Chapter 86: Aoshi and Okina

Yahiko: Shinomori Aoshi is in Kyoto!

Kaoru: Shinomori ... you mean, the Oniwabanshuu Okashira?

Yahiko: I just caught sight of him in the crowd, but I know it was him!

(Misao seizes him by the scalp.)

Yahiko: Ow! What're you--

Misao: Is it true? You're not lying to me? Is Lord Aoshi really in Kyoto?

Yahiko (thinking): Lord ... Aoshi...

(He knocks her hand away and pulls out his shinai.)

Kaoru: Yahiko!

Yahiko: Get back, Kaoru! She's one of the Oniwabanshuu! (to Misao) What's the real reason you were sticking so close to Kenshin? Backup for Aoshi? Revenge for Hanya and them?

Misao: Backup ... revenge ... What's going on?

Yahiko: Quit playing innocent!

Kaoru (pushing them apart): The two of you just calm down. All right. I'll tell you.

Yahiko: Kaoru! (What're you thinking!)

Kaoru: Thanks to Misao, I found Kenshin again. Now it's my turn to help her. (to Misao) I never saw Shinomori Aoshi myself. I'm sure of alll the details, but I heard it secondhand. This may be painful for you to hear...

(In the Aoiya)

Omasu: Okina, Okina--

Okina: What? You don't have to shout, I can hear you.

Omasu: You have guests outside.

Okina: I haven't been feeling too well these past few days. If it's someone I don't know, just get rid of them for me.

Omasu: Are you sure? It's three young girls.

Okina: Idiot, why didn't you tell me sooner!

Omasu: They're friends of yours?

Okina (rushing off): No! Never saw 'em before in my life!

Omasu (thinking): Dirty old man.

(It's Yahiko's chow-chow girls.)

Girl: Um, someone asked us to deliver a letter here--

Okina (thinking): Boring. (aloud) Thank you. Who was it?

Girl: This really good looking guy.

Girl 2: He was kind of gloomy, though.

Girl 3: But cute.

(Okina flips the letter over and sees Aoshi's initials on the back.)

(Later. Amid the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, Okina sits out in an outdoor cafe.)

Okina: Roasted tea and rice cakes in oak leaves, please.

Waitress: Coming right up.

(Aoshi is waiting behind him.)

Okina: It's been a long time ... I should be using polite language to my Okashira, but since we're alone we can do away with the formalities.

Aoshi: Yes ... it will be easier to talk that way.

Okina: If you were in town why didn't you come to the Aoiya? Misao would have liked to see you.