DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: This is my first Alternate Universe Fanfic about Kenshin and Kaoru falling in love during modern times. It's not your typical love story and it is OOC. (Drama/Angst/Romance) Fatal Love Fanfiction by Gypsy-chan Enjoy!
Please Note: This story was not written to offend those in the medical profession or in the law enforcement field. It was written from my over-active imagination. The characters, the characters in various professional capacities and the events in this story should not be taken literal in anyway. OOCness and unethical practices will prevail throughout this story. Thank you and Enjoy! ^_^
Part Ninteen
...."I hate the government as much as you do," yelled Sano. "But there's other ways to deal with a corrupted government. What you're doing is wrong!"
"It may be, but that doesn't matter now. I have a job to do," replied Anji as he raised his fist toward Sano.
"So do I," replied Sano as he clenches his fists together preparing to fight Anji.
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"Kenshin, is Sanosuke going to be alright," Kaoru worriedly asked while running along side him.
"Don't worry about Sano, he knows how to take care of himself," replied Kenshin as he began slowing his pace. "Let's rest up over here for a moment."
She nodded while resting against the wall next to Kenshin.
"Sano and I have talked about his past from time to time. I remember him telling me that he came from a large family. Anji was the oldest of five other siblings. After Anji's father died, his mother married Sano's father. Sano was a young boy at the time. Raising a large family during those days proved to be challeging. Work was hard to find. Sano's father had no choice but to leave the country in order to search for a job.
His father evenually found work in an embassy outside of his country. After settling into his new job, he sent for his family. They lived happily in the embassy for years. One day, Sano's father had become seriously ill. He had caught an unknown virus that had been slowly spreading throughout his body. By the time the virus had been diagnosed, there was nothing the doctors could do. After his father's death, his family was permitted to continue living in the embassy. This was mainly due to the loyal service of Sano's father.
A year later, a new group of politicians moved into the embassy. They were corrupt and greedy. They wanted to eradicate all those under the former political group so that all governmental funding would go to them. In their eyes, Sano's family was a financial burden. So this new political group, secretly employed a few of the local gang members to eliminate Sano's family.
Anji had heard whisperings of them being forced to leave the embassy. He didn't want to upset his mother over such matters. So he and Sano devised a plan. Being the oldest, Anji decided to stay and protect the family. He was much stronger than Sano at the time. Sano was only 14. Anji sent Sano across town to seek help from a higher government official. After Sano left, the gang members came and attacked the family. Anji fought hard to protect his family. As he chased off one group of thugs, several other thugs ambushed his mother and younger siblings. They set fire to the embassy house leaving Anji's mother and younger siblings trapped inside the burning building to die. By the time Anji returned, it was too late."
"After that tragic incident, Sano and Anji eventually went separate ways. By the time Sano was 16, he had become a well known street fighter. He went by the name of Zana. He stayed in trouble until he met 27-year-old Officer Souzou Sagara. Souzou worked for the auxiliary police. He knew how to relate with the youths in the neighborhood. He felt compassion for the young troubled teens.
Souzou could see that Sano was a good kid that had a bad break in life. So he put Sano in one of the big brother programs the police sponsored to keep him out of trouble. Since Souzou was in charge of that particular program, he chose to become a big brother to Sano. Sano deeply admired and respected his new "big brother." Things seem to be looking up for Sano. But not for long.
One day, the chief inpsector of the department received some disturbing news. The accountant had noticed discrepancies in the police department payroll books. Apparently, a dirty police sargent by the name of Shindo Tatewaki, was extorting money from the big brother programs. When the chief inspector called Shindo into the investigation, Shindo immediately fingered Souzou. He falsely accused him of pocketing the money.
Three of Souzou's friends overheard Shindo's false allegations. Yukawa Rensaburo, one of Souzou's friends, went to Souzou's home to tell him about the matter. Souzou's other two friends decided to stay and speak with the chief inspector privately. They wanted him to know the truth about their friend Souzou. The chief inspector listened patiently and then told them that he would handle the matter.
Unfortunately, the chief inspector didn't believe a word they said. Shindo was a 15 year veteran on the police force and was highly respected by all in the department. So naturally, his word was more creditable than that of two young auxilliary police officers. The chief inspector went back and told Shindo of the allegations. Shindo used that to his advantage.
First he had word spread around town that the big brother programs was just a scam. While that was happening, he then targeted the two young men who stood up for Souzou as being partners in his extortion ring. They were arrested and then eventually sentenced to ten years in jail for extorting unlawful funds from the police department.
After speaking with Yukawa, Souzou knew there was no way of proving his innocence against Shindo. So he decided to get Sano to safety. He didn't want him to be involved in whatever punnishment Shindo had arranged for him. While packing Sano's things, Sano argued with Souzou, demanding to stay with him.
Suddenly they heard a loud pounding at the door. It was the police demanding that Souzou open up. Souzou motioned for Yukawa to guard the door. As Yukawa stood by the door, Souzou quickly grabbed Sano and took him to the window. He told Sano to use the fire escape and run to safety. Sano still didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay and fight. Souzou said that he expected great things of Sano. He made him promise to stay on the right path and that one day they would meet again.
Souzou then shoved Sano out the window onto the fire escape. He quickly locked the window so Sano wouldn't re-enter. As Sano pounded on the window to be let back in, he saw the police break down Souzou's door. Sano watched in horror as he saw Shindo give the command to kill Yukawa and Souzou. Souzou and his friend Yukawa was not given an honorable burial. They were buried on a vacant lot in unmarked graves.
When Sano became an adult, he legally changed his last name to that of Sagara and took over Souzou's old badge number when he took the security guard position here at the prison. Sano is the only security guard with two badge numbers. He feels that its his way of keeping his promise to Souzou and keeping his memory alive.
Anji on the other hand, was deeply troubled for years over the death of his mother and younger siblings. He first sought comfort in the monastery, eventually becoming a monk. He thought that being a monk would help him cope with the deep wounds he held inside. Unfortunately, it didn't help Anji. He never found the true peace he sought so desparately. He left the order of monks and began working underground for various yakuzas. Over the course of time, he seems to be driving himself closer to destruction. I hope Sano can help him come to his senses before it is too late."
"Me too."
"I think we had better go," said Kenshin as he checked the area. "We've been here long enough."
"Yes," nodded Kaoru. "We still must find the counterfeit money. It just has to be around here somewhere."
Kenshin nodded to her while thinking, "But first I will find a safe place for you."
As Kenshin and Kaoru continued down the dark corridor, Okita was hidden from their view. He pulled out his cellphone and contacted Saitoh.
Okita on phone: "Saitoh, I'm still shadowing Himura and Dr. Kamiya."
Saitoh on phone: "Good."
Okita on phone: "Did you apprehend Hoji at the waterfront?"
Saitoh on phone: "Yes. We caught him and a few of his accomplices unloading tainted drugs on the docks.
Okita on phone: "What about Shishio and Yumi?"
Saitoh on phone: "Shura notified me that Shishio and Yumi were apprehended ten minutes ago. The Navy has confiscated their vessel."
Okita on phone: "Good."
Saitoh on phone: "Whatever you do, don't lose Himura. I'm sure he'll lead us to the counterfeit money."
Okita on phone: "Roger that." (Dial tone heard. Okita disconnects)
Saitoh closes cellphone and smiles as he pulls a cigarette out of his pocket.
Back in the other corridor, Sano smiled as he saw his brother preparing to fight.
"I see you're still using the same fighting style you taught me when I was a kid. I've mastered that fighting style over the years. You don't stand a chance against me. I'm much faster and stronger than you are."
"Mastered my fighting style? You're still just as cocky as ever little brother," stated Anji. "I see that I'll have to teach you a lesson."
"Then let's do it," replied Sano as he charged Anji. They both traded blow for blow until Anji finally slammed a hard right into Sano's chest sending him flying against the prison walls.
As Sano whinced in pain, Anji glared over to him and said, "Come on little brother, you can do better than that. I thought you said you mastered by fighting style," mocked Anji as he stood over Sano. "Show me how much stronger and faster you have become."
"Okay you asked for it," scowled Sano before punching upward to hit him. Anji grasped both Sano's fist blocking his punches. Sano swung his knee hard into Anji's stomach causing him to fall backwards to the floor.
As Anji lie on the floor grimacing in pain, Sano cautiously approached him. Anji cast his eyes at Sano as he grew nearer. Suddenly, he took his leg and swung it forward, knocking Sano off balance. As he fell to the floor, Anji immediately jumped on top of Sano and began wrestling with him. Sano was now in a choke hold. He started panting heavily and grasping for air. Sano tried desparately to pry Anji's hands off his neck.
As dizziness began to set in, Sano used the last of his strength to ram his elbow into Anji's ribcage. The force of the hit caused Anji to fall backward. While sitting in a dazed condition, Sano slammed his fist into Anji's face knocking him into a semi-unconscious state. Before darkness set in, Anji looked at his brother and gave him a half-smile, "You fought well.... little..... brother...."
Sano plopped down beside his unconscious brother and panted, "I... know." He used the wall to pull himself up while still panting, "I.... got.... to find.... Ken...shin," wheezed Sano as he staggered down the hallway.
Kenshin and Kaoru were feeling their way down a long dark narrow passageway. As they entered a semi-lit room, Kenshin looked around at all the bags and mumbled, "Hmmm..... This must be the other garbage storage area."
"I've already figured that out Kenshin," replied Kaoru in a nasal tone while pincing her nose closed.
"Sorry, I guess I was just thinking out loud," said Kenshin as he looked at her. "But still, we must be on guard."
"Right," she replied before stumbling over a garbage bag. As she sat in the midst of garbage she gasped, "Eww!!"
"Kaoru, are you alright?" Kenshin worriedly asked.
"I guess I'm okay for a person sitting in a pile of filthy garbage," she replied as she threw a banana peel off her leg. "I should have been...."
"Should have been what?"
"Kenshin, come closer," said Kaoru as she nervously bit her bottom lip. As Kenshin moved even closer to her, she took her hand and rested it upon the top his head.
Kaoru began curiously rubbing his hair. Kenshin sat puzzled as to what she was doing. "Kaoru, this is not the time for...."
"Shhh.... ," she whispered. "Quick give me your hand. I want you to feel something."
Kenshin hesitatedly replied, "Kaoru... I really think we should wait until...."
"Kenshin, are you going to give me your hand or not," said an exasperated Karou. "There's something furry on my hand. I know it's not the fake wig I wore as a disguise. That thing fell off during my fight with Kamatari. I'm hoping that furry thing on my hand is not what I think it is."
Kenshin took his hand and felt along side of Kaoru. The furry thing had a long narrow tail. "There's no need to worry. It's only a dead rat."
Kaoru's eyes widened in shock as she screamed, "RAT!!"
She immediately bolted upward knocking him down as she ran past him screaming, "Eeeeekk!!" Kaoru tripped over more bags of garbage with dead rats surrounding her.
"Eeeeek!!! Kenshin!! Help me out of here! I'm trapped in a pile of garbage and dead rats!! Eeeeek!!"
As Kenshin jumped over the mounds of garbage, he made his way over to a shaken Kaoru. He took her in his arms holding her tight. "Don't worry Kaoru, I'm here now," he said while rocking her in his arms.
"I hate rats! Dead or alive, they are still hideous creatures," she whimpered as she rested her head on his chest.
"I know, but you don't have to worry about that as long as I'm with you," he said while gripping her arm firmly helping her to stand.
"Thank you Kenshin," she replied while leaning against him. "I don't think we'll find anything in this filthy place. Let's go."
Kenshin took her by the hand and began leading her out of the room. As he neared the door, he accidentally knocked over a flashlight that was lying on the corner of a table. The flashlight rolled part way under the table. Upon bending down to pick up the flashlight, he felt a small rectangular metal plate under the table.
"What's the matter Kenshin? Did you find something?"
"I believe so," he replied while grabbing the flashlight and quickly flashing the light upon the metal plate. As he held the metal plate in his hand, he began examining it more closely. He suddenly realized that it was one of the plates used to make the counterfeit money. Kaoru squinted her eyes and the metal plate.
"Kenshin you found it," she cheerfully said. "It's the metal plate used for making counterfeit money."
"Yes it is," he replied while still holding the metal plate.
Kaoru found another flashlight on the table. She began shining the light around on the floor. She was shocked to find one garbage bag that had money stuffed in it. Kaoru became excited. "Kenshin, quick! Shine your light over there!"
Kenshin took his flashlight and flashed the light into the direction Kaoru was eagerly pointing to. He also saw a garbage bag filled with money. He quickly went over to the bag and also saw another bag with the tainted drugs in them.
"Kenshin you found it!" squealed Kaoru as she looked at the bags with all the drugs and counterfeit money.
"It was never lost," said a man standing near the door pointing a gun at them. "Now step aside."
