From: NVRPARRIS@aol.com I don't think this got through the first time... hmm... I just finished taking a PSAT... I don't think it was *that* bad... I feel free now!! Anyways, this thingie seems to be writing itself so far!! Yay!! I'm almost finished with a vid-clip related to this and i'm just about to go and do some more work on the next part... i'm on fire today!! @_@ enjoy! Hope I don't disappoint! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to it's respective owners. I'm not one of those owners *sigh*. Standard disclaimers apply. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- c o h e s i o n* prologue-w o r d s ~w o r d s Disbandment. It was decided without much thought. Perhaps it was given thought, but the stem of the descision was convenience. With the flick of a wrist... the flux of a pen... he had been abandonned. Re-located by the one person he would follow to hell and back. For his crimes he would probably go to hell, but at 14 that wasn't important. It wasn't important because if hell existed, it must have been here in Kyoto, the city once baptized in blood. "Shiro. Do you understand?" The voice wasn't as strong as he remembered. This man wasn't the man he remembered nor was he worthy of respect and admiration. His okashira must have died leaving this... That pitiful shell which only resembled Shiratori Yuusuke. "Yes. I understand." Shiro's reply was bitter. He refused to waste the energy it would take to mask his outrage. This man wasn't even worthy of that. The next day, they had completely disbanded. This branch of Oniwaa Banshu was no more. This part of his life was over. And he never really understood why. ********* He traveled alone, taking great care to hide his clothing and weapons with a heavy, gray cloak. He wasn't a noticable person but he had to remain incognito nonetheless. Four days of travel had passed without anyone taking notice of him. As he reached the vicinity of Oniwaa Banshuu headquarters, Shiro wondered if he even needed the dirty cloak. He wondered if he was worth anything in this world... But even if he wasn't something specail, he could always count on himself. ********* It was two days since Misao had turned 11. She had grown a bit since last year so clothes were some of the items she had recieved. Sure she had gotten most of the items on her wishlist... but she was still suffering from disappontment. She was denied: item # 4: Kunai and item # 1: AOSHI-SAMA She sighed as she descended the main starcase. It had been 3 years since he had left and he still hadn't come back. Misao stopped in mid-thought as a rush of panic washed over her. ::KNOCK KNOCK:: Misao gasped and bounded hurriedly to the door. If it was as she suspected, her okashira would be standing behind that door with opened arms. Misao stopped in disappointment. A teenage boy stood in the doorway. He wasn't short and he wasn't tall. Not skinny, nor overly muscular. His hair was brown and so were his eyes... He was handsome in an ordinary sort of way, but the fact was Misao had never seen this boy before in her life. She collapsed onto the floor in tears. "Aoshi-sama!!" She wailed. "Why don't you come ba~ack! WAH!" Shiro was taken aback by her actions. She was strange. Kinda cute, but strange. He suddenly felt awkward. He thought. Suddenly a bearded man appeared. He literally flung the girl aside and approached him. "I'm sorry about that." He then bowed respectfully as Shiro removed his cloak. "Would you like to come in?" ********* "So you're not the Okashira?" Jiya chuckled. "No. Our Okashira is away with some of the other Oniwaa Banshuu." Shiro suddenly brightened. "Is he with anyone from my branch?" Jiya set down his cup. "I don't know... I doubt it. Have you spoken with Shiratori-san?" Shiro's eyes darkened. "He's dead." Jiya froze. "... ... I'm sorry." "Don't be." Shiro replied evenly. The door slid open. A girl balancing a tray entered the room. She hummed sweetly as she approached the men, her eyes particularly fixed on Shiro. "Are you both finished?" Jiya eyed the girl and sighed. "No Omasu." She continued towards Shiro, much to the dismay of the old man. "Excuse me. I do believe we haven't met." Shiro gulped. "Are you adressing me?" The girl grinned. "Yes you." Jiya cleared his throat. "ahem, would you please excuse us Omasu. Shiro and I have important business to discuss." Omasu's eyes never left Shiro's. "Will you be staying very long." Shiro gulped again. "Hopefully." Omasu smiled a dazzling smile. "I hope so too--" "OMASU!" Jiya towered over the girl who began to scuttle away. When the door shut Shiro crumbled to the ground in relief. Jiya smiled... it was the perfect opportunity to lighten the mood. "She scares you ne?" Shiro nodded. "Don't let her frighten you... she attacks everything wearing pants. She's a good girl though." Shiro thought to himself. Jiya smiled. "Just how old are you?" "14 years Old." Jiya formed a mock frown. "She's a little too old for you." Shiro fumed. "Who said I wanted her!?!" Jiya laughed. "Maybe you can get together with Misao." Shiro calmed. "Misao?" Jiya nodded as he stroked his beard. "The girl you saw at the entrance. She just turned 11." Shiro crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Che... Who died and made you matchmaker? Besides, she's too young for me." Jiya chuckled. "Too young? Then you prefer Omasu." Shiro turned beet red. "Have you no consideration?! I've been traveling for days!" Jiya laughed heartily. "You're blushing. How cute." Shiro began to gather his belongings. Jiya stopped laughing. "Where are you going?" "I see I won't be able to stay here." Jiya cleared his throat. The boy was more sensitive than he thought. "Hey sit down. I was only joking." Shiro froze. Jiya continued. "It's alright. I won't give you too much trouble..." ********* About a month had passed. Jiya proved to be a demanding sensei; nonetheless, the two had developed an easy-going friendship. Today, Shiro had begun training intensely. It was almost nightfall and he had just been released from practice. Aching, sweating, and moaning, he headed straight towards the bath. It was then he heard the voice. "Shiro." He gulped. He turned around to see Omasu in a bathrobe. "N-nani?" He stuttered. "Where are you going?" "To take a bath." Omasu grabbed the front of his gi. "I was just heading towards the bath... I'm sure you'll let me go first." "But--" Omasu released the boy and smiled. "Thank you! You're so sweet." With that she ran towards the bath. Shiro muttered cuss words as he dusted his clothes. His muscles ached even more as he walked towards a nice patch of grass. "I'll get you for that Omasu..." He spoke as he collapsed on a clean patch of grass. Despite some friction, he was starting to get used to Omasu. He was no longer *afraid* of her, and he was beggining to let go of the feelings of hate he had for her. He did hate her at one point, but that was before he began to accept her ways. "Shiro?" Shiro turned towards the melodious voice. "Misao-chan!?" Misao smiled at him. "What are you doing here by yourself?" She began to walk towards him." "Well, I was *going* to take a bath, but that darned Omasu!" Misao plopped down besides him as he continued to fume. "She should be glad she's a girl, or else--" Misao cut him off. "What's that supposed to mean?" Shiro lost his train of thought. "What?" "You think you can beat Omasu? She's been training since she was 7." Misao's hands counted 7. Shiro's eyes widened. "Really. She doesn't seem like she's a fighter." Misao smiled. "She flirts so much." Shiro rolled his eyes. "You can say that again." Misao laughed. Shiro laughed as well. This was why he like Misao. He could feel completely at ease around her. He could be himself knowing he wouldn't be judged. They began to gaze at the stars. "But, Why don't you like her?" "Eh?" Shiro lazily inquired. "Omasu. She sure likes you a lot." Shiro turned to Misao. "Like Jiya says, she just wants me for my pants." Misao scratched her head. "What's so specail about your pants?" Shiro sweatdropped. "You don't get it do you." Misao nodded. "Do you know who has nice pants?" Shiro decided to entertain her. "Who?" "Aoshi-sama." Misao's eyes became starry. "He's your okashira?" Misao nodded. "He's an amzing person. I believe in Aoshi-sama." Shiro's eyes then darkened. "You shouldn't trust him like that." Misao listened. "It's dangerous. Your okashira is still a person. Never forget that. An Okashira is just a person. If you trust them too much, they'll just disappoint you." Misao continued to listen in shock. "I used to feel the same way when I was younger. But I don't trust anyone anymore, much less someone who puts on airs and pretends to lead people." Misao shook her head. "Aoshi-sama's not like that! He doesn't put on air or pretend. He can make miracles happen." Shiro reponded calmly. "So why isn't he here? He's a coward, just like my okashira." Misao shook her head. "He's not a coward. I'll find him. I'll find him and i'll prove you wrong." Shiro smiled. "Well if you can Misao-chan, go find him. And I promise I will prove you wrong first." Misao grinned devilishly. "Is that a bet?" Shiro grinned as well. "You're on, Misao-chan." Misao clutched his arm. "If I win, will you buy me some kunai?" Shiro smiled. "I'll buy you 10 kunai if you win." ********* That was 7 seven years ago. Those were words from 7 years ago. 7 summers passed leaving trails of memory, loss, and love. Shiro wondered why he still remebered that day. He walked past that very patch of grass. When he thought about it, he really had won that bet. But Then again, Misao also won in her own way... He froze in front of the shin-Aoiya. He watched the door in horror. A headless pigeon dangled by it's feet. A message was neatly attached to its left leg. He carefully untied the bird and slowly opened the note. The Kanji was written in pigeon's blood. Shiro's eyes widened. DISBAND. ~to be started~ ____________________________________________________________________________ NOTES: 1. Okay, I think I have the stage set.This has a glimpse of Shiro's background and his relationship to the Oniwaa Banshuu and Misao. It's just a draft... 2. Here Are the ages: Actual RK: Shiro: ? Misao: 16 Aoshi: 24 The Beggining of this chapter: Shiro: 14 Misao: 11 Aoshi: 20 By the End of this chapter & age for the rest of the fic" Shiro: 23 Misao: 18 Aoshi: 27 3. Who's the young flirtatious onmitsu? Okon or Omasu?? I just put the name Omasu but I meant the younger one. ^.^;; 4. The pigeon thing is bizarre, but I had to make it look like a threat. 5. I started part 1- b l a z e... this fic is gonna hopefully write itself. I'll see you all now!! *Courtney-chan* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Oh cruel fate! Release me from this tainted orb!" -Weird Al ------------------------------ "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most..." -Jim Morrison --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Choose from a wide selection of high-quality newsletters at ONElist. For details on ONElist's PROS&PUNDITS newsletters, click below. Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------