My Love For You Is Eternal
By: Xiao

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of it's characters.

Summary: Amakusa Sayo has heart problems, and every year that passes, her problems get worse. Her life is slipping away, and she feels that she will never find one to love, until she met him..

Warnings: Probably rating between PG-13 and R for language.

Characters:

Amakusa Sayo, Age 18: The heroine of our story. She has a fatal heart disease that will perhaps end her life early. She is a kind person, but can be distant. She doesn't want to fall in love, for it will be hard to leave, but then she meets Sano..

Sagara Sanosuke, Age 20: A tough, outgoing, arrogant teen, son of the richest man in all of Japan. He's a bit of a player, and plans to get anything and everything he wants, but he learns that there's more to life than money when he meets Sayo.

Amakusa Shougo, Age 20: Sayo's older brother and Sano's friend. He's an overprotective brother, always checking up on where his sister is. When he finds that his sister is madly in love with Sano, he begins to think crossly about their relationship.

Saitou Kaoru, Age 18: Sayo's best friend since the age of 3. She's like her sister that she never had and can be more overprotective than Shougo.

Sagara Misao, Age 18: Sano's younger sister. She has been a close friend and sister figure to Sayo since age 3. She's overprotective of Magdaria and yells at Sano if she sees Sayo upset.

Himura Kenshin, Age 20: Kaoru's boyfriend and Sano's best friend. He's a bit of a playboy, but when around Kaoru, he's a whole nother story!

Saitou Soujiro, Age 20: Misao's secret admirer and Sano's friend. Sayo finds him close to another, softer brother.

More Minor Characters in Story..

Chapter 1 Hellos and Goodbyes

"How is she doing, doctor?" Hikaru worriedly asked him.
"Apparently, she has a fatal heart attack that we have never witnessed before," he answered while pushing his glasses higher onto his nose.
"W-will she die?"
"Perhaps, in time. For now, she will be fine. But she will need to be taking these pills twice a day," he handed Hikaru a bottle of pills. Hikaru kept her tears from spilling down her face. "Thank you," she bowed and walked into the room. "Hello, there, Sayo.." She stood next to her daughter's bedside.
"Mommy?" Sayo felt weak.
*Poor dear,* she thought, *Only three years old and she's going through so much..* "Hello, dear. How are you feeling?"
"Ok.." Sayo lied. She was young, but she knew better than to worry her mother. "Can we go home now?"
Hikaru smiled weakly. "Ok, let's go. Shougo is waiting for us," she picked up her daughter and exited the room.
She pulled up into the driveway. She turned off the engine and got out of her seat. She opened Sayo's door and took her out. Shougo came running up to meet them. "Mom!"
"What's wrong dear?" Hikaru asked weakly.
"It's Papa! He's collapsed!"
She gasped and ran into the room. Her husband, Mutou Benjiro was lying on the cold, hard floor of their home. "Koibito!" (Translation: Honey, dear, loving name.. I think) She checked his pulse. It was distant. "Shougo! Call the ambulance!"
"Right!" He ran to the phone and dialed 9-1-1.
"Mama?" Sayo trudged over to her Papa. "Is Papa okay?"
Hikaru looked over at her daughter. "Yes, honey, Papa's fine. We just need to bring him to the hospital." *Dearest gods.. Not again..* An alarm was heard outside, and men came in with a stretcher and lifted Benjiro onto it. "Hurry to the hospital," one said unemotionaly.
Hikaru nodded. "Sayo, Shougo, hurry up into the car, okay?"
Shougo ushered his sister into the backseat. "C'mon, Sayo. We're gonna go see Papa."
"Okay!" Sayo jumped onto the seat and buckled up. The ride to the hospital was quiet. Hikaru began to fret as she parked and took the children out of the car, then headed towards the building she had just left a half hour ago. Sayo dangled her legs of the bench she and her brother were sitting on. Her mother worriedly witnessed the surgery her husband was going through. Apparently, he had that fatal heart disease that Sayo had, and she inherited it from him. An hour later, Hikaru returned with a grim look on her face.
"Mama?" Sayo and Shougo asked.
She couldn't hold it in anymore, she broke into tears right before her children. "What's wrong?" Shougo asked.
"Oh, children, your father is dead!"
Shougo was only five, but he knew what dead meant. He began to cry. "Papa!" Sayo didn't know what 'dead' meant, but she knew it was a bad thing. She hopped off the bench and walked to the door. She reached up and turned the door knob and walked in. She stood next to her father's bed. His limp hand was lying next to his body. "Papa?" He didn't move. "P-papa?"
"Shougo?" Hikaru wiped her tears. "Shougo.. Where's Sayo?"
"I think she went to see Papa," he answered.
"Oh no," Hikaru took Shougo's hand and walked into Benjiro's room.
Sayo was sobbing for her poor father to wake up. "Papa! Papa, wake up!
"Sayo," Hikaru wrapped her arms around her daughter and brought the family into a tight embrace. "There, there, children.. We'll get along.." A tear slid down her cheek.

Ten Years Later.. May 3, 1998 Sayo's POV

I sighed as Mama continue fret. She was getting married in about two weeks from now to a man named Aizawa Eiji. He was very rich indeed, perhaps the reason why Mama is marrying him. After all, our family has been poor since the death of Papa, and we still need money for my operations. Though we don't show it much, Shougo and I don't like Aizawa-san very much. He's an evil, greedy playboy who will do anything for money. Why my Mama would marry such a cold-hearted man still confuses me.
Today is the anniversary of Papa's death. Shougo and I are going to visit his grave. However, Mama cannot considering how busy she is with the wedding arrangements. Although I find that as a sad excuse to miss your husband's death anniversary, I must let it be. "Sayo," Shougo called towards me.
"Yes, Brother?" I put down the pen and close my diary.
"Let's get going," he pointed to his car. He had just received his driver's liscense.
"Already?"
He nodded. "Yes, I must meet my friends early."
"Oh. Ok. Do you think you can drop me off at Misao's before you go with your friends?"
"Sure," we walked off towards his new car. I gasped as I saw it. "Shougo! How could you afford such an expensive car?" Infront of us was a beautiful, brand new lexis. It must have cost thousands, money that we did not yet have. He gave a smile. "Remeber when I told you that I couldn't hang out with you?" I nodded. "I was off working at a high-paying hotel."
I smiled. He could have used that money he was making to pay off our financial bills, but since Mama is getting married, I suppose he didn't need to. He opened the door and I stepped in. He took his seat and drove off towards the cemetery at where Papa's body lay. I got out of the car and brushed off my skirt. We wouldn't be here for very long..
I kneeled infront of Papa's grave after I had placed the flowers down beside his tombstone. "Konban wa, Otousan," I greeted formaly. (Translation: Good afternoon, Father) Shougo bowed his head. "Mama will be getting married in two weeks.. I hope we will be able to live a successful life.." Moments of silence passed and soon Shougo indicated that it was time to go. I bowed until my nose touched the grass and then got up. We walked to his lexis.
"Ok, so I'll be out until late, so you might wanna ask Misao's folks to take you home."
"Okay," I sat down and he drove off the the Sagara's. He rolled down the window and pressed the button. "How may I help you?" the intercom asked.
"This is Mutou Shougo, I'm dropping off Sayo."
"Ah, yes, Master Mutou. The gates will open," the gates of the mansion began to open and Shougo drove in.
I got out of the car and slighty waved towards Shougo. "Ja ne!" (Translation: See you!) I walked over to the gigantic doors and knocked lightly.
Misao opened the door with a pair of blue eyes behind her. "Sayo!" Misao smiled.
"Hello," I turned towards the holder of the pair of blue eyes, "Kaoru!"
"How are you doing?" Kaoru asked.
"I'm doing great! How was your trip to China?"
She sighed. "It was tiring, but nonetheless an great adventure!"
"Come on in before you catch a cold!" Misao ushered me in. We walked up two flights of stairs until we reached Misao's room. Misao plopped herself onto the bed. "How's Shougo doing?"
"Better than usual. Aizawa-san has been getting on his nerves lately."
"Aizawa?" Kaoru questioned. "You mean Aizawa Eiji, One of the Presidents of Hiten Mitsurugi Inc.?"
I nodded. "Yes, Aizawa-san and Mama are getting married."
"Oh, Sayo, say it ain't so! He's such a jerk!"
"Yea.."
"It's ok Sayo," Misao put an arm around me and gave me a wide grin, "Your friends are here!"
I smiled. "Of course. Without you, I wouldn't survive!"
"You betcha!" We all began to laugh.
Two Weeks Later
"There you go," Mama finished curling my hair. "You look aboslutely beautiful!"
I was wearing a bage dress that was sleeveless but instead tied around my neck. Mama's was the exact same. "Look at you! Just like a queen in a fairy tale!"
Mama smiled one of her rare smiles. "Shougo," she called, "Shougo, hone, are you ready?"
He stomped in. "I hate this tuxedo." Mama and I giggled.
"But you look so handsome, honey!"
"Yeah! It's not everyday you see your brother in a tux!" I agreed happily.
"Ha ha ha," he rolled his eyes sarcastically. Mama and I erupted in laughter.
"Hikaru!" a strong voice called from down the hall.
"Oh! Eiji!" Mama exclaimed. It was Aizawa-san. Shougo and I hushed up.
"You look beautiful!" He glanced over at Shougo and I. "And you two look extravagant!"
Shougo rolled his eyes. I frowned inwardly. We both knew that this was just an act when he was infront of Mama, he wasn't like this regularly. "Thank you," I smiled.
"Well, since we're all ready, let's go." He walked towards the limo where Mama went in first. "You two will be going with the Sagara's." He went in and slammed the door.
I growled. Shougo smiled happily. "Yes! C'mon, Sayo!" He grabbed my arm and ran towards Misao and her brother.
"Hey, Shougo," Sanosuke greeted my brother. He looked at me, "Hey Sayo."
"Idiot said we had to catch a ride with you," Shougo rolled his eyes.
"Heh. Okay, c'mon. Mom and Dad are already leavin'." He sat in the front then Misao went in the back, follwed by me, then Shougo.
"So, you kids excited?" asked Mr. Sagara. Sagara Aoshi was a muscular man who's wife, Makimachi Okon, died after the birth of Misao. He had cold, blue eyes, but his heart was warm and loving. His family are descendents of ninjas, so he taught Sano and Misao the ways of the ninja. He's rough, but very kind.
"To be totally honest, I couldn't hate it anymore," Shougo snorted.
He chuckled. "What about you, Sayo?"
"Me?" I blinked. "To be completely truthful, I'm not looking forward to it al all."
"Don't tell your mother I said this," he stated, "but Aizawa Eiji won't be a very good father. He probably only married your mother for her looks, " he turned a corner.
"I couldn't agree more," Shougo crossed his arms. Misao and I giggled. "What!? It's true! God, I'm so misunderstood."
"Whatever, Shougo!" Misao slapped her knee while laughing.

Shougo and I shifted uncomfortably under Mama and Aizawa-san's ceremony. We were Christians, but Aizawa-san was Buddhist, so we had to undergo their ceremony because he insisted on it. It came and went, the next thing we knew, we were at the Shirobeco. "Cheers!" all of the adults raised their wine glasses.
"I can't believe this is actually happening," I shook my head.
"What's up?" Kaoru asked me worriedly.
"We're going to move into the Aizawa Estate. It's at least fifty miles away from Papa's cemetery."
"Shougo, has a car, doesn't he?" Sanosuke stuffed a piece of meat in his mouth.
"Yeah, but that idiot took it away from me. Took me forever to get enough money to buy that car," Shougo cursed.
"Why?" Misao asked.
"Said I wasting money on gas. What an asshole! I mean, it's my money!"
"Hey kids," Mama walked to our table. "We'll be leaving."
I frowned. "Alright," I got up from the table. "Bye!"
"Bye!" They all waved at us. Shougo and I entered the limo. As we departed, we knew that our lives would change, but we didn't know our life would become bumpier..

Three Years Later
"Just leave me the hell alone!" Shougo yelled.
"You better get your sorry ass over here, now!" Eiji retorted.
"I don't gotta! You're being a f**king idiot and I don't need this crap right now!" He stomped out and slammed the door behind him.
I winced as I heard the loud slam. Shougo and Eiji were fighting again. Mama had died a little over a year ago in a car crash. Eiji treated us horribly. Shougo aboslutely refused to have us go by the name Aizawa.
Flashback
Eiji entered the room. "How are you kids doing?" He walked over to the couch where Shougo and I were sitting.
"Get the hell away from us!" Shougo snapped.
"You have no right to speak to me in such manners! I am your father!"
"My father was Mutou Benjiro! Not some asshole hanging out with whores every other night!"
"Watch your tone!"
"Make me! You're not my father! And you never will!"
Those words earned him a couple hittings with the stick. I tended to them as he lay on his chest with heavy tears in his eyes. "Sayo.."
"Yes?"
"Promise me one thing.. If anybody asks your name.. You will say Mutou Sayo.. Never use that bastard's name.."
"I promise.."
End Flashback
I ran my fingers through my hair as I let a sigh escape my lips. Eiji wasn't making life very easy for us. Shougo had run away at least twenty times since the death of Mama. I put away my diary as I get ready for bed.

Knock. Knock. I groan as I get up look at my window. I gasp as I see Shougo's figure in the pouring rain. I open the window and help him in. "Shougo!"
"Ssh," he brought a finger to his lips.
"Where were you?"
He shook his head. "Pack your things."
"Doushite?" (Translation: Why?)
"We're leaving!"
"But, Shougo!"
"Look.. I know it may be hard to leave.. But we have to go.. I can't stand it anymore."
"W-where will we go?"
"I know a man in China by the name of Amakusa Hyoue. We can go there."
I shook my head in disbelief. "I-if you think it's best for us."
He smiled weakly. "Thank you.. Now hurry and pack your things. I will be waiting outside." He ran to his room.
I sighed as I packed my medallion. Perhaps Shougo was right.. Eiji treats us no better than one of his servants.. So I guess.. it is the best.. I will miss all of my friends dearly.. But I shall see them another day.

"Well," he stood up, "You ready?"
I nodded. "Let's go."
He got into his car and drove us off towards the airport. As we drove, we came across the Sagara mansion. I looked back sadly. "Sayonara Misao.. Until we meet again.." (Translation: Goodbye; usually used when you won't see the person for a long time or perhaps never)

To Be Continued..

Well, I had this idea after reading a fanfic and thought it would relate so well to Sayo and Sano. I haven't seen the arc, so the personalities may be a bit one-sided. If there is anything wrong, please feel free to e-mail me and I will fix it ASAP.

~Ja ne!