Chapter Five

Kaoru blinked open a sleepy eye early next morning. The sky was still dark in these cold winter days. However, her blanket was quite comfortable, and the body lying beside giving her warmth.

"Ohayo…why are you awake?" Kenshin murmured opening one eye. "It’s very early Kaoru."

"I don’t know." She tucked the blankets around herself further and snuggled into Kenshin.

"Go back to bed," he whispered before kissing her forehead. "I’ll be here."

She snuggled closer to him and sighed contently.

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Aoshi opened one eye, and groaned softly when a beam of light directly hit through his iris. He brought one arm up to shield the light as he attempted to drift back to sleep again. Minutes later he felt a small movement from the bundle of silky flesh and warm nestled next to him.

"Mmmm…Aoshi," a voice purred.

"Ohayo koibito."

Misao smiled, her eyes still closed as she heard his rich voice reply. Turning slightly she kissed his chest, glad that her Aoshi was back home, safe. Lying here brought back many memories of her childhood, especially at times like these when he had just returned from a trip. The intensity of the relationship was different, but initially it was the same: being held safe and protectively in his arms. Even as a child it was always Aoshi who had held her when she fell off a tree branch, or scraped her knee. It was also Aoshi who had found her in the first place out on the streets.

Lips suckling on the peak of her breast jolted her quickly out of her thoughts. "I knew that would bring you back to attention," he chuckled watching her sudden response.

She moaned softly in reply as he continued his ministrations, his tongue lapping softly against her smooth skin.

Suddenly a knock on the door interrupted the lovers. Aoshi sat up and reached for his discarded yukata on the floor. He threw it over his shoulders to cover his back. Then he covered Misao’s bare body with the blanket bringing her up, holding her close to his chest. "Come in."

"Sorry to interrupt you Okashira," a man wearing a frightful mask murmured, "Misao-chan."

"Hannya," Aoshi acknowledged.

"Ohayo," Misao replied.

"We bring news to the whereabouts of the terrorists. They are hiding in the forests outside of town. We have not found their leader yet. However, it seems they are doing much more than attempting to burn government houses…"

"Oh?"

"We found a few bodies, female bodies left outside their camp."

"I see," Aoshi breathed as he slipped one hand underneath the covers to stroke Misao’s back. The girl snuggled closer to him.

"Would you like us to…"

"No. Don’t kill unless it is necessary. See if you can pick up any more information at their camp. Sanosuke, Kenshin and I will go out tonight to search around town."

"Yes Okashira," Hannya replied with a slight bow.

"Arigatou Hannya. I will be at the Aoiya later today."

"Okay, I will tell the others."

Aoshi nodded and the man left. He got out of the bed and pulled Misao up with him. She shivered slightly as the air hit her naked flesh. The raven-haired man feasted his eyes on her lithe body, appreciating the soft curves. He felt himself getting heated once again at the sight of her body and the slight swaying of her hips as she walked.

"Misao…"

"Mmmm?" Misao turned around from the closet where she was searching for something to wear. Her face held an innocent look, completely oblivious to his want. That is, until she looked further down, and then met his eyes. The normal pale blue had changed to a darker hue, signalling his passion. "Did I do that?"

"What do you think?" he growled in response. It took all his training from meditation to stop himself from taking here then and there.

She smiled wickedly before she dressed herself in her kimono. "You deserve it for all that denial you put me through. I’m going down for breakfast, ja!" She kissed him quickly before leaving the room.

Aoshi could only shake his head as he picked up the usual black kimono he wore.

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"Oi baka deshi, you’re up late," a voice rumbled.

"Ohayo Shishou," Kenshin replied as he turned around.

"Is Kaoru still asleep?"

"Hai."

The two men walked into the sitting room, with Hiko sliding the shojo door shut to ensure privacy. "Aside from us being a family that has a large pottery business, does your woman have any idea who we are, and what we do?"

"Iie. I haven’t told her yet."

"I will talk to her myself about this. I received a letter from Okina this morning from one of the Oniwanbanshu. Apparently, these are not terrorists we are dealing with, they are from the Underground."

Kenshin locked eyes with his master evenly, "I’m not surprised. They’ve been so quiet lately. However I’m not quite sure if I want to get involved. The first time we challenged them was quite dangerous. We nearly lost a life."

"The government is only vaguely aware of these people, since they are so underground and hidden. They wouldn’t know unless they went deeper into their inquiries," Hiko replied. After a moment of silence he spoke again. "Watch out, and don’t lose yourself to the insanity of a hitokiri."

The 13th master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu warning was clear to his student. If anything happened to Kaoru, he may not have the control he barely could hold on to after his first love’s tragedy. The anger of the hitokiri was always difficult to control, even now. The passionate hate and blind anger heated easily.

"Aa."

"Any ways, breakfast should be ready. Let’s go baka deshi."

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"Good morning minna!" Misao greeted brightly.

"You’re in quite the good mood today weasel," Sano quipped as he saw the girl walking happily into the dining room. "Did Ice Boy bang you well?"

Misao nearly pinned the man to the wall with her kunai, but Hiko intervened and quickly caught them. "Stop teasing her baka. I’m pretty sure your night was as eventful considering you and Megumi were so loud!" the man growled as he slapped the younger man upside the head.

"Sorry," Sano winced.

"Government officials are just a bunch of fools these days," Hiko said suddenly, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "They think terrorists are such a light matter. These fools being paid countless amounts of money don’t know how to deal with anything. You realize these men that we are dealing with are Underground people. The officials don’t realize this. So I suggest everyone be alert and training. If they realize we are looking for them, they will come look for us as well. I don’t, and I repeat don’t, want this to happen like last time we dealt with these people."

"I never knew they were Underground," Sano murmured.

"None of us did." Hiko looked around the room seeing the slightly shocked faces of his family. He carefully observed Kaoru and noticed she seemed quite confused at what was going on. She would be, not knowing exactly why she was chosen, and what the family truly did for Japan. There was much more than just a pottery business. "Kaoru, I need to have a word with you after breakfast in the gardens."

"Hai."

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The air was chilled when Kaoru walked out of the house and into the gardens. She spotted Hiko sitting on a stone bench next to the patch of withered roses. "Hiko-sama."

"I am not going to go around this issue and try to make it sound all right," the man said bluntly, turning his head to look at the young girl.

"No one asked you to."

"A sensible girl, very good. At least one of them has a brain," he muttered to himself. "Sometimes there are certain criminals that cannot be caught, and if they are, they always manage to escape. We are those that track those criminals done and finish them, so they will not harm others in the future."

"To take one life to save many others," Kaoru whispered, "what gives you the right to take someone’s life?"

"We don’t. But what gives their right for taking other’s life?" Hiko answered with his own question. "You are a compassionate girl, I can see. Since you are in my family now, you must be alert at all times. I was talking about the Underground this morning, and I need to explain them to you. Their name depicts exactly who they are, people who are underground, be in politics, or whatever. They are extremely dangerous people who don’t stop until they get what they want, or whoever they want. The first time we dealt with them, one of us almost came out dead. They have first rate assassins and hitmen who do get the job done well, too well at times. You are new here, and I am afraid that they try to use you to their advantage."

Kaoru was silent as she tried to disgust all the information. Hiko continued, "I admit my baka deshi is strong, I have trained him well. However, there are times when he cannot protect you, or himself. That is why I need you to begin training once again. You are a kenjutsu master are you not?"

"Yes."

"As well I want you to train Yahiko."

Kaoru nodded in agreement. "We took on this case without knowing they were from the Underground. Now that we do, we all need to take our precautions. Kaoru you have been quite good to us, and to Kenshin. He has issues that he still needs to sort out, and his emotions are still all tangled. Please be patient with him if he does not open up just yet."

"I understand."

"That is good." The older man looked up at the grey sky. "Winter is coming. At times like this I wish I was at my wheel throwing my clay."

"You enjoy pottery?"

"Almost as much as I love my sake."

The girl smiled softly, watching Hiko. His mouth did not hold its usual arrogant smirk, but more of a look that yearned for something in the past. Perhaps the peace that once had belonged to the family. There were still so many unanswered questions. The explanation Hiko had given her had been so blunt and quick, but still left some holes. Kaoru made a mental reminder to talk to Misao later, perhaps from the other girl she would find some more answers.