Chapter 10
Sanosuke and Yahiko travelled in companiable silence along the dark, overgrown path for several minutes. After a while, the silence became ominous and a blanket of darkness and danger seemed to wrap itself around them, slowly suffocating them. The two companions shuffled along uncomfortably, always on the lookout for possible attackers hidden within the labyrinth of mist and wild forest. Yahiko coughed abruptly, breaking the silence, pushing away the blanket, indicating his need to say something. Sanosuke inclined his head slightly in response. Seeing this as an affirmation that he was allowed to speak, Yahiko asked worriedly, "Sano.. do you think Kaoru-san is okay?"
Sanosuke remained silent for a moment, allowing the question to sink in. Finally, he answered softly, "Of course, silly...Jo-chan is fine..." You better be okay, Kaoru...baka...Kenshin needs you... "...She's strong, Yahiko..." Then brightening up, he added, "Knowing Jo-chan, she'll scare away her kidnappers with her cooking.."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Yahiko's mouth. "You should talk! You're the one that keeps coming back to the dojo for free meals!"
Sano grinned mischievously. "I don't go back just for Kaoru's meals. I go back because the only time I can get free food at the Akabeko is when I go with you guys..then I can sneak out more easily because you guys always create a great distraction some way or another. I eat Kaoru's meals so that I can sustain my strength until the next time you guys go to the Akabeko!"
Yahiko's eyes bugged out, and his face became a bright shade of scarlet.
"So you'eve been using us all this time, eh Sano? The truth reveals itself, and now you will pay! I will destroy you with the Yahiko Special Technique- Myoujin Kasshin Ryu!!!!" Yahiko raised his shinai high above his head, then brought it smashing down repeatedly against Sanosuke's chest, wildly, but with amazing power behind impact. Sano raised an arm to fend off the blows and raised an eyebrow curiously. What the hell..... where'd he learn that?..It doesn't look like something Kenshin or Kaoru taught him.... A hit suddenly exploded with power, and Yahiko's shinai jabbed Sano right smack in the chest. Sano yelped in surprise and sprinted off down the path with Yahiko chasing closely behind, shinai waving wildly in the air while yelling, "You will pay for your crime! I will defend Kamiya Kasshin School from wasteful, scheming evil-doers like you with my special technique, YAAAHHHH!"
Sanosuke looked back and grinned at Yahiko. "Ha! Let's see if you can catch me first, Yahiko-..CHAN!!!"
Yahiko's face-color shifted from cherry red to grape purple. "DON'T CALL ME -CHAN, ROOSTER-HEAD!!"
Sanosuke stopped and turned around, a lazy smile on his face. "Yahiko-CHAN, Yahiko-CHAN, Yahiko-CHAN!!"
"YYEEEAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Yahiko raised his shinai and prepared to smack Sanosuke across the head with it.
Suddenly, Sanosuke's face grew serious and he put a hand up to silence Yahiko. The boy opened his mouth to protest, but Sanosuke gave him a dark look and motioned for him to put his shinai down slowly. A rustling sound broke through the silence, and immediately, the two companions spotted the area from which the sound was coming. Slowly, Sanosuke crouched into a fighting stance and curled his fist together, ready to fight the enemy. The tree branches parted, and both Sano and Yahiko gasped at the sight.
"Me..Megumi?! What are you doing here? How'd.you..when'd you....find us?"
The young doctor smiled weakly, her face a sickening shade of gray. "Sano, I was in Kaoru's room, and I was studying the air..an experiment for a new medicine I was working on..and I found something out....she's......I came to warn..you..Watch...Watch out for...OOoohhh."
Megumi began coughing violently, and Yahiko's eyes widened at the sight of blood seeping out between her lips. The girl fell to her knees and shuddered spasmodically. Sanosuke rushed forward and supported Megumi with a hand.
"Sano....Kaoru...watch out..for....oh....Kenshin...he'll be..." Megumi started crying then, soft, painful sobs shaking her entire body. Sanosuke brought her in closer to his body- hoping that his presence my soothe her, and gasped. Megumi's back was lined with bloody scratches and cuts, some slicing all the way down to the bone. Sano gripped Megumi lightly and pushed her body back slightly. "Megumi..what happened?"
Yahiko stood there, staring horrified at Megumi, so weak and so small in Sanosuke's arms. His eyes widened even more at the sight of her tears, tinted red with blood. What happened to her.....what is she telling us to watch out for..?
Now Megumi was opening her mouth, trying to speak, but only blood came out, and she coughed some more. Finally, she whispered,
"No time...watch out for Ka...."
Megumi stopped abruptly and stared up at Sano, tears streaking down her face. "Sano," she choked softly, "....don't...die.....I love......you." Megumi's eyes clouded over, and she fell limply into Sano's arms. Sanosuke stared at her body for a second and then placed it softly on the ground. He stood up slowly and clenched his fists in anger. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! MEGGGGUUUUMMMIIIIII!!!!!!!!!" He balled his fists up tightly and tore at the trees, breaking them to pieces with his bare fists. "I WILL DESTROY WHOEVER DID THIS!!!!!!"
Yahiko watched his friend's mad frenzy and wrapped his arms tightly around himself, frightened by what he had seen. I don't understand..How did Megumi know where we were? Where'd those scratches come from? What was she talking about? Yahiko shook his head. He couldn't understand anything of what had just happened except that Megumi had come, warned them, and died. It just didn't make sense.
Sanosuke's angry bout had ended, and Yahiko looked up in surprise to see Sanosuke bent over Megumi's body, crying softly. He was stroking her face tenderly and weeping. He really cared about her....despite all their arguments, he really cared. I've never seen Sano cry before...
Finally, Sanosuke stood up. "Yahiko," he said softly. "Let's go find Kaoru...I want to kill the bastards that did this.... I know this has something to do with the people who kidnapped her. I'll tear out their hearts with my bear hands...They'll suffer for this.."
Yahiko stared at Sano for a moment and nodded softly. "Okay...let's go find Kaoru.." and the two friends set off once again down the dark path of fate, no longer in the teasing, jolly mood of before, as the cool wind whistled around a young woman's body amidst the thick underbrush of the forest to Demon City....
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Kaoru watched as the other Stars trained- Yuugure sparred viciously with Tora, their swords flashing in the bit of sunlight that filtered through the trees, and Ralon fought the wind. Kaoru searched for Hebi, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. Kaoru studied Ralon closely then, fascinated by her movements- her power. The older woman's eyes were shut tightly in concentration, and she leaped up while punching with her fists and kicking at the same time, creating a small air current around her. She landed quickly, but flew up again, this time twisting around, giving a double punch, then falling, somersaulting briefly, and flying upward again- like poetry in motion. Kaoru wondered at the woman's agility and speed- everything was done quickly, and with amazing liquidity- even a fight could be beautiful...
"Kaoru-dono.." Kaoru tore her gaze away from Ralon to see Yuugure beckoning to her. Tora stood aside, watching her icily.
"...Yuugure?"
"Come spar with us.... I want to see how good you are with the katana."
Kaoru opened her mouth in protest, "...but I don't have a katana with me..."
Yuugure smiled and tossed her his sword. "Here, use mine.... I'll watch you fight with Tora."
Kaoru looked down at Yuugure's sword. it's blade glittered in the sunlight.
"...um..okay...."
Tora shrugged and brought his sword up into position, his eyes dangerously bright. "..we'll see how good you are little girl... You don't want me to do the same to you that I did to Hebi, do you?....."
Kaoru remembered the scarlet droplets streaming down Hebi's arm and shuddered. "Shutup...and fight...I'm...I'm not like Hebi."
Tora chuckled softly and leaped, seeming to disappear in thin air.
Kaoru narrowed her eyes and gripped the sword tightly. Concentrate Kaoru...there! Kaoru spun around and blocked right as Tora's sword came slicing down at her face. He lifted an eyebrow in surprise.
"Impressive,...I underestimated you." Tora looked her up and down and smiled coldly.
"..but is that all you can do?" He disappeared again, but this time, Kaoru was too stunned to concentrate. Tora reappeared behind her and sliced the ribbon holding her hair. Kaoru gasped as her hair fell to her shoulders. He smiled again and said softly, "Next time..it'll be your kimono....."
Kaoru glared at him angrily and spun around swiftly, preparing to strike him with her sword. Tora spun with her and caught her hand, She roughly tried to break free, but he reached behind her and pulled her body toward him.
"Why you..." Tora smiled slightly and covered Kaoru's mouth with a finger,..then he kissed her.
End of Chapter 10