KatDrama: sniff sad...
Kitty: What?
KatDrama: Of all the things, I only got two reviews!
Rurouni KatDrama: That is sad, that it is.
Kat: Why do you always pop up when I DON'T want you to pop up?
RKD: I am sorry, that I am, but that is just the way I am.
Kat: Never mind. School is out!
RKD: That is good, that it is.
Kat: I think I need a vacation.
Kitty: But who will write the story?
Kat: types stuff on keyboard Behold, I present you with a new sister. I shall call her KatD. Take it from here, KatD.
KatD: Hello, everyone! Due to the fact that it is glances at watch approximately 10:27 PM I shall be taking over this part of the story. KatDrama wished me to answer some reviews. So, here goes:
Twilight Sky: Twilight, I love ya! hugs startled reviewer You've been my most steady reviewer! I really enjoy reading your reviews, and I hope you enjoy reading my story. I look forward to more reviews!
Misaoshiru : Fist off, my author notes are where I kick back and let loose. Is it really essential that I have proper words and not abbreviations in these segments of my chapters? An I know I made some huge errors in the last chapter, but I was pressed for time and doing the best I could. I just now re-read it and yes, I did find many errors. But who DOESN'T have errors? No one's perfect! But, I do thank you for bringing these things to my attention. I am well aware of the facts you pointed out about my writing, and I am trying to change. Thank you for being patient and reading my story. Please, if you do find any major reoccurring errors in my fic again, please kindly alert me of the problem and I will try to better pay attention to it next time.
Now, for those of you who didn't review...I don't think you deserve to read this chapter that relieves the cliffhanger, but, alas, I cannot limit who reads and who does not read my story, so you're getting off easy this time....but I know who you are...you just watch yourselves....BWA HA HA HA HA!! !!! Now! On with the story!!!!
Whispering Sunshine
Chapter 12
Memories
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! The clock counted off the seconds in the dimming light of the dojo.
"Sachi, please wet this for me." Megumi handed the blonde a bloodied cloth. Sachi wordlessly did as she was told. Tears welded up her vision, blurring that which was already blurred. Sachi dipped the rag in a basin of water, watching the inky red dye the crystal liquid. She blinked in surprise as a splash of her own blood mingled with that in the basin, and she tightened the clamp of the red stained cloth she held against her cheek.
Sachi leaned forward to hand the cloth back to Megumi. Suddenly convulsions of pain shot through her body and she was forced to lean upon her free arm for support.
"Sachi!" Megumi laid a hand on the girl's back. "There's not much you can do to help Yahiko. Please, just go sit and be quiet, and let me do my work. If I don't work fast he might have permanent damage."
Sachi let the tears slide down her face as she crawled over and leaned against a nearby wall. She tilted her head to gaze out one of the paper- thin walls. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds and the brewing storm gave off the appearance of night.
--
"We should head back to the dojo, that we should." Kenshin fought against the raging winds while clinging to Doctor Genzai's two little grandchildren, who presently hid themselves in the folds of his gi and hakama for protection.
"I wonder what happened to Yahiko coming into town to meet us?" Sano put an arm up to shield his face from the raindrops that began to pelt the ground.
"He probably decided to stay at the dojo. I don't blame him, this storm is strong." Kaoru clasped her purse to her chest in security as she pressed forward.
"We're almost there." Kenshin reassured the small children, as the dojo grew ever closer.
Suddenly the ex-fighter stopped in the midst of the storm and sniffed the air like some wild animal.
"What is it Kenshin?" Sano stopped beside the hardened warrior.
It was a scent that Kenshin knew all to well. "Take Ayame and Suzume!" He ordered, pushing the girls into the strong man's arms.
"Kenshin?!" Kaoru called out as she ran after the sprinting rurouni. "What's wrong?" She asked as she caught up with him at the door to the dojo.
"Blood." Kenshin said with a cold glare as he swung the door open. Kaoru gasped at the sight. Blood. Everywhere. She shuttered with fright.
"Sanosuke! Take the girls home!" He shouted above the gale. "I do not know what has happened here, but I know that it is not appropriate for little girls, that it is not." Kenshin's eyes hardened as he pressed forth into the dojo.
Kaoru stopped in the courtyard. She looked down at the drenched ground that was stained with blood beneath her feet. Quickly she ran off after Kenshin.
--
"Can you sit up?" Yahiko moaned with pain as Megumi helped him into a sitting position. He hated being doctored up, no matter how beat up he was. It made him feel weak, sitting shirtless in front of a lady doctor who chided over him. Yet he knew he must obey her orders, so obediently he braced himself against the wood floor with his heavily bandaged arms.
Kenshin rushed through the dojo, following the scent. It led him to Yahiko's room. He saw the faint glowing of a lantern and slid the door wide open. "Huh?" His darkened eyes widened in surprise.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru came up behind Kenshin. She gasped when she saw her student covered in bandages, blood seeping through them. Her panicked eyes glanced from the wounded boy to the dejected girl sitting in the corner. Those same orbs narrowed in rage, penetrating the girl's soul.
"What happened? What did you do to Yahiko?!" In a flash Kaoru was by the girl's side, shaking her by her shoulders.
Sachi did not lift her eyes. Tears still splashed down her face. She dropped the cloth that she had been holding against her cheek.
Kaoru's eyes glowed with anger. "Answer me!" She shrieked. She tightened her grip on Sachi's arms and pushed her farther into the wall.
Finally Sachi looked up. Innocent, sad, guilty pupils met the raging ones. Kaoru gasped and took a step back. It was then that she noticed the blood dripping from her hands. Sachi's blood.
"Kaoru!" Kenshin grabbed her arm before she could inflict any more damage upon the already wounded girl.
Wet droplets formed in the corners of Kaoru's eyes. She shook her head and mumbled apologies as she stumbled backwards. Suddenly, bursting with tears she ran sobbing from the room.
"Megumi-san, what is going on?" Kenshin faced the doctor who was mending the boy.
"I don't know. All I know is that they are hurt and are need of my care. Kenshin, you have experience with wounds. Help Sachi, I haven't gotten to her yet." The doctor coolly commanded as she applied salve to the awful welt that throbbed on Yahiko's back.
Kenshin left the room momentarily and came back bearing another basin of water and a handful of bandages. He kneeled down beside Sachi who had resumed holding the cloth against her cheek. He tenderly touched her left arm. "I see you have a bullet wound. You will have to let go of your face so that I may treat it."
Sachi stared hesitantly at the concerned rurouni before doing his bidding. She moved the cloth, revealing the long, bloody scar. Kenshin released a gasp and out of reflex traced the scar on his own cheek.
Quickly regaining his wits he began to bathe the wound on her face. "It is fortunate that it did not damage your eye, that it is. You're getting your eyesight back, aren't you?" Kenshin tried to make conversation as he applied a bandage. "That'll do to stop the bleeding, then we can apply some of Ms. Megumi's slave. Hopefully it won't scar too badly. But a scar is inevitable, that it is. The wound is too deep..." Flames of Kenshin's past were rekindled in him and he sat in momentarily silence.
Sachi whimpered as a spasm of pain engulfed her. She began to fall over on her side when Kenshin caught her. She heard him calling her name and shaking her with panic in his voice, but it was all a faint memory to her. She was slipping into the blissful dark known as unconsciousness.
"Sachi!" Kenshin gently slapped her face, but to no avail.
"She's lost a lot of blood." Megumi commented. "Yahiko will be okay now. Get a futon for her. I'll take care of her."
"Sachi..." Mist filled Kenshin's violet eyes as he laid the bloody and limp form on a futon. As he gazed on her pain wrenched face a memory, as vivid as day flashed in his mind.
--
"Tomoe..." Kenshin cried as he held his wife, Tomoe, who was drenched in her own blood. She faintly smiled at him as she reached up to his face with her dagger.
"A gift, my love. Forgive me..." She whispered her last breath as the dagger cut into his skin and made a bloody trail upon his cheek, finishing off the heart of his cross.
"Tomoe!" Kenshin wept as he cradled her limp body.
--
Almost automatically Kenshin's nimble fingers reached up beneath his red bangs and traced the memory. A phantom pain dug at his heart as well as his scar. His startled gaze once again drifted unto the girl before him. No, it won't happen again. I will protect you, I promise. He brushed the hair from her sweet face.
I promise.
--
KatD: No idea WHY in the world I put that flashback with Tomoe in there.
Kitty: Maybe it's because you were watching that movie until 1 AM last night?
KatD: thinks maybe. Anywhoo- no idea why, just did it. Hope you guys liked. Please review!
Next chapter: Startling facts revealed about Sachi! Review and tune in next time!
Ja'ne!
Kitty: What?
KatDrama: Of all the things, I only got two reviews!
Rurouni KatDrama: That is sad, that it is.
Kat: Why do you always pop up when I DON'T want you to pop up?
RKD: I am sorry, that I am, but that is just the way I am.
Kat: Never mind. School is out!
RKD: That is good, that it is.
Kat: I think I need a vacation.
Kitty: But who will write the story?
Kat: types stuff on keyboard Behold, I present you with a new sister. I shall call her KatD. Take it from here, KatD.
KatD: Hello, everyone! Due to the fact that it is glances at watch approximately 10:27 PM I shall be taking over this part of the story. KatDrama wished me to answer some reviews. So, here goes:
Twilight Sky: Twilight, I love ya! hugs startled reviewer You've been my most steady reviewer! I really enjoy reading your reviews, and I hope you enjoy reading my story. I look forward to more reviews!
Misaoshiru : Fist off, my author notes are where I kick back and let loose. Is it really essential that I have proper words and not abbreviations in these segments of my chapters? An I know I made some huge errors in the last chapter, but I was pressed for time and doing the best I could. I just now re-read it and yes, I did find many errors. But who DOESN'T have errors? No one's perfect! But, I do thank you for bringing these things to my attention. I am well aware of the facts you pointed out about my writing, and I am trying to change. Thank you for being patient and reading my story. Please, if you do find any major reoccurring errors in my fic again, please kindly alert me of the problem and I will try to better pay attention to it next time.
Now, for those of you who didn't review...I don't think you deserve to read this chapter that relieves the cliffhanger, but, alas, I cannot limit who reads and who does not read my story, so you're getting off easy this time....but I know who you are...you just watch yourselves....BWA HA HA HA HA!! !!! Now! On with the story!!!!
Whispering Sunshine
Chapter 12
Memories
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! The clock counted off the seconds in the dimming light of the dojo.
"Sachi, please wet this for me." Megumi handed the blonde a bloodied cloth. Sachi wordlessly did as she was told. Tears welded up her vision, blurring that which was already blurred. Sachi dipped the rag in a basin of water, watching the inky red dye the crystal liquid. She blinked in surprise as a splash of her own blood mingled with that in the basin, and she tightened the clamp of the red stained cloth she held against her cheek.
Sachi leaned forward to hand the cloth back to Megumi. Suddenly convulsions of pain shot through her body and she was forced to lean upon her free arm for support.
"Sachi!" Megumi laid a hand on the girl's back. "There's not much you can do to help Yahiko. Please, just go sit and be quiet, and let me do my work. If I don't work fast he might have permanent damage."
Sachi let the tears slide down her face as she crawled over and leaned against a nearby wall. She tilted her head to gaze out one of the paper- thin walls. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds and the brewing storm gave off the appearance of night.
--
"We should head back to the dojo, that we should." Kenshin fought against the raging winds while clinging to Doctor Genzai's two little grandchildren, who presently hid themselves in the folds of his gi and hakama for protection.
"I wonder what happened to Yahiko coming into town to meet us?" Sano put an arm up to shield his face from the raindrops that began to pelt the ground.
"He probably decided to stay at the dojo. I don't blame him, this storm is strong." Kaoru clasped her purse to her chest in security as she pressed forward.
"We're almost there." Kenshin reassured the small children, as the dojo grew ever closer.
Suddenly the ex-fighter stopped in the midst of the storm and sniffed the air like some wild animal.
"What is it Kenshin?" Sano stopped beside the hardened warrior.
It was a scent that Kenshin knew all to well. "Take Ayame and Suzume!" He ordered, pushing the girls into the strong man's arms.
"Kenshin?!" Kaoru called out as she ran after the sprinting rurouni. "What's wrong?" She asked as she caught up with him at the door to the dojo.
"Blood." Kenshin said with a cold glare as he swung the door open. Kaoru gasped at the sight. Blood. Everywhere. She shuttered with fright.
"Sanosuke! Take the girls home!" He shouted above the gale. "I do not know what has happened here, but I know that it is not appropriate for little girls, that it is not." Kenshin's eyes hardened as he pressed forth into the dojo.
Kaoru stopped in the courtyard. She looked down at the drenched ground that was stained with blood beneath her feet. Quickly she ran off after Kenshin.
--
"Can you sit up?" Yahiko moaned with pain as Megumi helped him into a sitting position. He hated being doctored up, no matter how beat up he was. It made him feel weak, sitting shirtless in front of a lady doctor who chided over him. Yet he knew he must obey her orders, so obediently he braced himself against the wood floor with his heavily bandaged arms.
Kenshin rushed through the dojo, following the scent. It led him to Yahiko's room. He saw the faint glowing of a lantern and slid the door wide open. "Huh?" His darkened eyes widened in surprise.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru came up behind Kenshin. She gasped when she saw her student covered in bandages, blood seeping through them. Her panicked eyes glanced from the wounded boy to the dejected girl sitting in the corner. Those same orbs narrowed in rage, penetrating the girl's soul.
"What happened? What did you do to Yahiko?!" In a flash Kaoru was by the girl's side, shaking her by her shoulders.
Sachi did not lift her eyes. Tears still splashed down her face. She dropped the cloth that she had been holding against her cheek.
Kaoru's eyes glowed with anger. "Answer me!" She shrieked. She tightened her grip on Sachi's arms and pushed her farther into the wall.
Finally Sachi looked up. Innocent, sad, guilty pupils met the raging ones. Kaoru gasped and took a step back. It was then that she noticed the blood dripping from her hands. Sachi's blood.
"Kaoru!" Kenshin grabbed her arm before she could inflict any more damage upon the already wounded girl.
Wet droplets formed in the corners of Kaoru's eyes. She shook her head and mumbled apologies as she stumbled backwards. Suddenly, bursting with tears she ran sobbing from the room.
"Megumi-san, what is going on?" Kenshin faced the doctor who was mending the boy.
"I don't know. All I know is that they are hurt and are need of my care. Kenshin, you have experience with wounds. Help Sachi, I haven't gotten to her yet." The doctor coolly commanded as she applied salve to the awful welt that throbbed on Yahiko's back.
Kenshin left the room momentarily and came back bearing another basin of water and a handful of bandages. He kneeled down beside Sachi who had resumed holding the cloth against her cheek. He tenderly touched her left arm. "I see you have a bullet wound. You will have to let go of your face so that I may treat it."
Sachi stared hesitantly at the concerned rurouni before doing his bidding. She moved the cloth, revealing the long, bloody scar. Kenshin released a gasp and out of reflex traced the scar on his own cheek.
Quickly regaining his wits he began to bathe the wound on her face. "It is fortunate that it did not damage your eye, that it is. You're getting your eyesight back, aren't you?" Kenshin tried to make conversation as he applied a bandage. "That'll do to stop the bleeding, then we can apply some of Ms. Megumi's slave. Hopefully it won't scar too badly. But a scar is inevitable, that it is. The wound is too deep..." Flames of Kenshin's past were rekindled in him and he sat in momentarily silence.
Sachi whimpered as a spasm of pain engulfed her. She began to fall over on her side when Kenshin caught her. She heard him calling her name and shaking her with panic in his voice, but it was all a faint memory to her. She was slipping into the blissful dark known as unconsciousness.
"Sachi!" Kenshin gently slapped her face, but to no avail.
"She's lost a lot of blood." Megumi commented. "Yahiko will be okay now. Get a futon for her. I'll take care of her."
"Sachi..." Mist filled Kenshin's violet eyes as he laid the bloody and limp form on a futon. As he gazed on her pain wrenched face a memory, as vivid as day flashed in his mind.
--
"Tomoe..." Kenshin cried as he held his wife, Tomoe, who was drenched in her own blood. She faintly smiled at him as she reached up to his face with her dagger.
"A gift, my love. Forgive me..." She whispered her last breath as the dagger cut into his skin and made a bloody trail upon his cheek, finishing off the heart of his cross.
"Tomoe!" Kenshin wept as he cradled her limp body.
--
Almost automatically Kenshin's nimble fingers reached up beneath his red bangs and traced the memory. A phantom pain dug at his heart as well as his scar. His startled gaze once again drifted unto the girl before him. No, it won't happen again. I will protect you, I promise. He brushed the hair from her sweet face.
I promise.
--
KatD: No idea WHY in the world I put that flashback with Tomoe in there.
Kitty: Maybe it's because you were watching that movie until 1 AM last night?
KatD: thinks maybe. Anywhoo- no idea why, just did it. Hope you guys liked. Please review!
Next chapter: Startling facts revealed about Sachi! Review and tune in next time!
Ja'ne!
