How Okina Broke his Hand

Submitted by K. Johnson

*Rurouni Kenshin and its characters belong to Watsuki-sama, not to the author. This story takes place after the Kyoto Arc*

“What a nice day.” Okina sighed to himself, walking out from his room in the back of the Aoiya to the public-access restaurant.

It was early June and the weather was absolutely perfect …perfect for spying out new girls that is. Stealthily, Okina’s eyes darted across the room to make sure that Aoshi wasn’t around. His eyes scanned to his left, spying a very pretty girl sipping a cup of tea with whom he assumed to be her boyfriend…Okina paid no attention to the man but took in the full sight of the woman before him. Behind him Okona and Omasu just shook their heads. She was a beauty with bright red lips and sleek black hair that matched her fiery eyes. Okina’s eyes moved down her slender neck…Okina harrumphed. Right at the neckline was a horrific doctor’s apron that hardly did her figure justice. Then he noticed the man beside her. He was very loud and obnoxious, making jokes that he only laughed at. The young woman looked very annoyed and bored. She rested her head on her hand, looking out the window.

“How long before he gets tired of being an idiot?” Megumi thought to herself, looking off into the distance at the bustling Kyoto atmosphere that surrounded her.

She saw a few merchants in the street trying to sell their wares, she saw children playing, and worst of all, she saw other couples. Other happy couples. With a sigh, she watched as a woman looked longingly at a kimono. Knowing she wouldn’t buy it, the woman walked away from it hanging her head. Suddenly a man came up and seeing that the woman wanted it, purchased it for her. The woman thanked him and they walked off arm in arm. Megumi looked longingly at her company. He would never even consider doing something like that. His name was Masato Ichimura, a prominent doctor formerly from Tokyo. Years ago, when Megumi had first taken up the profession as a doctor, Masato had been her partner. They had been best friends then. Then when Megumi had gone to work for Kannryu, they’d lost contact. Years went by and they hadn’t spoken. Then suddenly, Masato had sent a letter to Megumi to meet him in Kyoto on a date. He obviously still had feelings for her. Megumi despised who he’d become. Megumi smiled as a waitress approached their table, offering them more tea. Now things were looking up. She could offer to pay the tab and then they could go their separate ways…but things didn’t happen that way. Masato threw his arm around Megumi’s shoulders and laughed.

“No way! We’ll have some sake now! Isn’t that right Megumi?” Masato asked, his eyes begging for her to go along with him.

Megumi nodded reluctantly, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

“Ah so that’s her name. Megumi…” Okina said to himself, watching her take a small sip of sake.

He didn’t notice someone was behind him.

“Looking over the customers is not a wise decision, Okina.” A calm voice interrupted the old man’s thoughts.

Okina’s jaw dropped.

“Uh…Aoshi! Good…good afternoon to you…I’m not looking at that really pretty girl over there honest. It’s just a coincidence I was facing this way when you came up behind me. What I mean is…well there’s a fascinating story behind this really…”

But Aoshi had tuned out Okina’s rambling and decided to see who Okina was looking at…she was no doubt Megumi Takani…Kannryu’s former prisoner. The Oniwaban leader felt his heart become heavy with regret for what he’d done…

“…And that’s what happened. So you see, it all makes perfect sense and…”

“Yes. I believe you Okina. Try and avoid another of this sort of…coincident.” Aoshi muttered coldly, walking away from Okina.

Aoshi thought upon Megumi, how much she’d wanted to cry, how frequently she thought of suicide…it almost reminded him of how he’d felt after the Kannryu incident. Even Shishio had deemed his soul a lost cause.

Suddenly… “Aoshi-sama!!! Aoshi-sama I’m so happy you’re awake! You slept in so long yesterday you missed lunch! But today we can have lunch together! Can we Aoshi-sama? Can we?” Misao’s joyful voice penetrated the Oniwaban leader’s sadness and he smiled.

At least someone cared about him. But Misao’s call had reached the ears of others than her beloved Aoshi-sama. Megumi suddenly looked up from her cup of sake. She knew that name. But could it be the same Aoshi? Her face turned pale. That hair…those eyes…it was the very same Aoshi that had kidnapped her for Kannryu. What was he doing here?

“Whoa. What’s wrong Megumi? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.” Masato asked, actually concerned about her.

Megumi turned to him, her eyes filled with fear.

“His name is Aoshi Shinomori and…we have very bad history together. We have to go. We have to go right now!” Megumi insisted.

“Hmm…Aoshi Shinomori is it? Well, I’ll just have to make sure that he doesn’t bug you. We’re not leaving.” Masato retorted, crossing his arms in frustration.

“Well…I am. Whether you come with me or not.” Megumi got up from the table and started towards the door.

Masato wasn’t about to let her go. He grabbed her by the arm roughly and pulled her back.

“No, you’re not going anywhere without me, understand?” Masato said angrily.

Misao looked over at the struggle, puzzled at what was going on. Megumi looked to be afraid. Aoshi and Okina noticed the situation as well.

“That man…he should pay for being so inconsiderate to her!” Okina said courageously, popping his knuckles, about ready to fight with Masato.

“Should I launch a kunai at him?” Misao asked.

Aoshi shook his head.

“Leave this to me.”

Okina crossed his arms angrily.

“Sure leave it to him. Just because he’s in a little better shape than I am doesn’t mean he should get any more chances with the ladies.” he grumbled as Aoshi slowly walked forward.

Aoshi’s eyes were cold and emotionless as he slowly approached Megumi and Masato. The Aoiya silenced as Aoshi pulled out his kodachis, letting their sheaths fall to the ground. Masato instantly let go of Megumi and backed away from Aoshi and his weapons.

“Thank you for letting go of the girl. That’s definitely progress for an insolent man such as yourself.”

Masato gasped.

“What…what did you just say to me? Our relationship is none of your business!” Masato growled as Megumi walked away from him.

“Actually, when you are disrupting our other customers, it is most certainly my business.” Aoshi spouted off, not even giving a second thought to his remark.

Some of the other customers were now very interested into why Aoshi was involved in this situation and laughed at his bold statement. Masato’s eyes darted around nervously. He felt intimidated by all the people laughing-mocking him and his ways. He could no longer tolerate the insults any longer. Masato angrily looked around and then stormed off, leaving Megumi behind. A few customers in the Aoiya cheered and clapped. Aoshi just nodded modestly. Megumi was surprised. Why would he do such a thing for her? Misao walked over to Aoshi, clinging to his arm, laughing.

“Wow Aoshi-sama you really showed him! I thought I was gonna have to go help you fight him! I’m just glad you’re ok Aoshi-sama!”

“…” Aoshi sweat-dropped as Misao jumped up and hugged him around the waist.

Suddenly, Misao let Aoshi go…as Megumi approached the Oniwaban leader. Misao was puzzled. Aoshi and Megumi seemed to know each other. So she decided to ask about it. She tugged on Aoshi’s sleeve.

“Hey…Aoshi-sama…do you guys uh…know each other?” she inquired, turning her gaze rapidly from Megumi to Aoshi and back again.

“Megumi is…a doctor. She’s…” Aoshi started.

What was he supposed to say to Misao? That he kidnapped Megumi? Knowing that her leader was a kidnapper would break the ninja’s heart. He didn’t know what to say…but Megumi did.

“Your master is an old friend.” She said with a warm smile, looking up at Aoshi.

He froze. A friend?

“And if you would let me, I’d like to speak with him.” Megumi requested.

Is she trying to steal my Aoshi-sama? Misao thought to herself angrily.

“Fine. If he lets you. But only for a little bit, k?” She snapped resentfully.

Aoshi smiled.

“Yes. I would like to speak with you for a moment Megumi.”

Aoshi sat down with Megumi at a table and asked Misao and Okina to leave him alone for awhile. Misao and Okina both weren’t happy with it.

“Why does she get all Aoshi-sama’s attention? You don’t think…you don’t think that she’s…an old girlfriend of his do ya?” Misao asked Okina, worriedly.

“Hmm…I don’t know. But Megumi’s a doctor…I wonder how I can get her attention…” Suddenly an idea struck him…

“Misao…I’m going to need your help.” Okina requested, his eyes shining with contentment at his brilliant plan.

*Meanwhile in the restaurant*

“So…just who was that man you were with?” Aoshi asked, breaking the silence that had followed immediately after they had sat down together.

“Oh I don’t really want to talk about him. I thought I knew him but,” and she shook her head, “I really didn’t.”

Aoshi shook his head slightly.

“Aoshi…why did you help me back there?” Megumi inquired, needing an answer.

Aoshi didn’t answer right away.

“Aoshi tell me! Is it because you want to recapture me and you’re trying to get close to me? Is that it? Or are you plotting something else?”

Megumi assumed the worst and Aoshi felt bad about being thought of in such a way.

Yet he still kept silent. Megumi, seeing she was being ignored, got up from the table and turned her back on him.

“Well then I guess I have no time to talk to you if I’m just going to be ignored.” Megumi muttered angrily, leaving Aoshi alone at the table.

Aoshi held up a hand for her to come back but her back was turned so she didn’t see him. He felt awful. If Megumi left before he had a chance to apologize, he would forever have the guilt of being a kidnapper on his conscience. But she was out the door before he could tell her. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of fighting coming from outside the Aoiya. Picking up his kodachis, he quickly rushed out the door.

“That’ll teach you to listen to me next time I teach you a fighting technique! You have to learn from me-the master of all Oniwaban techniques!” Okina bragged, trying to make his voice sound commanding and manly.

Aoshi’s eye twitched in irritation. Misao and Okina were fighting? Right here and now? Then he realized that Megumi had stayed behind to watch the battle. The cause was not lost after all. He could still speak with Megumi.

“Take that Gramps!” Misao yelled throwing Okina a punch to the stomach.

“Hey!” Okina shouted and ran after her with his nunchukus.

When he was in close enough distance he whispered sharply to the young ninja: “Lighten up on the insults alright?! You’ll make me seem older to Megumi!”

Misao just pretended he hadn’t said anything and decided that the fight had lasted long enough. With a yell, she dealt Okina a flying kick and he fell to the ground…falling on top of his hand.

“Ow!!! My hand! I think it’s broken or sprained or something!!!” Okina whined, holding his right hand in his left, cradling it gently.

The crowd who had been watching the exciting fight dispersed, some upset with the results. But Megumi was more concerned with helping the injured Okina. She approached him and held out her hand.

“May I see your hand?” Megumi asked, and Okina happily gave her his hand to examine.

“Hmm…I can’t really see anything wrong with it…” she said, looking from his palm to the back of his hand.

Aoshi watched this and knew he had to talk to Megumi immediately. He approached them and stood behind Megumi, seemingly concerned with Okina’s condition. Okina scowled. Oh no here he comes again to steal Megumi from me. Maybe she’s not worth all this extra effort. There’s always Okona and Omasu…And just as the thought crossed his mind…

“We heard fighting outside and…Okina!” Okona ran over to him, followed closely by Omasu.

“Are you ok Okina? What happened?” Omasu asked, checking to see if he had any injuries.

Megumi left Okina in the care of the girls, not believing that Okina’s hand was broken at all, and started walking away. Suddenly she stopped. Aoshi stood right before her.

“So…how is he?” Aoshi asked.

“Well do you want to know what I know…or what he wants you to think?” Megumi said with a laugh.

Aoshi smiled at her and laughed slightly as well.

“So his hand’s uh…pretty badly damaged huh?” Aoshi played along, making sure Okina could hear him.

“Yes and such damage…” Megumi started then looked up into Aoshi’s eyes.

They were full of sadness. She suddenly understood him. Aoshi was not an evil kidnapper. He had many emotions, most of which he kept bottled up. There was so much he probably had on his mind. Megumi felt sorry for him and kindly took his hand. Aoshi looked down at her, still upset , but somehow he felt a little better.

“Such damage takes a long time to heal.” she murmured gently, looking deep into his ice blue eyes.

Aoshi nodded. They finally understood each other. He lightly moved closer to her, and they embraced. Sweetly he spoke into her ear.

“But it does not mean…that the healing can not begin immediately.”