Chapter 4: The Past...
Disclaimers: I own nothing besides Sakura and Kage...
On to Chapter 4!
"Sakura, I want you to move very slowly..." Sanosuke whispered in her ear. "Oh, believe me...I'll take my time if that's what you want...hee hee." she replied with a giggle. "No, I'm serious." he protested, trying to gently push her off of him. "I'm serious, too." she said, teasingly. "Ha!" a voice suddenly yelled.
Elsewhere
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kaoru asked as she, Megumi, and Yahiko walked down the dirt path. The only light that was visible was the soft glow of the moon, peeping in through the trees. "This is what Katsushiro told us. These are his directions." Megumi confirmed, holding up the small paper. This paper was the small group's only clue on how to find Kage. When they find him, that is also where they will find Sanosuke, Kenshin, and Sakura.
"I just hope everyone's alright." Kaoru whispered to herself. "I'm sure they are... Remember, they have Ken-san with them. I doubt rooster-head will do much. Oh ho ho ho!" the Fox cackled, fox ears sprouting on her head as she laughed. "How the hell does she do that?" Yahiko whispered in Kaoru's ear. She just looked at him with a confused look.
Back in Sakura's bedroom
"Watch out!" Sanosuke yelled, pushing Sakura away. "Is this why you came after her?" a voice asked, anger in his voice. "Kenshin!" Sakura exclaimed, looking up at their attacker. "What are ya' talkin' about?! She was doing this to me! And what about you?! Sneakin' around and then not helpin' anybody! Just how long were you there?" Sano yelled back. "Guys, keep it down. The guards might hear you." Sakura hushed them.
"Sakura-dono...what is going on? Why are you doing all this?" Kenshin whispered, turning his gaze onto her. "Because I'm too much of a burden on anyone I come in contact with! It always ends up the same way! All the people I love..." she started to explain, before her emotions took over her. "And that's why you have to join the bad guys?" Sano asked, kneeling beside her. Sakura looked up into his soft, chocolate eyes, staring into his thoughtful gaze. 'No! It is not going to happen!!' she thought to herself, shutting her eyes tightly.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked, worried. "I hate you!" Sakura suddenly cried, running towards the door. "Jo-chan...matte!" Sano cried after her. But it was too late. Kage and more guards appeared at the doorway. "Just what are you doing to her? Are you trying to screw around with our emulator? Take them away!" Kage commanded, as the guards rushed into the room. Before anyone could do anything, both young fighters were bound in chains and sent to the dungeons.
Back on the dirt path
Kaoru suddenly stopped, the wind gently blowing past her. "What's wrong, Kaoru-san?" Megumi asked, also feeling the change. "Something is wrong! We have to hurry!" Kaoru replied, beginning to run. "Let's go!" Yahiko agreed, also beginning to run.
The trio ran until they crashed into something that knocked them back. "And just what are you three doing out so late at night?" a voice asked them, startling them. "Katsushiro! Why did you scare us like that?!" a very angry Kaoru exclaimed.
"Gomen, gomen... But, Sano asked me to check up on you guys. He knew that you were gonna' follow them anyway, so he asked me to follow you. He also told me to protect ya'." Sano's friend explained. "Oh, so rooster-head actually thought ahead. I'm impressed." Megumi giggled. "Hey, Sano may be a pain in the ass, but he still knows what he's doin'!" Katsushiro defended his best friend. "Well, anyway, are ya' gonna' help us or not?" Yahiko asked, growing impatient. "Fine, let's go." the older man agreed.
In the dungeon cell
"You know, this is not Sakura-chan that is doin' this..." Sanosuke confirmed, looking down at the floor. "That's what I want to believe. But, even I might have to admit that it's not going that way." Kenshin tried to agree.
"Psst!" a voice whispered suddenly. "Who's there?" Kenshin asked, grabbing the handle of his sakaba sword. "It's me. Can I talk to you guys?" Sakura asked, now appearing before them. "What is it?" Sano asked, a bit annoyed.
Sakura quickly entered the cell and stood in front of the two young men. "I'm really sorry about before. I was a bit drunk from the party." she began to explain. "So, what the hell is really goin' on?! Or is this part of the plan, too?!" the tall fighter yelled at her. "Sano...calm down." Kenshin hushed him. "Okay, I'll tell you everything." she began.
"We're listening." Kenshin stated, sitting on the floor next to them. Sakura and Sanosuke followed in suit. "I've been alone for the longest time. This was especially during the time after Akira died. I had nowhere to go. I was so afraid and I didn't know what to do. So, I just stayed there, by his body...and cried." she began to explain, looking away from their concerned faces.
'I want to say somethin'...but, maybe I'll wait.' Sanosuke thought to himself, looking at her sadly.
"And that was when he appeared. Kage took care of me, but then left me with a kind family somewhere in Kyoto. I wanted to go with him, but he told me that I wasn't ready. I grew up with the family. They had a dojo where I trained hours and hours, everyday. When I turned 19, early this year, I decided I was ready and went to search for him." the young woman continued.
"You never found him until recently. But...why did you try to kill him before? When we first met you?" Kenshin asked, still not fully understanding her. "I had heard rumors that he was the one that sold out on Akira-san. I had to find out myself. I still don't even know the answer. That is why I'm trying to befriend him and see what I can do." she explained, standing up.
"You mean, this was all an act? You had everyone put in danger for something that happened years ago?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Sano suddenly yelled, standing face to face with her. "Gomen nasai...if I didn't do it that way...then it wouldn't have been believable. I'm so very sorry that I got you into this mess." she apologized, burying her head into his muscular chest. 'I want to say it...demo... What will she think?' Zanza thought to himself.
"What are you going to do now?" Kenshin asked, walking up to them. "Before I can answer that... Sano-san... You do know that I'm Kenshin's sister, right?" Sakura asked, looking up at Sano. "Nani?" he asked, wide-eyed. "Even I didn't believe it before... But, somehow...I feel that she's telling the truth." Kenshin commented.
'So, that icicle Aoshi was tellin' the truth. I guess about everything. For everything to work, she needed to do everything. Even..become a ...spy.' Sanosuke thought to himself, staring at Sakura. "And about what I'm going to do now...I have to stay here. I need to find out about everything. And maybe after, I'll come visit you." she finally replied, giving them a loving smile. But, as she spoke, both young men's faces had shocked expressions.
"Jo-chan...It's not safe here by yourself. Ya' need at least me and Kenshin to help ya' out! You..." Sano began to protest. Sakura silenced him with two slender fingers on his warm lips. "Daijobou...I'll be fine. Now, you two need to get out of here... Take care. I love you both...so...don't get caught!" she whispered, kissing both men on the cheeks. "Sakura..." Kenshin mouthed her name, watching his sister. 'You have become so strong...' he thought to himself. "Sayonara..." she said, her hands moving in front of her. "Wo ai ni!" Sano suddenly cried out, tears streaming down his face. "Wo ai ni...Sano-san... aneki..." she replied before they disappeared from the room.
Outside
"We're back out! Come on, let's go get the others! We'll need all the help we can get!" Sano cried, placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "Right." Kenshin agreed, smiling back.
"Sanosuke! Kenshin!" a voice called out to them. "It's them! Let's hurry!" Kenshin exclaimed, recogizing the voice.
In Sakura's room
'Whew...thank kami-sama no one heard or saw anything. I just hope everything turns out okay...' Sakura thought to herself, changing into her night robe. She got into the bed, not noticing the tall shadow in her room
'I can read your mind, Night Goddess. Do you really think you can get away with this? I know everything that goes on around here. Just you wait...' the figure laughed to himself.
****End of Chapter 4****
Disclaimers: I own nothing besides Sakura and Kage...
On to Chapter 4!
"Sakura, I want you to move very slowly..." Sanosuke whispered in her ear. "Oh, believe me...I'll take my time if that's what you want...hee hee." she replied with a giggle. "No, I'm serious." he protested, trying to gently push her off of him. "I'm serious, too." she said, teasingly. "Ha!" a voice suddenly yelled.
Elsewhere
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kaoru asked as she, Megumi, and Yahiko walked down the dirt path. The only light that was visible was the soft glow of the moon, peeping in through the trees. "This is what Katsushiro told us. These are his directions." Megumi confirmed, holding up the small paper. This paper was the small group's only clue on how to find Kage. When they find him, that is also where they will find Sanosuke, Kenshin, and Sakura.
"I just hope everyone's alright." Kaoru whispered to herself. "I'm sure they are... Remember, they have Ken-san with them. I doubt rooster-head will do much. Oh ho ho ho!" the Fox cackled, fox ears sprouting on her head as she laughed. "How the hell does she do that?" Yahiko whispered in Kaoru's ear. She just looked at him with a confused look.
Back in Sakura's bedroom
"Watch out!" Sanosuke yelled, pushing Sakura away. "Is this why you came after her?" a voice asked, anger in his voice. "Kenshin!" Sakura exclaimed, looking up at their attacker. "What are ya' talkin' about?! She was doing this to me! And what about you?! Sneakin' around and then not helpin' anybody! Just how long were you there?" Sano yelled back. "Guys, keep it down. The guards might hear you." Sakura hushed them.
"Sakura-dono...what is going on? Why are you doing all this?" Kenshin whispered, turning his gaze onto her. "Because I'm too much of a burden on anyone I come in contact with! It always ends up the same way! All the people I love..." she started to explain, before her emotions took over her. "And that's why you have to join the bad guys?" Sano asked, kneeling beside her. Sakura looked up into his soft, chocolate eyes, staring into his thoughtful gaze. 'No! It is not going to happen!!' she thought to herself, shutting her eyes tightly.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked, worried. "I hate you!" Sakura suddenly cried, running towards the door. "Jo-chan...matte!" Sano cried after her. But it was too late. Kage and more guards appeared at the doorway. "Just what are you doing to her? Are you trying to screw around with our emulator? Take them away!" Kage commanded, as the guards rushed into the room. Before anyone could do anything, both young fighters were bound in chains and sent to the dungeons.
Back on the dirt path
Kaoru suddenly stopped, the wind gently blowing past her. "What's wrong, Kaoru-san?" Megumi asked, also feeling the change. "Something is wrong! We have to hurry!" Kaoru replied, beginning to run. "Let's go!" Yahiko agreed, also beginning to run.
The trio ran until they crashed into something that knocked them back. "And just what are you three doing out so late at night?" a voice asked them, startling them. "Katsushiro! Why did you scare us like that?!" a very angry Kaoru exclaimed.
"Gomen, gomen... But, Sano asked me to check up on you guys. He knew that you were gonna' follow them anyway, so he asked me to follow you. He also told me to protect ya'." Sano's friend explained. "Oh, so rooster-head actually thought ahead. I'm impressed." Megumi giggled. "Hey, Sano may be a pain in the ass, but he still knows what he's doin'!" Katsushiro defended his best friend. "Well, anyway, are ya' gonna' help us or not?" Yahiko asked, growing impatient. "Fine, let's go." the older man agreed.
In the dungeon cell
"You know, this is not Sakura-chan that is doin' this..." Sanosuke confirmed, looking down at the floor. "That's what I want to believe. But, even I might have to admit that it's not going that way." Kenshin tried to agree.
"Psst!" a voice whispered suddenly. "Who's there?" Kenshin asked, grabbing the handle of his sakaba sword. "It's me. Can I talk to you guys?" Sakura asked, now appearing before them. "What is it?" Sano asked, a bit annoyed.
Sakura quickly entered the cell and stood in front of the two young men. "I'm really sorry about before. I was a bit drunk from the party." she began to explain. "So, what the hell is really goin' on?! Or is this part of the plan, too?!" the tall fighter yelled at her. "Sano...calm down." Kenshin hushed him. "Okay, I'll tell you everything." she began.
"We're listening." Kenshin stated, sitting on the floor next to them. Sakura and Sanosuke followed in suit. "I've been alone for the longest time. This was especially during the time after Akira died. I had nowhere to go. I was so afraid and I didn't know what to do. So, I just stayed there, by his body...and cried." she began to explain, looking away from their concerned faces.
'I want to say somethin'...but, maybe I'll wait.' Sanosuke thought to himself, looking at her sadly.
"And that was when he appeared. Kage took care of me, but then left me with a kind family somewhere in Kyoto. I wanted to go with him, but he told me that I wasn't ready. I grew up with the family. They had a dojo where I trained hours and hours, everyday. When I turned 19, early this year, I decided I was ready and went to search for him." the young woman continued.
"You never found him until recently. But...why did you try to kill him before? When we first met you?" Kenshin asked, still not fully understanding her. "I had heard rumors that he was the one that sold out on Akira-san. I had to find out myself. I still don't even know the answer. That is why I'm trying to befriend him and see what I can do." she explained, standing up.
"You mean, this was all an act? You had everyone put in danger for something that happened years ago?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Sano suddenly yelled, standing face to face with her. "Gomen nasai...if I didn't do it that way...then it wouldn't have been believable. I'm so very sorry that I got you into this mess." she apologized, burying her head into his muscular chest. 'I want to say it...demo... What will she think?' Zanza thought to himself.
"What are you going to do now?" Kenshin asked, walking up to them. "Before I can answer that... Sano-san... You do know that I'm Kenshin's sister, right?" Sakura asked, looking up at Sano. "Nani?" he asked, wide-eyed. "Even I didn't believe it before... But, somehow...I feel that she's telling the truth." Kenshin commented.
'So, that icicle Aoshi was tellin' the truth. I guess about everything. For everything to work, she needed to do everything. Even..become a ...spy.' Sanosuke thought to himself, staring at Sakura. "And about what I'm going to do now...I have to stay here. I need to find out about everything. And maybe after, I'll come visit you." she finally replied, giving them a loving smile. But, as she spoke, both young men's faces had shocked expressions.
"Jo-chan...It's not safe here by yourself. Ya' need at least me and Kenshin to help ya' out! You..." Sano began to protest. Sakura silenced him with two slender fingers on his warm lips. "Daijobou...I'll be fine. Now, you two need to get out of here... Take care. I love you both...so...don't get caught!" she whispered, kissing both men on the cheeks. "Sakura..." Kenshin mouthed her name, watching his sister. 'You have become so strong...' he thought to himself. "Sayonara..." she said, her hands moving in front of her. "Wo ai ni!" Sano suddenly cried out, tears streaming down his face. "Wo ai ni...Sano-san... aneki..." she replied before they disappeared from the room.
Outside
"We're back out! Come on, let's go get the others! We'll need all the help we can get!" Sano cried, placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "Right." Kenshin agreed, smiling back.
"Sanosuke! Kenshin!" a voice called out to them. "It's them! Let's hurry!" Kenshin exclaimed, recogizing the voice.
In Sakura's room
'Whew...thank kami-sama no one heard or saw anything. I just hope everything turns out okay...' Sakura thought to herself, changing into her night robe. She got into the bed, not noticing the tall shadow in her room
'I can read your mind, Night Goddess. Do you really think you can get away with this? I know everything that goes on around here. Just you wait...' the figure laughed to himself.
****End of Chapter 4****