Two Sides of a Sword: Relapse and Then...

~~Relapse, and Then...~~

AUTHORESS NOTE: Don't be surprised if this chapter's a tad bit confusing. Hey, even when I finished writing this, I got confused myself....O_o. Well, the rest will be explained in the next chapter whenever I get cracking on it! R&R!!

Akira twisted and turned in his prison, cursing himself for getting captured so easily. Staying here, tied so tightly that his limbs were beginning to lose feeling, was a double edged sword. If he escaped, he wouldn't have to deal with Shinomori but the woman that was his sister.

I shouldn't have underestimated that girl, Akira thought as he remembered how Ikumi chased after him after he had injured Aoshi and landed a solid blow to the head, rendering him unconscious.

If he stayed, he would be hunted down by Toraki, Rokou-sama's pet ninja and right hand man. Akira once again cursed to himself. He respected his Okashira highly but detested his right hand man. Akira really didn't see anything that special about the ninja, but Rokou-sama highly praised the young man after whatever mission he had completed. And if Akira didn't act fast enough, one of those orders was going to be him.

The light of his journey finally reached through, and Akira smiled cruelly to himself, eyes lighting up in delight at the sound of keys dropping.

<Aoiya>

Ikumi finished tucking in Setsuko for her nap. She smiled softly to herself at Setsuko's peaceful face. The little girl had a blast with Aoshi, immediately getting attached to him yet being careful to mind her mother's orders. Even with her brother's one word responses, Setsuko didn't seem to mind. She showed him the pictures that she had just drawn...and just talked a whole bunch of nonsense that only she could understand being the two year old that she was.

Ikumi herself had to supress a giggle coming towards her throat as she watched her brother's facial expression go from shock to total confusion to curiosity and finally back to the expressionless mask that she remembered during her daughter's meeting with Aoshi.

Sighing softly as she slid the door closed, Ikumi finally fell back into the despair that she had been resisting for two and a half years. Being finally home had boosted her spirits a bit, but it was only temporary. She knew that everyone wanted to know how in the world did she have Setsuko, who was the father, and the like. That was just how her "family" was, typically Okina. Maybe talking to oniichan first might make things easier...

Knowing that Aoshi was expecting her back for answers, Ikumi didn't even bother to acknowledge her presence. Aoshi was up and about, absentmindedly tooking out of the window. It was amazing itself that he was standing considering how much blood he had lost three days before, but Ikumi could tell that her brother was masking the pain inside.

After taking a deep breath, "I'm guessing that you want to know everything, ne?"

Aoshi turned to look at her. "Aa."

"Yosh, demo, you're goign to have to answer some questions after this," Ikumi said.

Damn, I knew that there was a catch, Aoshi thought before replying with a monotonous, "Wakaata."

And so, Ikumi began her tale....

"Eh?!? I have to leave? Sensei, doushite?"

The older woman smiled at the young girl in front of her, brown eyes twinkling in delight. She shook her head at the younger one's presumption.

"It's not what you think, Ikumi," the woman answered in Chinese. "I want you to expreience the world, get to know what's going ont outside of these peaceful forests. I know that you want to go back someday to see how everyone you know there is doing."

Ikumi looked down at her hands, strands of black falling toward her face. "I do...but..."

Her master stood up and went towards her, laying a hand on her shoulder, smiling softly.

"It's for your own good, Ikumi-chan," her master said gently in Japanese. "If you keep on running away from your feelings, they're always going to catch up with you. Once you come back and see the rest of the country, you are welcome to return. Demo, I want you to know the reality of the world, Ikumi-chan. That will be when you decide for yourself to stay in China or return home in Japan."

It was very rare that her master would speak to her in her own native language, so Ikumi was a bit surprised. Reluctantly, she nodded.

"Okay...I'll go..." she finally said in Chinese.

Her master nodded. "Ryuuen and Fei are coming along with you so I don't have to worry too much about you getting into trouble."

Ikumi frowned, creasing features appeared over her face of fifteen years. "But THEY'RE the ones who get into trouble when I'm with them."

Her master smiled at Ikumi's point. "Yes, and that's why I'm not worried. Besides, I'm sure you and Fei would like the time alone."

Ikumi blushed a light pink at the comment and quickly excused herself. Her master chuckled in delight at the girl's embarassment, watching her go.

About two months ago, the high priests at the monastery arranged a marriage for Ikumi and Fei. Fei, Ikumi, and Ryuuen were the best triangle of friends ever since Ikumi had entered the monastery. The two young men were one of the few Japanese-speaking students at the monastery, Fei being half and Ryuuen being full and was also taken in as an orphan but at a much younger age than Ikumi had been. Ikumi and Ryuuen were close friends, Ryuuen and Fei the best of friends. With Ikumi and Fei, however, it had been different as the three grew older. Hence, the marriage arrangement.

Not that Ikumi minded. Actually, she was estatic, but she was also embarassed at the same time when any of her teachers touched that subject.

Packing the remainders of what she would be needing, Ikumi smiled softly to herself. Maybe leaving on this trip isn't so bad after all.

A loud crackling of firecrackers echoed throughout the plaza, its light firing up into the night sky. The crowd cheered in sheer delight for the New Year had come.

Fei gazed down at the crowd from the balcony above, smiling to himself. He was a young man of twenty with dark brown hair that was almost black and grey eyes that were reflecting the sparks of the firewords. He was tall and lean with a slight build, hunced over the balcony to see the view below him.

A man below was waving his hands frantically, looking at him. He was around the same age as Fei was with black hair and emerald eyes wearing a smoky Chinese outfit, shirt unbuttoned to reveal a white tank underneath. Fei raised an eyebrow as the man was making hand signals when he had caught Fei's attention. The sounds of the roaring crowd, gong beaters, and exploding firecrackers were so loud that no words could be heard without yelling.

Fei returned the man's hand signals with those of his own, the two trying to piece together a conversation. After a few mintues, the two nod in agreement and Fei disappeared from the balcony to his room. He smiled to himself at the sight of Ikumi sleeping peacefully in bead and tried to get his jacket as quietly as he could. However, Ikumi's well-trained ears caught onto the slight noises he made and opened her eyes. Fei paused in mid-buttoning and stared into her eyes. He grinned sheepishly.

"I can't sneak away from you, ne?" he asked in a slight accent.

Ikumi smiled back at him, stretching her arms.

"Mmm, ie," she answered. "An Oniwanbanshuu can hear all."

Fei let out a laugh and sat down next o her, brushing away some stray strands from her face.

"Me an' Ryu are going out for a drink," he explained.

Ikumi smiled again, a teasing gling in her eyes. "What time do I have to pick you two up from jail?"

Fei grinned again, trying to put an innocent look on his face. "Jail? What jail?"

"You know what I mean, Fei."

"I know, I know. We'll TRY not to get in trouble," Fei concluded, kissing Ikumi passionately on the lips.

"Yasuko?"

"Aa, I promise."

"Uso..."

That was all she could say. Misao's eyes were filled with tears as Jun finished her story.

Jun let out a light laugh to get rid of the guilt built up inside her. "Funny, isn't it? I've always wondered why Ikumi-neesan let it go so easily after all I did to her. A bratty little rich sixteen year old going after her obsession of getting stronger, and all she's done is getting the people who care about her hurt. Sometimes I just wish I wasn't so naive back then..."

"Demo...you're happy now, right?" Misao asked. "I mean, everything's normal now and you're happy with your husband, ne? Iku-chan's helping you out and she's trying her best to be a good mother to Set-chan, ne?"

Jun smiled sadly. "Aa, I guess so. I'm glad I'm with Isamu, demo, we both worry about Ikumi-neesan. It's like there's this dark void within her that can't be filled in and she falls into it at times."

That's like Aoshi-sama... Misao thought, wandering back to the question in her heart. She was still confused of his actions three days before, still wondering of what was going through that closed mind of his.

<Aoshi's room>

Ikumi breathed out a sigh. "That was the last time I saw him and it was also the beginning of the breakdown of my so-called happy life."

"Ikumi..."

"I guess I learned my lesson the hard way. Demo, my heart wasn't broken until much later," Ikumi cut in.

"What do you mean---"

"I don't want you or Misao-chan to go through what I've been through and get hurt," she smiled slightly at Aoshi's shock. "Don't be denying it, oniichan. I know how you feel about Misao-chan and think that she deserves a better person than you, right?"

"...." I still think she does.

It was so easy for him to get out. Almost too easy. Like the skilled ninja he was, Akira managed to escape with such a stealth that not even the acutest ears could hear.

He had failed the mission, but it was better to face the anger of his Okashira than his own anger against Toraki. But before returning back to headquarters, he had to complete some unfinished business and attacking Shinomori Aoshi's weakness...