From: Herald-Captain Kerowyn *CACKLES* Well I guess what I need to get over my writer's block besides time, was the worst flu bug this side of the equator *UGH* Anyway, here's the much anticipated full and complete 2 part of the Tempering. Much thanks to Tin for her help with certain portions at the start of this section, as well as to my Tin fanclub. ^_^ She has nagged me more for this fic than anyone else. It's nice to feel wanted. In case anyone has never read part 1, or simply cause it's been so long you can find it here: http://members.xoom.com/wmchichiri/ anyway on with the fic ^_^ Chapter 1: The Tempering Part 2: Home Again by: K. C. "Kaoru-Sensei" Hulsman (*Author’s Note: (special thanks to Tin for her help!) Quietly Okina tiptoed towards Misao1s room, a huge evil smirk gleaming on his face. Slowly, with all the skill he had acquired, he cracked Misao1s door open. His lips twitched as he saw her fast asleep, and slowly, ever so quietly, he cracked the door open just a little more. He reached behind him, fishing the collapsable stick he had hidden in his obi. He slowly extended it to its full length and attached something onto the end, as a fisher would hook his bait. The stick extended into her room, and he slowly drew the dangling bit along Misao. It trailed over her arms to her shoulder then face. Slowly, she began to toss a bit in her sleep, until finally with sleepy weary eyes she blinked and looked above her. "SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!" She scrambled quickly out of the way, kunai materializing in her hands and flung them towards ŒIT1 in one vast blur. Only as she leaned against the wall of her room panting heavily did she notice that the Œspider1 , or what remained of the now dismembered Œspider1, had been attached to a stick, which led to her door, and Okina. "OKINA!!!" With a cackle of pure delight, Okina dropped the stick and ran for his hide. Misao followed in hot pursuit, the others merely ducked out of the way of her kunai, rolling their eyes, wondering exactly what sort of prank the old man had pulled. "YES!" Misao shouted as one of her kunai finally pinned him to the wall. Taking advantage of that, Misao quickly threw the rest of her knives and, before long, Okina was thoroughly and pitifully pinned. "Jiiya! HOW COULD YOU?!" She complained plaintively. Her only response was a smirk. "Oh you think this is funny? I1ll give you funny!" She attacked him tickling him silly, and braiding his beard in ribbons as she laughed merrily. "Misao-chan!" yelled Okon from the other room, "breakfast!" Misao smirked at Jiiya, "Well Jiiya, looks like you1ll get to become one with the spider1s feelings. Enjoy sticking on the wall," and she calmly walked out of the room. A few minutes passedS "Misao! Get back here and unpin me! Misao?" Misao did return a few minutes later, but with a slew of young ladies from the neighborhood in tow. These ladies with smirks and nods of appreciation to Misao, began to exact vengeance upon that horny old man for past grievances. Misao chuckled evilly as she saw a piece of squid hit him square in the eye, noting that the room was already a mess with food and liquids, but it was well worth it. She stood with her back leaning against the frame of the door, lingering just inside the doorway, smirking at Okina. She laughed quite, quite evilly as he struggled vainly against his bonds and pleaded mercy from the ladies. "HEY! Weren1t you raised right?! You1re supposed to respect your elders!" "You an elder?" replied one of the women from down the street, "you1re nothing but a hormonally controlled immature runt!" Misao giggled again, especially at the surprised expression on Aoshi1s face at the interchange. It was good to be home, and it was good to give Okina a hard time. Afterall, without her around he had run rampant with no one to keep him in check. She had to right his wrongs somehow, right? Not to mention she thought that this revenge was quite, quite splendidly sweet. "MISAO! Get back in here and unpin me! MISAO!" * * * * * * * Misao and the other Oniwabanshuu managed (with great difficulty, because they could hardly breathe from the hilarity of it all), to finish their breakfast before Okina managed to pry himself loose. Okina owed his freedom to the food and various liquidy glops, (lubrication is a wonderful thing). Although, he did have to sacrifice his top. Okina was a bit miffed at being left on the wall, shocked at just how accurate her kunai were, and yet he was laughing and celebrating. It was good to have Misao home. Okina with a slish-slosh sticky wet slurping sound walked towards the bathhouse much in need of soap and water. It took him two hours to get all the food and gunk off, and to undo the braids and ribbons in his beard, but he could not stop laughing as he plotted his revenge. Eventually he was finally clean, and found some fresh clothes and quietly snuck out of the Aoiya unnoticed by everyone, except Aoshi, as he rubbed his hands together in merry glee anticipating the party the Aoiya would have that night. * * * * * * * Misao was slowly slipping her tea in sated bliss when Okon and Omasu stormed into the dining area. "MISAO!!!" They shouted in unison, handing her broom, mop, and bucket. "NA.. NANI?" Misao asked as sdhe tried not to choke on her tea. "It was your idea, you clean up the mess you caused!" "DatteS.anoS" Misao sighed in defeat, "hai." Sulkingly, she put her cup of tea down, picked up her weapons, and left to attack the mess, muttering about old men under her breath. * * * * * * * Hours later Misao was still knee deep in the cleaning, her hair was plastered to her head through a combination of sweat, soapy water, and remnants of the food fight. Her clothes were saturated and ruined by the pulpy, slimy mess. Aoshi watched her silently from the doorway for a few moments, finding her predicament endlessly amusing, and charming. He was surprised by the heart warming effect it had on him, how it endeared itself to him. He was honestly puzzled by the realization. "Here," he spoke quietly, taking the rag from her hand and using his other hand to steady her from the small of the back, so she would not fall. "I1ll work high if you take low?" "HAI!!!! Arigato Aoshi-sama!" She yelled to him in enthusiasm, relief, and gratitude. They worked in near silence for some time together. Misao was humming softly as she scrubbed away at the floors. Every once in a while there was a squeak of righteous indignation when some glop from the ceiling would fall on Misao1s head. The first time was purely an accident, but after that the frequency of accident decreased as the glop showers increased. Aoshi hiding behind his mask, murmuring soft apologies at Misao. Aoshi1s hand was twitching to throw the bucket on herS but somehow he refrained himself. His eyes twinkled with merriment, but only when Misao was not looking. I forgot how much fun it is to tease her. I haven1t done this since she was as tall as my knee. It is almost as if the intermittent years had never occurred when I look at her. I wishS No. Wishing never brings about anything but sadness and false hope. "Ne, Aoshi-samaSAOSHI-SAMA!" Aoshi blinked and looked at Misao. Misao smiled at him uneasily, "Um Aoshi-samaS there1s been something I1ve been meaning to talk to you about." Aoshi merely looked at her. Misao took a deep breath and continued "I need to know how you feel in regards to being the Okashira, in regards to the Oniwabanshuu. We1ve never discussed it before but-" "I understand Misao. I no longer consider myself the Okashira. I denounced those rights when I set Shishio and his men against the Aoiya. Nor do I have any desire to be the Okashira again. A leader must be able to command loyalty from those who serve them. I betrayed that trust in my own disillusionment. I think you befit the current Oniwabanshuu. You are the right leader for these more peaceful times. Although I have my misgivings about it, I don1t want to see you end up walking down the path I went down. However, those fears have been quieted with your return. You returned competent in skill, yet still true to yourself. In order to lead others you must be able to lead your own self." Misao blinked, amazed at just how much he said. "Aoshi-samaS arigato" she whispered, a slow blush creeping over her face at his words. Aoshi spoke softly "there is no need for you to address me with sama anymore, I think –san will suffice." "Iie.. you1ll always be Aoshi-sama to me, because of how much I respect you. You taught me so much." Aoshi looked at her in disbelief, feeling a painful tugging on his heart. Kami-sama help me, I1m so unworthy to have this one as a friend. "Aoshi-sama? What about the Oniwabanshuu, do you still consider yourself one?" Aoshi looked critically at the food particles on the ceiling before speaking in a soft voice, "I do not know who I am anymore. I am not able to pass judgment on that one. However, I do know that I have no desire to actively participate as a member of such at this time. It would be wrong of me to be a active member when I am not fully dedicated to it at this time." Misao went over and placed her hand on his shoulder while facing him, "Aoshi-sama, is Aoshi-sama. No more. No less. The Oniwabanshuu are your family irregardless of how you feel. You are always one, and I shall keep your place warm until ifS when you decide to return. Just remember we are all here for you, and each other." Misao smiled up at Aoshi, and to lighten the mood, dumped the bucket of soapy water on him. "Consider that payback for all the food in my hair!" Aoshi blinked, and nonchalantly wiped some of the excess water from his face. "OhS then you realized it wasn1t all accidents?" "Of course! I recognize it when you or Okina are up to no good! I was just trying to take you by surprise by feigning ignorance. It worked too." Misao smirked at him and stuck out her tongue. "Come on let's get back to work, at least while I1m scrubbing I can't worry too much over what Okina has in store in the way of a celebration tonite." "I think I1ll go meditate tonite." "Don1t you even think about it. Or we'll bring the party to your mediations." "..." YES! That was easier than I thought, looks like the only obstacles to my future plans for the Oniwabnashuu will come up when I tell everyone. Hmm when should I summon the meeting. When... * * * * * * * The End of Part 2 To be continued === Wind to thy wings, Herald-Captain Kerowyn "Why does everything come back to haunt me in my head?" http://members.xoom.com/wmchichiri/ --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Enter ONElist's Friends & Family Program WIN $100 to Amazon.com! Through Sept. 17. To enter, click here Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------