Disclaimer- own nothing except for the Dum Dum wrapper in my pocket
A/n- my lil tribute to Yumi Konagata, my favorite female character in Rurouni Kenshin! (oh and Tomoe's okay too…why do I always go for the ghosts? Come to think about it, Souzo Sagara doesn't look too bad either…) The Japanese excerpt is mainly the line Yumi says in the song Juppon-Gattana, when she's dying and you know all that mushy stuff.
Katte
Yumi Konagata, the most valued prostitute of her time.
Here I am, watching the man I love struggle against the manslayer Battousai.
I clutch the pocketwatch fearfully, hoping against hope that time would slow down…that time would Shishio-sama a second chance.
Please, I prayed silently, please let Shishio-sama win…
Alas, time did not slow down, instead it seemed to quicken.
The ticking of the watch seemed to foreshadow death, and I choked back a cry as my eyes saw the time.
Past fifteen minutes.
Houji watched impassively by my side, his bandaged fingers were curled around—around—
"Houji!" I cried, clutching his coat, "Use the rifle, pray, use it! Can't you see Shishio-sama is at his end???"
"End?" he looked at me quizzically.
"You forgot?! Shishio-sama can only fight for fifteen minutes altogether! As an aftermath of his burning, it destroyed his sweat pores and if—if it passed fifteen minutes—who knows what will happen?!"
I watched as his hand tightened around the barrel of the gun and—
Threw it away.
"Why?!" I yelled at him, "Why did you throw the gun away?!?!"
"Believe in him, Yumi. We must believe in Shishio-sama." Houji replied calmly, watching the battle without any clear expression his face.
I stifled a sob, and glanced at the pocketwatch again.
Waaay past fifteen minutes.
As the Battousai gave Shishio-sama his final and ultimate attack, the Soaring Dragon Flash (roughly translated by CyberSerpent -_-;;;), Shishio-sama gave a groan and—and—
He's at his end!!! I broke into a cry and ran for my beloved.
"Yumi!" Houji shouted.
I dashed between Shishio-sama and Battousai, pleading, "Please, haven't you had enough? Isn't this enough for you? Please, don't torture Shishio-sama any longer! …please…"
Battousai's eyes softened, and he put down his sword—
"You're too innocent, Battousai. Our battle's not over yet."
Then—then all I felt was blinding pain in my bosom, and then I fell backwards. All I saw was the Battousai falling also, bleeding heavily from a side wound.
"You're not human, Shishio. Do you really—DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WIN THAT BAD?!?! THAT BAD THAT YOU CAN—YOU CAN BETRAY THE ONE TRUE PERSON WHO LOVES YOU?!?!"
Then…all was becoming blurry…and then Shishio-sama voice…
"Betray? I don't know what you're talking about. There's not one person in this world who understands me better than her, and I her."
His gloved hand slowly moved up my neck, my tears sprinkling down on them. All I could manage was a few words:
"I'm so…happy. This was the first time I actually came in use for a battle…and in Shishio-sama's most important battle too…Everytime, when Soujiro or Kamatari fights for Shishio-sama…I get so jealous… To Shishio-sama, battling is his life. And all I can do is just stand by and watch. So many times…I get so jealous and envious, why can't I help Shishio-sama too? But this time, it's different."I looked at Shishio-sama and touched his bloodied face…so beautiful in my eyes…
"Katte...! Katte kudasaimase! Shisho-sama... Yumi wa hitoashi saki......jigoku de... Omachi... shite.. ...orimasu."
Then all was blank.
A/n- normally I wouldn't intervene at the end of an extremely sad fic (to keep da atmosphere, ya know?), but here's the translation of the words Yumi said at her death: "Win…! Please win! Shishio-sama…Yumi will be…one step ahead of you…in Hell…"
And yes, this was told in her POV.
R+R pleaseeeee!!!
Later dayz
CyberSerpent .~
PS. And if you have time, PLEASE review my Soujiro tributes, Innocence and Journey! I don't have any yet…sniffles.
