Chapter 18

"Shouldn't we think this through first!?" I watch as Enishi takes out
his blade and examines it with confidence. Liya is spouting something
in Chinese while trying to pry the weapon from his grasp. Nearly
possessed with his rage, the man forcibly controls himself so as not to
throw her away from him.

"No. I'm going now." He shoves the woman off of him and steps toward
me. "I'm assuming you're coming with us." I nod curtly. I am the police
after all. My job is to catch these bastards as his job is to defeat
them. Besides, they are evil and evil must be vanquished.

"I'll go too." With sidelong glares, Enishi and I notice Battousai
stand as his hand menacingly touches his sword's hilt. He always puts
the world on his shoulders like this. It's as if he thinks he's the
only one who should be allowed to risk his life. That's not going to
happen this time. He has a family now. Of course, I have a family as
well, but that's not the point.

"No. You have a family to protect, Battousai. Besides, this isn't your
fight." Violet eyes glare at me. His hand grips the hilt of his sword
more firmly. "I suggest taking your wife and child to the clinic so
that you can watch over the brat as well. The yakusa won't be happy
that we are accompanying the woman to her meeting. They will likely
attack. I'm surprised you didn't think of that. Married life has made
you weak, Battousai." I sneer at my adversary's growl.

Frowning, Enishi holds out his hand to his woman. "Let's go. We're
wasting time." Nervously, she does as he says. "I will explain along
the way. It's not safe here anymore."

* * *

"Don't touch her!" I strike out at a random goon. He is not going to
touch Tsubame! Ms. Tae was bad enough! Luckily, they just beat her…Ha!
Just beat her! How often is someone happy someone was simply beaten!?
She's now unconscious in my lap. I guess she looked too old to them.
Animals! They're all a bunch of animals!

"Oh? And what are you gonna do if we take the girl with us? Huh? Beat
us to death?" They begin laughing hysterically. Tsubame is crying.
They're fingering her hair as I try to kick at them.

"Hold on to me Tsubame-chan!" She clutches to my arm while the men
tauntingly grab at her feet.

"Come on little one." They tickle her ankles making her scream.

"I told you to get away from her!" I kick one in the face as hard as I
can.

"Aww. The big man is protecting his women!" They laugh. The one I
kicked rubs the blood off his lip and sneers. Like hyenas surrounding
prey, they hysterically laugh as they taunt and pick at the girls I'm
trying to protect. It's obvious. They're just toying with us. At any
time, they could get serious and do even more damage. "Or would you
rather we take the other one!"

"Onii-chan!!" I lunge after my sister. Ms. Tae's head thumps onto the
floor. She opens her eyes and screams at the sight of all the men
surrounding us. My sister is being dragged away! No! I disregard the
pain surging through my body. I was beaten badly and I have a hangover,
but I don't care! They aren't taking her anywhere!

"Cho! Get away from her! Don't touch her!" I drag myself onto my knees.
Wounds reopen. Cho tries to wiggle her way out of the hands holding
her. I throw myself at the men.

* * *

"We will openly go with you. I'm not going to hide. There's no point in
faking my presence. They know I'm already going to come." I drag Liya
along with me. It's hurting her that I'm treating her so roughly, but
we need to hurry. There's no telling what those bastards are doing to
the girls they kidnapped. I narrow my eyes and go faster.

"What will they do if I'm not alone?" They shouldn't do anything. They
know I'm going. They also know I intend to fight. There is no doubt in
my mind that Michio has thought of everything. In fact…My senses
heighten. There are several men watching us. Yes. We're on our way. Go
tell your boss…

"Nothing. He's expecting you to have guests." Saitou snorts at this
comment.

* * *

"Dr. Gensai, I suggest all of your patients stay inside at all times.
There might be some fighting going on outside. I don't want anyone
getting hurt." I hold my baby close and watch Yahiko breathe. He was
very badly beaten. How did they manage to do it so silently that no one
heard it? "Kaoru? Try to stay calm. They probably won't attack for a
while. Most likely, as soon as their boss is defeated or when they
think they have an advantage. Okay?"

Kenshin kisses my forehead. He's just as scared as me. I can tell by
the gold flecks in his eyes and the authority in his voice. Whatever
soothing words he tells me, we'll both still be frightened. I won't let
these bastards win though. I can fight too. I don't care how protective
my husband is. They won't expect me to fight. The yakusa seem to think
of women as weak little playthings. They forget that we're also
warriors. Even Liya, in her own way, is a fighter. How else did she
survive these men? I will fight.

I hand Dr. Gensai my child and take the bokken off the strap upon my
back. Kenshin stares at me in shock. "Kaoru! What are-"

"I'm fighting too." I thrust my bokken at his face to stop him from
talking. "I'm fighting."

* * *

"Take this. You will need to protect yourself." We're still running to
Rakuminmura. There is a dagger being thrust in front of me. I take it
with an, "arigatou…" It's a very small dagger. Most likely, it could
fit in my hair. Unfortunately, I can't do that right now. Instead, I
carefully hide it in my cleavage.

Suddenly, we stop. I nearly run into Enishi from behind. My jaw drops.
Plumes of smoke rise from the destroyed shacks. They must have used the
cannon. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes. I immediately swipe that
them. I won't give Michio the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Bodies litter the ground. All of them are men. My mind wanders to what
the women must be going through. This is all because of me. If only I
hadn't run away! None of this would be happening if I were still
serving these animals. No! I won't think like that! This is their
fault. I want to know. Why are they so obsessed with this? Why do they
want revenge against my father so badly that they will reduce
themselves to doing these things? Why!?

I feel my nostrils flare. Enishi takes a step forward as if he is going
to call to Michio. No! I will be the one to call him out! I have had
enough! "Michio! You come here!" I step away from the two men
accompanying me. Enishi isn't too sure about my separation. I can tell
by the occasional darting glances and the shifting of his feet. Saitou
looks impressed. Apparently, he thought I was just a weak little
female. On the contrary, I do have a back bone.

It looks like I was heard. Michio comfortably makes his way out of the
sturdy shack that Enishi once used as a look out. He lazily adjusts his
navy blue suit while smiling triumphantly at me. Regarding the men
behind me, he raises his eyebrow mockingly, yet intelligently keeps his
distance. "I see you made it."

"You sick bastard…" Yes. I caught Enishi saying the word a few days
ago. He forgot about how quickly I catch onto things. "You not deserve
life. I kill you." A loud deep laugh rumbles from Michio's gut. He
doesn't believe me. He still thinks I'm weak and fragile. That will be
his downfall. Never underestimate an angry woman.

"Is that what these two are here for? You couldn't possibly kill me
yourself. You lack the strength and the means." He continues to
chuckle. Is he trying to intimidate me? The corners of my mouth twitch.
Now, he is intimidated. I nearly missed the slight widening of his
eyes. He's good at hiding his weaknesses, but obviously not good
enough.

"You think your men not try get me when you not looking?" He smiles,
amused. "I still pure. I have way to fight. Father teach." His eyes
narrow slightly. He can't keep his poker face forever. He's curious of
my abilities at least. I was with the yakusa too long. I can think
sadistically as well.

"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. Your protection left." I take
the time to look around me. Enishi and Saitou are no where to be found.
I am alone. That's fine. This is my fight. They have to find Cho-chan
and the others. Michio takes a step towards me as I return my glare to
his grinning face. "You're very sure of yourself Tang Mu. I like that
in a woman."

Men seemingly come out of nowhere. They leave themselves wide open
thinking I'm an easy target. That I'm really all talk. Michio watches
me intently. By the serious look on his face, I can tell he's still
curious about how I can possibly fight. It's not time to show you yet.
The men's hands are on me now. By the look in their eyes, I have been
easily caught.

"Why didn't you fight them, Tang Mu? If you're such a great fighter." I
never said I was a great fighter. I said I could fight and have fought.
Condescending fingers trace my jaw line in the same way they did when I
was first caught the night my family was murdered. "Take her to the
headquarters. Have the women prepare her. Enishi and the chief will
already know where we are taking her. Try to stall them as best you
can. Use your numbers, the weapons, and the hostages to your advantage.
Oh yes, and bring the two little girls as well. Have them prepared.
They will be a tasty treat."

I struggle in the men's grasp. They wouldn't dare to touch the
children! Wait! Yes they would! The way these men think: The younger
the better!! No!!! By the gods, not the children! Please! My
indifference only makes them snicker. They're like wild dogs playing
with a stunned rodent!

I will not let these men intimidate me! If I let them take me to the
headquarters, I can get close to Michio and kill him. I can use
pressure points to paralyze him and use the dagger to finish the job.
That's what I can do. He won't see it coming.

With that, I generically struggle. If I go too willingly, they will
know something is going to happen. Not that they would feel threatened,
but they would be aware. I don't want them to have any clue as to what
I'm going to do to their boss. Won't that just utterly confuse them!
Their little plaything isn't as weak as they thought she was.

* * *

Ooo, Things are heating up!! *hears a war cry off in the distance.* I
hope I made the bad guys evil enough for all of you. Just reading it to
myself makes me want to jump into the story's world to kick some ass.
Hee hee!! *brandishes her shinai...bokken is on stand-by*

Well, I hope you like it so far!! Thanks for still reading my fic
everybody!!!