the door in his western suit Yahiko had never seen before. He nodded, alarmed. *What has he done with Mei? Misao.*
"She left hours ago. Her friend, Himiko-san came just ten minutes ago and paid her bill." He talked calmly and uncaring. Yahiko frowned. These people had suspected Mei all the time for being a spy. Had they just allowed her to leave?
"Mei told me that you have something to tell us." Aoshi looked at Yahiko and he felt uncomfortable under his studying gaze. He nodded, not trusting his voice.
"Come to the garden. Others are waiting." Then he left. Yahiko followed him after checking that Mei was really gone. There were no signs that she had ever been there. He walked down the stairs and to the garden. Okina, Okon, Omasu, Shiro, Kuro and Aoshi were all there.
He heard Okina yell to Aoshi something, but the only word he heard clearly was Mei. So Aoshi had been the one to allow her to leave, others probably disagreed. Okon and Kuro were talking, Omasu and Shiro were silent.
When Aoshi turned to him, others noticed him too. He walked nervously forward. He was the only one that could defend Mei, Misao, and he couldn't tell them who she really was, which would automaticly free her from their suspicions.
"Yahiko. Good morning. Aoshi told us that you have something to tell us about Mei." It was Okina. He sounded cheery but his eyes were deadly serious.
Now all of them were looking at him, waiting for him to speak. He collected his thoughts and straightened himself. Mei/Misao was his friend. He would defend her without telling them. He would keep his promise without failure.
"Yes, I have something to tell you. Mei trusted this to me and asked me to tell you this so that you wouldn't be suspicious of her anymore. You told me that the war had been declared, I tell you that it started already five years ago. Then Mei was still a member of Oniwabanshu. She was one of you and the first victim."
"She has lied. There has never been member like her among us." Okina almost laughed, they had caught her. She had lied and she was a spy. This was a proof.
"Listen to Yahiko." Aoshi said coldly startling them all. From the look on his eyes, Yahiko could tell that he knew more than others did.
Yahiko continued. "She did not lie. Takahashi Mei is not her real name. She changed it to hide from her enemies." Yahiko was angry. Okina just insulted Misao. Of course he didn't know the truth, but it still felt... wrong.
"What happened to her all those years ago was too painful for her bear. She was attacked and captured with poison and taken to the enemy. To Shimabara. He had her tied up while he, he, he---" Yahiko tightened his hands into fists and could feel his nails digging into his palm. Misao. All of this had happened to Misao. That bastard Shimabara!
"You have seen that eye cover she has, right? She wears it to hide her eyes. Five years ago Shimabara destroyed her eyes. I have seen the scars. They cover almost half of the face. There is nothing, NOTHING, left of her eyes. For that Mei hates Shimabara. She would never side herself with him. NEVER!" Yahiko hissed from between his teeth.
Then he pointed his hand at them. "She wanted me to tell you this to help you. To help you! She knows what he looks like and she wants to help you if she can. But she doesn't want to involve herself into this matter. She never wants to be in the same room with that man again!"
Yahiko breathed heavily and then he looked at Aoshi. His eyes widened.
That look. The last time that Yahiko had seen that look on Aoshi's face before when he had been after Kenshin. He was scary. He seemed to emit pure anger and hatred. His hands were tight fists. The others noticed this also and backed away from him.
He spoke and his voice sent chills down everyone's backs. "Okina. Find Shimabara. Now." Then he turned to Yahiko. "You, come." He strode forward. Yahiko pitied everyone who got in his way and followed. Disagreeing was out of question.
Aoshi walked inside of the Aoiya and straight to his own room. There he took his kodachi's from the wall. "She told me that you know." He turned to look at Yahiko with burning eyes.
"Know what?" Yahiko was scared, seriously, but he didn't show it. In some ways this anger was even scarier than the one he had held against Kenshin.
"That Mei is Misao."
Yahiko almost gasped. Aoshi knew? That explained his anger. So he really cared for her. When Yahiko looked at Aoshi again, his face was cold and uncaring. But his current coldness was scarier than anything. He would do anything to get his hands on Shimabara for what he had done.
Aoshi had almost asked Misao to take the cover of, but then decided against it. He had thought that it was only to mask her from them so that she could go unnoticed. What Yahiko had told him changed all. This man, this Shimabara dared to touch, dared to harm Misao? That was unforgivable. There was no way that he would ever forgive this crime he had committed.
Misao. There was no other person he had ever loved as much as he loved her. No one mattered as much as she did to him. She was all he wanted. And she had been hurt. Badly.
"Shimabara will pay." His eyes burned. No one harmed his Misao and lived.
A week later
Okina found Shimabara's location easily. He changed it all the time, but now he wouldn't have time. The minute they found out, they moved out. Everything had already been prepared. Yahiko had insisted on coming with them. For Mei. Aoshi had agreed on it ingnoring the protests the other voiced.
Mostly Shimabara had lived far from Kyoto, but now he was very close. Every member that they could gather together in time were there and Aoshi led them. For the first time Yahiko saw the okashira. He was brilliant and resourceful. Yaminobus were surprised by this sudden attack and there weren't nearly enough members to counter to the amount that Aoshi threw at them. Yahiko had his own share of battles and found that he was better. The time he had spent training with Misao really paid off.
Aoshi in the matter of fact put him against the second best man they had and especially then the training with Misao was proven useful. Ninjas fought differently and Yahiko hadn't been used to fighting an enemy such as that. Now he was and he won. He was injured, but not so badly that he wouldn't be able to watch Aoshi fight Shimabara.
He noticed immediately that Aoshi was in a different level, way above Shimabara. He charged and all Shimabara could do was defend. Yahiko had witnessed Aoshi's strength already long ago, but now he saw it again. The first time when Yahiko had seen Aoshi fight had been at Kanryuu's mansion, the second on Enishi's beach, but then he had had an enemy of his own to consentrate on.
Aoshi didn't even have to use his ougi. Shimabara was scared of this raging monster before him and Aoshi soon found an opening. His kodachi slid easily into Shimabara's body like a knife to butter. Aoshi calmly twisted it in his body and Shimabara fell to his knees. When he pleaded for his life, Yahiko could almost swear Aoshi saying to him something about Misao. The widening of Shimabara's eyes supported his hearing. Aoshi pulled his kodachi free and left Shimabara there for death to collect.
Yahiko walked to him and looked at his face. He had almost kicked the dying man, but decided against it. He now understood what Misao had once said. She had said that she had no will to take revenge since it would change nothing. This pathetic man before him was not worthy of it. So he knelt beside his body. He was still conscious.
"Shimabara. Five years ago you took away Misao's eyes. I want you to die knowing that she is fine. She is strong and lives strongly. She doesn't even think that you are worthy of her attention. In the end, she won." Shimabara whimpered.
Yahiko rose up and walked away.
No member of Yaminobu rose to avenge Shimabara, instead they all abandoned him. They felt no real loyalty towards him and apologized for themselves. Peace was easily achieved. Neither side had never really wanted to fight. The casualties were few on both sides.
So in the end Shimabara died alone and cops that came there to investigate the matter, burned his body.
The nightmare was over.
Misao walked through a forest. She was finally on the right road. She listened to the sounds of the forest, enjoying it immensely. She was free from all boundaries, expect for her promise to return. She had all the time she needed to repair the damage that Shimabara had inflicted in her. Her face melted into a smile. She inhaled her lungs full of fresh air and then released it calmly. If she had been able to, she would have cried. But now they would have been tears of joy.
There were times that she felt stronger and times when she had been weaker. She had given her life up. Living hadn't really meant so much for her when she was unhappy. Now she enjoyed life again, she was happy to be alive. To feel and to care.
She would return. She had friends waiting for her.
~ O*W*A*R*I ~
Author's final words:
And it is over. Those of you who want to read more, you have to wait for A World of Images, which will continue from here. I don't know when I'll start/continue to write it, but I don't think it will take long.
I am happy that I have finally finished this also because maybe now I can write others as well.
Thank you to you all for your time.
Yours,
Tiian
I may revise this chapter a little later, but I doubt that there will be any major changes. I am not so happy with this expecially the Shimabara part. This fic was of Misao and her hard journey to move forward, but I would like to make a better ending to Shimabara since he was the bad guy. So when I have time, I'll see if I can make the ending better.