Hello everybody! This is my second attempt at a long fanfic, and I've
learned a thing or two from the other great fics here in the RK section.
For this one, I'm using Daigoro, my favorite character from the second story arc of the RK filler season (Beni Aoi). If you don't remember or know him, he's the bookworm with glasses and a soft cap, with his nose always in a Jules Verne book (in original French, mind you!). The Kenshin-gumi helped his sensei and eventual father-in-law, and helped him get his girl.
The story is inspired by the TV show Seven Days, but is not heavily based from it, like RK Titanic was. You see, I don't watch it too often. ^_^
(slightly revised. Thanks Chiki for pointing out the inconsistency in tenses. I've fixed it. ^_^ ) .................
It happened so quickly. Nothing made sense.
Most especially to Kenshin.
What went so wrong?
It all happened 4 hours ago.
Kenshin was walking beside the Ambassador of the United States to Japan, riding on a tall proud horse. It was supposed to be a grand parade. It was an honor to be handpicked by the Tokyo police, to be chief bodyguard to this most distinguished dignitary.
He had just passed his friends. Sanosuke was shouting at him, and boasting that he knew the redhead beside the Ambassador personally. Yahiko was waving at him frantically.
And beside Yahiko, was Kaoru, wearing a new kimono for the occasion, beaming with pride and wearing a wide smile. Her hair was tied back in a new indigo ribbon, her favorite color. She knew that Kenshin liked her with that color.
Ah, it was great to be alive, Kenshin decided.
But things started to turn for the worse.
As Kenshin looked up at the house roofs, he noticed a man in black waiting in a tree, wearing a sinister look. As the entourage marched nearer and nearer the tree, he saw other similarly dressed men on the rooftops and highest windows of nearby buildings. 10 feet from the tree, Kenshin made out a pistol sticking out----and aiming at the Ambassador.
"EVERYBODY, HEAD DOWN!"
Shots rang through the air. Bullets ricocheted through the pavement. Kenshin was quick on his heels. He pulled the ambassador off the horse and covered him with his small body. More shots were fired, and civilians were killed. A few men and soldiers had fallen on the street. Kenshin was calm, but the Ambassador wass completely in shock. Then, silence.
Kenshin helped the gaijin off the pavement, and reassured him in his most respectful Niponggo that he is secure. This was quickly translated, and the ambassador was much relieved to be protected by this little man.
Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke were also very relieved to see the ambassador and their friend alive. They too had ducked with Kenshin's shout, and did not know what happened soon after that. Everyone else also rose up to their feet after the scary commotion, dusting themselves and thanking the heavens for keeping them safe.
But Kaoru noticed one man suspiciously swerving in and out of the shaken crowd, himself unfazed for some reason. She found him working his way toward the front of the crowd, nearest the street and nearing the entourage. He had a menacing look about him. Also, Kaoru had a feeling that he was eyeing her redhead viciously. But she did not tell Sano or Yahiko. She did not want them to worry any more than she has.
Kaoru was not mistaken. As Kenshin tried to talk to the ambassador, wearing his big happy smile, the man cocked a pistol just a few inches away from her. Then he raised it, and aimed at the gaijin.
Kaoru found herself running pell-mell toward Kenshin. And with one swift movement, she pushed him in front of the ambassador and hugged him tightly in front of her, with her back to the crowd.
BANG!
The crowd ducked. A policemen fired straight and sure at the assassin, and killed him on the spot. Several shouts of terror were heard.
A woman was face down on the pavement, a bullet through her back.
Kenshin stands. He was unscathed. The ambassador was still alive. Pale from shock, but alive. But the woman....
It can't be...it cannot be....
Kenshin turned the woman to face him. It is true.
He held her close to him, embracing her tightly, feeling the wound on her back, tears flowing down his cheeks. It was not possible.
"It was foolish of you, Kaoru-dono....foolish....."
Sanosuke and Yahiko arrived at the speed of light. They too were appalled at their jo-chan, astounded at her decision, but admiring her supreme bravery. "Stupid Jo-chan!" Sano could only manage to say, turning his head away. A single tear managed to fall off an eye.
She held his hand in hers weakly. She only manages to whisper to his ear, "I did what I could, Kenshin. It was great knowing you....and Kenshin.....I will always love you....."
And with that, she was gone.
That was four hours ago. Since then, Megumi confirmed that the bullet had penetrated her heart and directly caused her death. The body was cleaned and brought to the Kamiya dojo, to be buried tomorrow morning.
And Kenshin...he was at a far-off, dark corner of the dojo. He was still wearing the bloodstained clothes. He had not eaten, or spoken, since then. No police officer could persuade him to speak as a witness, or to even mind them at all. None of his friends have ever seen his face so blank and lifeless. He let his tangled hair fall freely over his face, where salty tears have dried. The brightness of his eyes were replaced by a dullness none of his friends could fathom or penetrate. He was as if dead yet alive. He had seen the body. He still could not believe that it was his Kaoru-dono lying there so peacefully. It could not be...it cannot....
Just then, their friend Daigoro came rushing through the door. He was panting hard, as if unused to such demands on his strength. His face was covered in sweat. In his hand were some papers, mostly full of his scribbles.
Like everyone else, when he saw Kenshin, he stood in silence and took in the devastation of the killing on his friend. But he had to say what he came to say. He walked resolutely toward Kenshin.
"Daigoro-san, do you know what you're doing?" Sanosuke asked, "Because, you know, we haven't gotten anything out of him for the last three hours, and we've tried everything we know!"
Daigoro only nodded and kept walking. He eventually reached Kenshin, and kneeled in front of him.
"Himura-san, can you hear me?" No response.
"Himura-san, it's Daigoro, you do remember, don't you? I visited you just 2 days ago!" Nothing.
Daigoro slowly but determinedly pushes Kenshin's shoulders to the wall and forcibly raised his head.
"Himura-san, I know you hear me. Listen, Himura-san." He waves his papers in front of Kenshin's blank face. "Do you know what these are? These are my calculations, and my proofs, that time travel is actually possible."
"Now just what kind of tomfoolery are you talking about, Daigoro?" Yahiko demands. Daigoro does not face him and continues to talk to an unresponsive Kenshin.
"I am giving you hope, Himura-san! If my calculations are correct, I can send you back in time, to undo this. Himura-san, listen! Kaoru-san does not have to die, this does not have to happen, if you would only step back a few days and stop the assassination! Himura-san, do you understand what I am saying?"
"That's just another of your fantastic stories, Daigoro!" Sanosuke sneers. "Time machine, heh! The stuff from your books, that's all!"
"Definitely not, Sagara-san! It is tried and tested, by myself! Himura-san can change the past to settle the future!"
He addresses Kenshin again. "Please believe me, Himura-san! I'm doing this for you! I have a debt to pay, and this is the way I know how! I have a time machine ready to take you back in time a few days, enough for you to undo the events of today, to change them so they would not happen! Himura- san, please!"
But the dullness in Kenshin's eyes remained. Daigoro releases his hold on him, takes up his papers, and stands.
"Well, I tried my best. I know that my ideas are too fantastic to believe, but I thought that Himura-san would be more objective and listen to me. It's a bad time; I should not have bothered."
Daigoro starts to walk toward the door.
But as he opens the screen door, he hears someone behind him.
"Is it true, what you said, Daigoro-dono?"
......................
I'm sorry if this sounds too much like the Jinchuu arc version. ^_^ Suggestions are welcome, and thanks for reading and reviewing!
For this one, I'm using Daigoro, my favorite character from the second story arc of the RK filler season (Beni Aoi). If you don't remember or know him, he's the bookworm with glasses and a soft cap, with his nose always in a Jules Verne book (in original French, mind you!). The Kenshin-gumi helped his sensei and eventual father-in-law, and helped him get his girl.
The story is inspired by the TV show Seven Days, but is not heavily based from it, like RK Titanic was. You see, I don't watch it too often. ^_^
(slightly revised. Thanks Chiki for pointing out the inconsistency in tenses. I've fixed it. ^_^ ) .................
It happened so quickly. Nothing made sense.
Most especially to Kenshin.
What went so wrong?
It all happened 4 hours ago.
Kenshin was walking beside the Ambassador of the United States to Japan, riding on a tall proud horse. It was supposed to be a grand parade. It was an honor to be handpicked by the Tokyo police, to be chief bodyguard to this most distinguished dignitary.
He had just passed his friends. Sanosuke was shouting at him, and boasting that he knew the redhead beside the Ambassador personally. Yahiko was waving at him frantically.
And beside Yahiko, was Kaoru, wearing a new kimono for the occasion, beaming with pride and wearing a wide smile. Her hair was tied back in a new indigo ribbon, her favorite color. She knew that Kenshin liked her with that color.
Ah, it was great to be alive, Kenshin decided.
But things started to turn for the worse.
As Kenshin looked up at the house roofs, he noticed a man in black waiting in a tree, wearing a sinister look. As the entourage marched nearer and nearer the tree, he saw other similarly dressed men on the rooftops and highest windows of nearby buildings. 10 feet from the tree, Kenshin made out a pistol sticking out----and aiming at the Ambassador.
"EVERYBODY, HEAD DOWN!"
Shots rang through the air. Bullets ricocheted through the pavement. Kenshin was quick on his heels. He pulled the ambassador off the horse and covered him with his small body. More shots were fired, and civilians were killed. A few men and soldiers had fallen on the street. Kenshin was calm, but the Ambassador wass completely in shock. Then, silence.
Kenshin helped the gaijin off the pavement, and reassured him in his most respectful Niponggo that he is secure. This was quickly translated, and the ambassador was much relieved to be protected by this little man.
Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke were also very relieved to see the ambassador and their friend alive. They too had ducked with Kenshin's shout, and did not know what happened soon after that. Everyone else also rose up to their feet after the scary commotion, dusting themselves and thanking the heavens for keeping them safe.
But Kaoru noticed one man suspiciously swerving in and out of the shaken crowd, himself unfazed for some reason. She found him working his way toward the front of the crowd, nearest the street and nearing the entourage. He had a menacing look about him. Also, Kaoru had a feeling that he was eyeing her redhead viciously. But she did not tell Sano or Yahiko. She did not want them to worry any more than she has.
Kaoru was not mistaken. As Kenshin tried to talk to the ambassador, wearing his big happy smile, the man cocked a pistol just a few inches away from her. Then he raised it, and aimed at the gaijin.
Kaoru found herself running pell-mell toward Kenshin. And with one swift movement, she pushed him in front of the ambassador and hugged him tightly in front of her, with her back to the crowd.
BANG!
The crowd ducked. A policemen fired straight and sure at the assassin, and killed him on the spot. Several shouts of terror were heard.
A woman was face down on the pavement, a bullet through her back.
Kenshin stands. He was unscathed. The ambassador was still alive. Pale from shock, but alive. But the woman....
It can't be...it cannot be....
Kenshin turned the woman to face him. It is true.
He held her close to him, embracing her tightly, feeling the wound on her back, tears flowing down his cheeks. It was not possible.
"It was foolish of you, Kaoru-dono....foolish....."
Sanosuke and Yahiko arrived at the speed of light. They too were appalled at their jo-chan, astounded at her decision, but admiring her supreme bravery. "Stupid Jo-chan!" Sano could only manage to say, turning his head away. A single tear managed to fall off an eye.
She held his hand in hers weakly. She only manages to whisper to his ear, "I did what I could, Kenshin. It was great knowing you....and Kenshin.....I will always love you....."
And with that, she was gone.
That was four hours ago. Since then, Megumi confirmed that the bullet had penetrated her heart and directly caused her death. The body was cleaned and brought to the Kamiya dojo, to be buried tomorrow morning.
And Kenshin...he was at a far-off, dark corner of the dojo. He was still wearing the bloodstained clothes. He had not eaten, or spoken, since then. No police officer could persuade him to speak as a witness, or to even mind them at all. None of his friends have ever seen his face so blank and lifeless. He let his tangled hair fall freely over his face, where salty tears have dried. The brightness of his eyes were replaced by a dullness none of his friends could fathom or penetrate. He was as if dead yet alive. He had seen the body. He still could not believe that it was his Kaoru-dono lying there so peacefully. It could not be...it cannot....
Just then, their friend Daigoro came rushing through the door. He was panting hard, as if unused to such demands on his strength. His face was covered in sweat. In his hand were some papers, mostly full of his scribbles.
Like everyone else, when he saw Kenshin, he stood in silence and took in the devastation of the killing on his friend. But he had to say what he came to say. He walked resolutely toward Kenshin.
"Daigoro-san, do you know what you're doing?" Sanosuke asked, "Because, you know, we haven't gotten anything out of him for the last three hours, and we've tried everything we know!"
Daigoro only nodded and kept walking. He eventually reached Kenshin, and kneeled in front of him.
"Himura-san, can you hear me?" No response.
"Himura-san, it's Daigoro, you do remember, don't you? I visited you just 2 days ago!" Nothing.
Daigoro slowly but determinedly pushes Kenshin's shoulders to the wall and forcibly raised his head.
"Himura-san, I know you hear me. Listen, Himura-san." He waves his papers in front of Kenshin's blank face. "Do you know what these are? These are my calculations, and my proofs, that time travel is actually possible."
"Now just what kind of tomfoolery are you talking about, Daigoro?" Yahiko demands. Daigoro does not face him and continues to talk to an unresponsive Kenshin.
"I am giving you hope, Himura-san! If my calculations are correct, I can send you back in time, to undo this. Himura-san, listen! Kaoru-san does not have to die, this does not have to happen, if you would only step back a few days and stop the assassination! Himura-san, do you understand what I am saying?"
"That's just another of your fantastic stories, Daigoro!" Sanosuke sneers. "Time machine, heh! The stuff from your books, that's all!"
"Definitely not, Sagara-san! It is tried and tested, by myself! Himura-san can change the past to settle the future!"
He addresses Kenshin again. "Please believe me, Himura-san! I'm doing this for you! I have a debt to pay, and this is the way I know how! I have a time machine ready to take you back in time a few days, enough for you to undo the events of today, to change them so they would not happen! Himura- san, please!"
But the dullness in Kenshin's eyes remained. Daigoro releases his hold on him, takes up his papers, and stands.
"Well, I tried my best. I know that my ideas are too fantastic to believe, but I thought that Himura-san would be more objective and listen to me. It's a bad time; I should not have bothered."
Daigoro starts to walk toward the door.
But as he opens the screen door, he hears someone behind him.
"Is it true, what you said, Daigoro-dono?"
......................
I'm sorry if this sounds too much like the Jinchuu arc version. ^_^ Suggestions are welcome, and thanks for reading and reviewing!