Love for the Sword

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

As Shizuka rested in one of the rooms of Kaoru's home, after she was bandaged up and put in new cloths, Megumi told every one of her condition. Kenshin was sitting against the wall with the Reverse Blade sword in his lap while Sanosuke stood against the door. Yahiko listened intently as he sat next to Kaoru and Megumi.

"Her condition is stable for now." Megumi sighed, exhausted, as she wiped sweat away from her face. "But one of her lungs was punctured, and that my cause trouble. So she will probably be resting for a day or two."

"I'm just glad she didn't die." Yahiko said.

"I'm actually surprised she lived." commented Kenshin as he stood up.

"What do you mean Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as she turned to him with a puzzled look.

"Didn't you notice how much blood was on her cloths?" he replied. He looked over to Sanosuke.

"Yeah, actually, I did. You would think she was in a battle." Sanosuke exclaimed catching Kenshin's glimpse.

"You may be right." Megumi said as she slid out a small pack. "I found this near her injury around her waste and this is what I found inside."

When she opened the pack everyone's eyes almost popped out of their heads. Inside was an assortment of sharp thin needles and what looked like small bottles of black liquid. Some of the needles were blood stained and a few bottles were almost empty.

"W-what is that stuff?" Yahiko stammered staring wide eyed at the black liquid.

"It's called shingten, a very powerful poison." answered Megumi. "You can make it with various plants and wild flowers. But given the right dosage is a very good neutralizer."

"I wonder where she got those needles from." Kaoru asked.

"She probably stole them." Sanosuke said as he joined the small group and sat down.

"Maybe she didn't steal them at all; maybe they were given to her." Kenshin suggested as he too sat with every one else.

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Where am I? Did I die? Shizuka thought as she lay still with her eyes closed, when she suddenly gasped out in pain as she breathed. Well, I'm not dead, Shizuka thought dreadfully as she opened her eyes. She found herself in a small room in a bed on the floor. Shizuka looked around the room with no interest then pulled down the top part of her-well maybe not hers seeing as it was new and clean-kimono and checked her wounds. She was surprised to find them cleaned, and bandaged very neatly.

Suddenly the room door was opened and Shizuka saw the young boy whom she had seen earlier in a regular kimono looking over his shoulder.

"I'll check on her." he yelled as he turned his head. Suddenly it was very, VERY, acquired. Then all hell broke lose.

"GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed as she covered her chest with the blanket with one hand while the other instinctively went to the side of her hip. Hastily the boy tried to go back threw the door.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he said as he retreated and shut the door.

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Yahiko quickly walked to the other room where every one was waiting. When he entered the room he sat in between Kenshin and Megumi.

"So I'm guessing she's up." Sanosuke said with a sly grin.

"How did you know?" Yahiko asked praying that Sanosuke wasn't going to say what he thought he was going to say.

"Let's see, there was a scream like 'Get out' I believe." Kaoru said also with a sly grin. Yahiko's face went red with embarrassment, as everyone started to chuckle.

"It's not funny!!" Yahiko yelled angrily, still blushing.

"Aww look he's blushing!" Kaoru teased, as she patted his head.

"Cut it out!" He yelled again while he tried to swat away Kaoru's hand. Then there was an unexpected "ahem" at the door way. They all turned and saw the young girl as if what had happened the night before didn't even happen. Her long brown hair was clean and tied into a tight bun, while her hands where at her sides.

"So," Kenshin said to break the silence, "what is your name?"

My name," she answered. "Is Shizuka."