Chapter 8
Kenshin and Company walked silently through the dark forests of inner Demon City. Although it was daytime no light could be seen in the area. A sharp cracking sound brought the trio to attention, and all three rescuers crouched in battle staces- Kenshin with his sakaba sword drawn, Sanosuke with his fists clenched, and Yahiko with his shinai held tightly in his hands. The three sighed in relief as a black crow flew down and squacked at them. Kenshin drew his sword and frowned deeply.
"We should have reached Akuma Inn by now….."
Yahiko looked at Kenshin worriedly.
"Kenshin.. do you think we’re lost? I mean, this part of town has changed quite a bit since the days of the Bakumatsu….now everything’s overgrown with plants and rotting away. It’d be easy for us to get lost."
Sanosuke nodded and slapped Kenshin across the back.
"Yeah, I mean, we shouldn’t worry too much. Knowing Kaoru, she’s probably having the time of her life while we’re sitting here and stressing all over her."
Kenshin whirled around to face Sanosuke.
"We have every reason to worry, Sano. Kaoru could be in grave danger now. You don’t know Yoru…. You don’t know him like I do… you don’t know what he’s done, and how much more he can do…"
Sanosuke stared at Kenshin, surprised by the outburst.
"Gomen, Kenshin…. I didn’t know..We’ll find Kaoru….I know we will."
Kenshin shook his head sadly and sighed.
"Yes, but will we find her in time?"
Kenshin turned away and started walking again down the old, overgrown path which led deeper and deeper into the dark center of Demon City. Sanosuke and Yahiko exchanged glances and hurried after their friend. An ominous silence hovered over the trio, but they ignored it, willing their determination to save Kaoru to fight off the fear and the worry implanted deep in their hearts.
*************
Night frowned as the figure of a ninja appeared before him.
"What do you want Ryuma?"
"Ah..Night-sama…… Hitokiri Battousai and his friends are still coming… they’re too strong for us….gomen…."
Night glared down at the cowering ninja and growled, "Too strong for you? Or have you outlived your usefulness?"
Ryuma bowed his head and said nothing.
"Perhaps I shall release my..ah..pets to take care of battousai’s friends, but I want battousai alive. I want him to see his beautiful sun rise into the arms of the Night. HAHAHA!!! How that will tear him apart…."
Ryuma looked up and nodded.
"Yes..sir… the pets can eliminate them…The pets can destroy everything."
Night frowned and motioned to the darkness to the right of Ryuma. Immediately, two large, deformed figures emerged, and the ninja jumped away in fright.
"Ah..yes, Ryuma. Did I forget to tell you that I now have new guards? I think I did…Oh well… ah..yes. I also have new pets now…and I think you shall have the honor of testing their usefulness."
Ryuma looked at Night, confused. "Night-sama?"
"Dake, Takea, take Ryuma to see my new pets…..I’m sure they’ll love him."
The two guards each grabbed Ryuma by one arm, and it wasn’t until they had opened the door to Night’s Pit that the realization of what was happening sank in. The ninja’s eyes widened and he screamed in fear.
"NIGHT-SAMA!! NO!! PLEASE!! I PROMISE I’LL DO BETTER!! I PROMISE I’LL KILL HIM!!! GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE!! I… AHHHHHHHH!!"
Night chuckled softly as he watched the large, animals tear Ryuma apart limb by limb. The smell of blood filled the room and Night inhaled it hungrily. He walked over to the Pit and smiled as the monsters sucked at Ryuma’s eyes and tore at his throat and what was left of his body.
"Gomen ne..Ryuma.. I don’t give second chances… but you did do a good job of testing my new pets…a very good job."
Night still smiled as he walked back to his bedroom and shut the door to the Pit.
"Dake, Takea… I want you to release the pets, Shiatar and Tachibaba…. I want them to kill battousai’s friends. Tell Hebi to go along…..I have plans for her….."
************
Kenshin and friends stopped as they reached a fork in the dirt road. Both paths before them were practically identical- tree branches intertwined over the paths, dark mist hovering over the ground and in the underbrush, and an unnatural eeriness everywhere. Sanosuke stepped toward the left path and then stopped, pondering oveon his face. Kenshin only frowned.
"Ah..Kenshin..do you know which way?"
Yahiko looked up at his mentor expectantly, but Kenshin remained silent. Sanosuke eyed his friend curiously.
"Kenshin, maybe we should split up.. It’d be faster that way."
"Sano! Are you crazy? We don’t know what’s in these woods. One of us could be killed!!!"
Kenshin raised a hand to quiet Yahiko.
"No, Yahiko.. Sanosuke has a point. If we all go one way, and it’s the wrong way, we would be wasting precious time that Kaoru probably doesn’t have… on the other hand, if we split up, at least one of us will find her, and she’ll have a better chance of being safe."
Yahiko looked at Kenshin for a moment and nodded slowly.
"I guess you’re right…so how are we going to do it."
"I go alone to the right. You and Sano go to the left…."
"But Ken.."
"No buts, Yahiko.. I can take care of myself, and it’ll be better for you and Sano to be together."
Yahiko sighed and looked at Sanosuke. The latter gave a grim smile and nodded in confirmation.
"All right then. What are we waiting for? We gotta go save Jo-chan!!!"
r the situation. Yahiko just looked back and forth from one path to another, a confused expression Yahiko smiled slightly at Sansuke’s enthusiasm and turned to leave. Sanosuke walked a little ways after him, then stopped and turned back toward Kenshin.
"Hey… don’t get yourself killed, okay? Kaoru will never forgive us if something happens to you. Remember…she’s waiting for you."
With these words, Sanosuke bounded after Yahiko, leaving Kenshin standing
at the fork in the road. ~Kaoru’s waiting for me..and I’m coming Kaoru…I'm
coming for you.. I’ve never been able to tell you how much I....….I love
you..... Ai shiteru, Kaoru...Ai shiteru....….~