Chapter 7
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
Sanosuke-san was immediately operated on by Megumi-san after we found Sanosuke-san wounded and on the dojo floor. I was standing in the doorway of the dojo, watching Kenshin ponder over things in his mind. And yet, I knew, without looking that it was someone from his past... The dreams, they made sense.
* * * * *
It's been three days since we found Sanosuke-san. Megumi-san said that his wound was deep and that he was lucky there was no injury to the internal organs. Sanosuke-san was still unconscious.
Kaoru is talking with Megumi-san and I sat there in silence, listening to the two of them while I poured tea for them. My mind was still on Kenshin... "Is Ken-san in the dojo again?" My head lifted up from the pot of tea at the mention of Kenshin.
"Yes, same as ever. He's thinking about something with a scary look on his face." A scary look... Battousai. Abruptly, I stood up, causing the both of them to look up in alarm at me. But I walked towards the dojo once again.
The dojo was lit by a single candle and Kenshin was sitting there, in front of the broken wall, a look of concentration on his face. His face was a frown as he was thinking over the possibilities of who it could be. Suddenly, he stood up and slashed the dojo wall, but barely cracking it.
"Kaoru's going to kill you for that..." I said quietly.
His eyes went to mine immediately and soften, "Tomoe... I... He wanted me. You know that too, don't you?"
"Kenshin..." Yes, I knew it was someone from your past, "Sanosuke-san was just at the wrong place at the wrong time... Don't blame it on yourself... You don't know it was someone that wanted you... And you didn't know he was going to come, or you would have done everything to protect Sanosuke-san..."
"Saitou Hajime... Third captain of the Shinsengumi... It's him, I'm sure... He's done this... The medicine box with the sign for Shinsengumi spies in disguises. His specialized left-handed Gatotsu... He's probably after me for some Battousai business, Tomoe..."
I shook my head, "Let it be some Shinsengumi or not, you are going to sleep right now, Kenshin. You haven't had enough rest for the past few days. Now go." I ordered.
I stood up quietly, then walked away, but took another glance at me, "Arigatou... Tomoe."
* * * * *
"I've got it! It's a woman! He's been here for three months and there's one or two--"
"How can you only have such terrible ideas?! Kenshin has a wife!"
I sighed, not anymore. I thought. Well, not really. I hear the two of them fling insults at each other again while I watch Kenji and Soujiro-kun practice their Kenjitsuu. Suddenly, I stood in alert as a police came in. He looked strangely familiar, as if I recognized him somehow.
He flicked his eyes at me, then a tiny look of surprise crossed his face and he looked back at Kaoru guiltily. "Excuse me." Both Kaoru and Yahiko-kun looked up, "But I was told this was the dojo where Himura Battousai lived. My name is Fujita; I've just been assigned to this town. The chief told me about Himura."
"Unfortunately, Kenshin isn't here now, but..."
"Oh, is that so. The truth is, while it's not confirmed, we received word that Himura was being targeted by a gang of ruffians. Would it be all right if I waited here for him?" Kaoru shook her head, "Arigatou."
He was being too polite for my own liking, but I guess... If Kenshin's targeted by a gang of ruffians, it's not too impossible that the chief would send someone like Fujita-san over... "I'll get you some tea, Fujita-san." I said politely and walked towards the kitchen.
For two hours, we waited patiently, Kaoru was getting too worried, but I knew that Battousai would not be defeated by a few ruffians... Kenji and Soujiro-kun was now sitting with me in the dojo drinking tea. Sanosuke-san was being taken care of by Megumi-san and Kaoru and Yahiko-kun? I have no idea.
Suddenly, I heard Kaoru talk, "The police. The chief sent someone to tell you." I heard the footsteps get louder as I know that she's leading him in here. "He's an assistant police inspector of the Metropolitan Police Office and a member of the sword-bearing police, Mr. Fujita Goro."
He finally arrived and he stared at Fujita-san. Fujita-san turned around and looked at Kenshin, his eyes narrowing, "It seems from your condition that Akamatsu gave you some trouble. You have indeed become weak." For some strange reason, I was not shocked at this. Deep inside, I knew something like this was going to happen... "The last time we fought must have been the battle of the Tobafushimi... So it has been about ten years..." Then he turned to look at me, "Yukishiro-san."
"You know Fujita-san? Kenshin, Tomoe-san?"
"He's the captain of the Shinsengumi, third unit. Saitou Hajime... Fujita Goro's just his changed name." I replied, seeing Saitou-san nod his head.
For minutes, they had been talking. My mind was only processing half the information while the other half of me looked at Kenshin intensely, hoping his Battousai side wouldn't come out.
"I thought Battousai would understand this himself, and I set Akamatsu on him. But as you said, ten years is enough time for a man to go bad. This rurouni who does not kill is drowning in the complacency of so-called justice. Why would Hitokiri Battousai protect without killing? Have you forgotten? Aku. Soku. Zan. That was the one truth we shared with the Hitokiri. I cannot stand to see any more of this."
"No matter what you say, I will not kill anymore. I have made a promise, and I will not break it."
Saitou-san gets ready, "Come. I deny it all."
I stood behind Kenshin and I put my hand gently on her shoulder, "Kenshin..."
"What's wrong? Do you want the Gatotsu to hit Yukishiro?"
I felt Kenshin take a step forward, "Kenshin." He shook his head and I gave up. Then squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, "Kenshin, be careful."
Kenshin jumped above Saitou-san as he stroke the wall and I can hear Kenji whispering all the moves, "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Ryu tsui sen." Saitou-san looked upwards and stroked upwards, "Taikuu Gatotsu!"
The fight continued as Kenshin got stabbed at the waist. Finally, as Saitou-san sent Kenshin flying to the wall, I can hear his breathing... And I can feel Kenji stiffen beside me. Kaoru almost rushed towards Kenshin, but he looked up at Saitou-san... His eyes so familiar... Those amber steel cold eyes that was feared by all men...
Kenshin stood up gracefully, yet deadly, his eyes burning... Just like what I had described in my diary years and years ago... When Kiyosato had first gotten killed.
Rumour has it that the Battousai had hair like the colour of blood, his eyes amber like the dying fire in hell.
The dying fire in hell...
"Let's go" I saw Kenshin charge, then disappear, but all of a sudden, Saitoh-san kicked out, knocking him back. His breathing was still uncontrolled, but all of a sudden, I feel a shock of energy hit me, and his breathing suddenly under control as I see him glare at Saitoh.
"Only this will tell. The true form of the Gatotsu. No holding back." I heard Saitoh-san say.
And I heard Yahiko-kun gasp, "He's... he's been holding back up till now!"
"Of course, baka... Otousan... Stop holding back... It's pathetic..." Kenji whispered beside me, and I prayed once again, hoping Kenshin would come out, alive.
Kenshin was getting faster by the second, and from the tension in the room, it brought me closer and closer to the memories of Bakumatsu. Then it was when Kenshin ducked and whipped out his sword, the dull side of his blade completely striking the base of Saitou-san's skull. "After being shown the Gatotsu four times in succession, even a fool would think of one or two counterattacks. Get up, Saitoh. It would be disappointing to end our battle like this after ten years." Battousai's voice...
"I was only trying to test your strength, but my plans have changed. I'll kill you now."
"You must be dreaming," Kenshin said, casting a glare towards his direction, "I should be the one to say that."
I whipped my head around in time to see Kaoru collapse on the floor and I did not blame her. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with worry, "Tomoe-san... Onegai... Help Kenshin... It's just the same with Jin'eh... he'll kill him... He'll kill Saitoh..." I heard her mumble more stuff, but my eyes were already fixed back on Kenshin...
And I can suddenly hear Sanosuke, "It's not good. They're not in Meiji Tokyo anymore. They're fighting in Kyoto of the Bakumatsu. No matter how much you call, your voice can't reach them. Only someone who survived the violence of the Bakumatsu and tasted the shaking of Kyoto could stop this fight..."
Was it possible... That I would be able to stop this fight?
"Next time, it will be your head that flies..."
My eyes widened. Kaoru was right, I can't possibly let him kill anyone... He'll live in guilt again... "Kenshin..." I said softly, "Yamero..." He wasn't listening... Perhaps they were wrong... Perhaps I couldn't stop this fight...
Kenshin... You promised not to kill any longer... 'After all this... I will return to you... And I will protect.' Those were the exact same words you had told me ten years ago. Are you breaking our promise... Anata? Are you, Anata...? "Anata… yamero..." I could see his steps flatter, and I opened my mouth again, "Anata!" "STOP!"
Kenshin stopped in his steps and Saitoh-san also froze immediately. "Tomoe...?"
And I hear someone from outside the dojo, "Come to your senses, Saitoh. Your mission was only to test Battousai's abilities!" Test?
Saitoh-san glared, "It isn't your place to interfere."
Then another man entered behind me, "I knew about your honour as one of the Shinsengumi, but I don't want you or Himura to die a pointless death here."
Kenshin looked at him, his cold gaze sweeping over his figure, "So you're the one pulling Saitoh-s strings. Originally one of the Ishin Shishi from Satsuma, the director of the Department of Internal Affairs, Okubo Toshimichi."
Okubo-san and Kawaji-san came and explained everything, about Shishio Makoto, about the war... And all of us, Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke-san, Megumi-san, Yahiko-kun, Soujiro-kun, Toshiko and I sat down, listening to them.
"This matter is too important for you to answer now. Take a week to think. I'll come back on May 14th, one week from today, to hear your answer." Kawaji-san said, and they turned around to leave.
Kenshin called to Okubo-san, "You look much wearier than you did ten years ago."
Okubo-san smiled softly, "It's because it's far more difficult to build a new era than to destroy the old one. That's why. I'll expect a good answer."
"Kenshin..." Kenshin turned around to face Kaoru, "You're not going, are you?"
Kenshin only gave a smile and walked back into the dojo and I looked at him, as he caught my gaze. I knew then, he would go to Kyoto... He would definitely go. And I would follow him there.
* * * * *
Author's Notes: I know I didn't update in a long time. Lol. Anyways, expect the next one out soon, cause I'm inspired right now. So there. Later all!
Blueraingurl – woohoo! I finally updated, lol. Tomoe will give up, but they'll end up together for sure. I'll kill myself if they don't, lol. They'll have their talk next chapter, which is why I'm looking forward to writing it so much, so I hope you look forward reading it ^^
XenoMark – Yep... Well, I'll let you guess that, but it's pretty obvious, lol. It would be a mess, of course, lol.
rika – Sorry it took so long to update =\ Thanks!
ReAcH – Thanks! A cliff-hanger kind of thing ^^ I'm not good with battle scenes, so bear with me ^^
Forte – Woohoo! Thanks!
CardMistress Sakura – She's alive! Whee! Well, we can't exactly exclude Kaoru... But she'll show up less in later chapters, me thinks.
