Of Roses, Scent And Rain

STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLY: I ABSOLUTELY DON'T own any of the characters from Ruruni Kenshin. And I DON'T make money out of this. This is for entertainment purposes only.



Author's Note:

Oh yeah. I'll paste the rest after things get wider. Thanks for the review, sonia. I promise you that I will update the next chapter (the 15th) and this story will end soon....very soon.....i hope.







Chapter 2





Ten years had past since the tragic night, silence still swept

over Aoiya. No news was reported on the incident. Oniwabanshuu kept

it out to the public eyes and ears. They vowed to seek justice

without any help from the authorities, even to the highest officials

of the previous government whom they served well. Since then, they

never worked for the following government. Their loyalties were only

for the previous – Tokugawa administration.



Okina was still in bed, too impassive to the real world. The severe

hit on his head left the mark of loss memories and disability, now

battling on physical, mental emotemotional distress. His mind was

crushed on knowing that he failed on carrying the last mission that

the Okashira commanded him to do, to save his family – especially

Misao. He let her die from those wicked hands of Shishio without a

good fight. He let bod body and soul continue to deteriorate as

time passes by. Aoshi sees that everyday he wakes. But what can he

do? What should he do to ease his pain? He, too, had his own misery

going onto his mind, in his heart, in his soul. His duty was to

protect and serve Oniwanbanshuu and yet he disregarded his task at

their time of need. Everyday, he struggles with Okina for Kami-sama

knows why. He had to take nge.nge. Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!



"I'll be goinw. Sw. See you this afternoon." Aoshi also

drew no emotion. His feelings were kept hidden since that dreadful

night. It was his own way of punishing himself. He deeply blames

himself for the outcome of his arrogance and lack of

responsibility. For him, showing emotions would make him less

efficient, less worth of being the new Okashira of Oniwabanshuu. He

considered it as a weakness, a hindrance to be an effective leader.

Yes, he became the okashira not because of owing to himself as one,

instead, the old Okashira long before proclaimed to him and the

others that he will be the next Okashira of the group if he retires

or departs from this world. He'll gladly bestow his power upon him,

his chosen successor; Oniwanbanshuu's next `respected' Okashira.



Okina didn't budge. He's stin ben bed laying, looking right

up to the ceilings. The symphony of the wind chime helps lessen the

tension in the room, both men's mind.



Aoshi commanded one of his subordinates to look after Okina,

as he does always.



"Hai, Okashira!" Shirojou replied.



He walked through the gate and closed it. He is now on his way to

his work.



*******



"Kokoro-chan! Matte!" A lovely demure woman stepped-out from

the restaurant to call someone.



"Nani?!" Kokoro stopped running through the neighborhood

roofs and replied.



"You forgot to bring your lunch!" She held her lunchbox up

in the air. ", so as your uniform in martial arts training!"



"Naruhodo. Gomen, Omasu-chan. It's just that I'm late again.

I tend to forget things when I'm in a hurry. Gomen." Kokoro went to

Omasu and fetch them.



"Mada desu." Omasu tries ixedixed Kokoro's collar and

necktie. "You are a beautiful young lady, Kokoro. You have to act

like one or else, boys won't get notice you."



"Chigau! What for?! Anyway, I'm late so can you just excuse

me, I have to go. Mata ne!" She leaped to the neighborhood roofs

again. Some closest friends around the neighborhood bid her good

morning with their smiling faces. Everyone likes her because of her

sweet teen-spirit and super energetic, including extreme annoying.



Kokoro is a sweet boyish high school girl never waits to

discover new things in life. She seems to enjoy much of her freedom

as the youngest from the three girls in the family. Okon is the eldest

and Omasu came second. Both work and manage their own family

cybercafe. Okon is believed to be the wisest and most responsible of

them all – more motherly figured while Omasu came to be the most

elegant and protective of the three and a good cook too. The two

sisters are much of a womanly intent while Kokoro likes to be their

exact opposite. She likes to be different – and she really is.



10 minutes before the school clock's ticks – first ring for

the first subject of the class. Kokoro was fast nearing to the goal

when suddenly; saw a tall good-looking man, walking across the

street going to her school's gate. She slipped oe ofe of the bricks

of the wall of the neighboring building of the school. She landed on

the ground half-hurt.



"Kuso! I hate that wall!" as she massages her behind. "Who

is that guy anyway? Oh well…." She ran quickly inside the yard and

passed the tall guy. She looked back at him briefly and projected a

sweet smile, bidding him a good welcome from this school – her

domain. But the man didn't respond.



knowing who she just collided with.



"That hurts! You listen hear, you stupid freak! I had a

rough day now so could you pls. scatter yourself to elsewhe…

where….Ohayo! Hiko-San. Gomen Nasai!" She looked to her watch. ",

Darn, I'm late! See ya!" She stood and rushed-out of the messy

scene, very infuriated. She seldom apologizes to people, whether she

som something bad or whatever. Kokoro never apologizes. But her

school principal covers another case. He holds her future here. She

had already committed many disastrous and bothersome problems both

in here academic and social life in school. She probably wants to

live freely in this world – no much bearings in life and in heart.

That's why she doesn't enter muc much of her pitiful suitors. As she

ran through the corridors to the lockers, she instantly thought of

the guy she met a while ago, thinking if he saw her shameful act.

She shivered, thinking of why she should be bothered on such

worthless thoughts. She's late and that's a fact. She changed her

shoes then bam! – rushes to her classroom.



"One of your favorite students?" The tall man asked as he

approached Hiko-San.



"Perhaps. She's very interesting and talented person yet

very troublesome. She needs to be guided especially now that she

represents the school for the upcoming single martial arts

competition." Hiko-San sighed.



"Her name?"



"Shiawase, Kokoro, 1st year high school student. Better to

discuss things further in my office." Hiko-san walked inside as the

other man nodded and followed him.



*******



"What kept you so long, Kokoro-san?" One of Kokoro's

classmates asked her, worrying of the additional tardiness she might

adjoin to their teacher's list.



After she closed the door behind her, Kokoro fell on the

floor soundly. She took her moments at hand, catching every breath –

every air needed for her to take in.



"Good! I'm saved! Haha!" She slowly stood up and greeted her

classmates. She went to her seat very gladly. Her teacher always

scolded her when she comes late. All teachers do and some really

punishes her.



Kokoro has a best friend, sitting next to her. They were

been since grade school. Her friend's name is Kamiya Kaoru, comes

from one of the rich families in Edo. Both didn't bother on that

reality – as long as their friendship is solid.



"There is a rumor running in our campus that we will have a

new sensei, a good-looking one." Kaoru said.



"Oh really. Fine, as long as he doesn't messes with my happy

life. Heck."



"And he will be your sensei in your upcoming training." She

joyfully teased.



"Nani?!!!!" Kokoro stood up, shocked to the news Kaoru

reported. All of her classmates were frightened to her immediate

reactions. "What will happen to my other sensei; Sensei Reijuta?"



"Don't know. Perhaps the new teacher will provide you more

interesting stuffs to learn than sensei Reijuta did. Better ask the

principal." Kaoru smirked.



The class teacher finally arrived and was very glad that no

one was late. She perceived Kokoro's and raised an eyebrow. Kokoro

didn't react but instead, kept on thinking why did the principal

change her trainer – at what valid reasons.



*******



"Class dismissed!" The class teacher had pronounced the best

part of schooling, the long-awaited dismissal of the class. Most

already left. Few were subjected to clean each designated rooms,

Kokoro was one of them.



A girl student from class B was requested to call Kokoro

from her classroom, at what expense or fault, she didn't had any

clue or thought to think of. Her classmates seemed not to be very

surprised to the present ordeal, they were used to it. It's part of

Kokoro's daily life routine. Her day isn't complete without any call

from the principal's office.



"Hai! Coming." Kokoro brushed her bangs away from her face.



She followed her, mumbling. She raised her hand in the air,

stretching to loosen some grip from the work she left awhile ago.

When they finally arrive in the principal's office, the girl bid her

good luck for some unknown reasons. Kokoro startled even more.



"I don't remember anything that might make me in detaining

again?" Suddenly, she remembered the incident happened earlier this

morning with Hiko-San – the principal. "Blasted! Not that one!" she

shrieked.



"Come in Shiawase-chan." Kokoro was surprised as the manly

voice ordered her to enter the room. Still wondering.



The principal pointed her to take one of the comfortable

seats in his office. Kokoro tries to calm herself from all the

berating she's getting in her head then sat. Hiko-san faces the

window as he watch the sun gradually sets from the horizontal plains

of the town.



"How are your sisters, Shiawase-chan?"



"Fine." She is still wondering while looking at the trophies

won by the school from the past years of martial arts competition.



"I have news that might awfully surprise you, Kokoro-chan.

It's about your sensei Reijuta. He will be," As he explains the

inevitable occurrence, Kokoro suddenly spoke mindlessly.



"Yeah, yeah. I know about the `new sensei' thing. Walls

could hear, floors could tell. I have a new sensei right?" She

crossed her legs and gasped.



The principal didn't respond quickly. He, still, looks on

to the magnificent beauty of the sun setting from the sky. Fading

rays of the sun kept him a little bit pre-occupied.



"Ohayo Hiko-san! Are you listening?" Kokoro stood up and

went nearer to the trophy cabinet.



"You will meet your new sensei tomorrow, after class."



"Is he good enough to be my sensei?" She faced him though

only the back of his big chair are seen by her eyes.



"You will be the judge of that if that time comes. Go home

now. See you tomorrow." He prompted a low voice.



"You're right. I'll be the judge of that (Sighed)." She

turned around, walking to the door to exit the room.



"Kokoro-chan," He suddenly called her and turned his chair

around to face her.



"Nan da yo?" without facing him



"Don't be late."



Kokoro abruptly slipped a bit. She bid the principal a nice

farewell and went on her way.



*******



The sun continues to sets. Kaoru and Kokoro walked through

the busy streets of the city. They've gone to a bookstore to buy a

new book, a gift for her younger brother Yahiko.



"Finally I got the damn book. He will be very happy of

having this on one of his collections on science fiction." Kaoru

held the book near to her chest.



"Hai,hai. I'm very sure he will. You've chosen the best."

Kokoro looked at her best friend then giggled.



Both girls were pre-occupied at their topic when something

inevitable happened. Kokoro and a strange, slender man bumped at

each other accidentally. Kokoro was, again, slammed on the public

floor irritably. Same event, same day. Damn! People around them

didn't seem to notice the incident. The man who hit her also never

took notice. He continued to walk through, acting as nothing had

happened. Kokoro was very infuriated. She stood and cleaned herself

from the dust she got from the pavings. Kaoru helped her and tried

to calm her friend down.



"Hey you! Bastard! Are you blind or simply playing dumb?

Where did you put your brains, at home?! Kuso!" Kokoro fisted.



The man kept walkingndinnding no one but himself. The pissed

girl was about to strike him at his back when he suddenly

disappeared, out of the blue. She was very surprised and kept

looking for him, for the group of people passing by and to the

surrounding stores. She cursed again and went back to Kaoru's side.



"Damn. He's fast." Kokoro brushed her bangs off to her face

then stretched outward her slender body, still irritably.



"Forget it Ko. It. It's getting night soon. I have to

deliver this to mom before the party gets started. I don't want to

miss anything." Kaoru smiled.



"Okay. You made your point." Sighed



"Come on. It's getting late. Mom cooked everything for us."

She grabbed Kokoro's hand and pulled her to the streets. Kokoro

still minds the mysterious guy he got bumped to a while ago,

searching if he's still there.



Kokoro looked at her friend then smiled.



*******

A private dinner was held at the mansions of Kamiya family.

It is Yahiko's 13th birthday and the family invited only two guests,

Kokoro, Kaoru's best friend and Tsubame, Yahiko's secret love

interest. They had a great time on feasting and chattering on

matters everything under the sun.



"Domo arigatou gozaimasu, Mrs. Kamiya, for letting me share

with your bountiful feast with your whole family in your humble huge

abode. Happy birthday again Yahiko-chan." She winked to the young

lad.



"You are welcome Kokoro in our house every time. You're part

of our family, so goes with your sisters. Bring this." Mrs. Kamiya

handed her 2 medium-sized brown boxes, each wrapped in a sweet-

scented floral designed cloth. She kissed to her rosy chicks and

accompanied her to their front door with Kaoru and Yahiko.



"See you tomorrow Kaoru-chan. Pls. do tell your father that

I liked his baked chocolate cake."



"Hai. I'll accompany you outside." She moved from the huge

door, nearing to Kokoro's side but she was stopped.



"No! I can manage. Don't bother. I can take care of myself.

I know my way out in this huge property of yours." She scanned the

whole surroundings of the villa and sighed.



"Okay. You sure?"



"Yes. Arigato. I have to go now. Nice dining with you all."

She turned and ran off to the main gates guarded by the elite

security men hired by the masters of the mansion.



Kokoro had her way out of the villa then walked to the

streets of Edo. She shivered from the wind touched on her bare arms.

She walked impassively, passing through different people met on the

sidewalks. She kept on thinking on the eerie guy - a puzzle to be

solved only by her. The smell. She remembered his scent. It was a

quick occurrence yet she immediately recognized it. The scent. Funny

but it seems the cologne his wearing isn't typical for males. It's

some kind of an aroma of a woman's perfume. His scent kept her

wonder more of him. She looked up to the dark skies of the night,

perceiving more of the coming emblem of rain. A rain drop had fallen

to her forehead then another one to her pointy nose. She wiped it

with her right hand and searched for a momentary refuge. Some people

in the streets opened their own umbrellas, and some quickly ran

through the available shelters. Rain began to pour out from the

skies…..again.



"How am I supposed to go home without getting wet?" Kokoro

hugged her belongings to keep it safe from rain and sighed.



Suddenly, a man appeared to her sight. No umbrella or

whatsoever that would protect him from the harsh pouring. He walked

without minding the people from his surroundings. He wore a yellow

trench coat. His body was covered yet his head, his face…so

impassively, very susceptible to illnesses.



"I – I – It's him." Kokoro widened her vision as her eyes

followed him.









tbc