"Where did you find her again?"
"In the woods...She was running from something -carrying the kid- and she passed out. It looked like she was forcing herself to keep going."
"She looks so young...Maybe around sixteen or seventeen. I doubt she's any older than that."
"I...I'm sixteen..." Michiko whispered. Her eyelids seemed to weigh a ton each. She tried to sit up, but fell back on the futon. Where was she? What had become of Yoshi? The little boy was nowhere to be seen. Was he okay? He was only two; if he wasn't there, there was no way he'd survive on his own. "Wh-where is...Yoshi? What have you...d-done with him?"
"Your brother is fine."
She blinked. The man she'd glimpsed in the forest before she passed out stared down at her. "My brother...? Oh, yes, my..." She trailed off, her eyes falling shut again. He was a nice looking guy, with brown hair and eyes. He had looked worried while looking down at her. Could he be worried about her? No; that was impossible. He didn't even know her, nor did she know him.
Michiko opened her eyes again to find him looking at the woman next to him. "Will she be all right?"
"She should be. She needs a lot of rest and a good meal."
"And the boy?"
"He's fine. It seems that he's been well fed and rested. She must've given up everything for him. He's lucky to have such a nice sister." The woman rose to her feet, "Better let her sleep, Sanosuke."
He nodded, following her form the room. He stopped in the doorway. "Don't go dying on me, Missy. I don't want to be stuck with the kid."
She smiled weakly. "...I won't..."
Once alone, she pondered the state of her life, trying to remember all the recent events. She'd been running through the woods, carrying Yoshi because he was too small to keep up. It'd been days since she left, she didn't have any food and she was exhausted. Then she'd fallen and there was that man and she begged him to keep Yoshi alive...He must've brought her to the house. How much time had passed between when she'd fainted and right then? Who were these people and why did the man seem vaguely familiar? And Yoshi...they thought he was her brother. She laughed wryly to herself.
It's better this way, she told herself, better if they think that. Let them believe what they wanted. If they wanted to think he was her brother, so be it then.
He won't find us here. Relief washed over her as this thought crossed her mind. She was both physically and mentally drained and didn't think she could possibly run any more. Yoshi and I are safe. She closed her eyes. I won't have to keep running...
***
When next she woke, Michiko felt much better. She managed to sit up this time. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling across her face. She shrank back into the shadows; the light made her eyes hurt. Then she smiled slightly. Everything would be okay.
"How are you feeling?"
She looked up. There in the doorway stood the man, Yoshi in his arms. The little boy slid out of his arms. He ran to her; hugged her furiously. She sat him on her lap, looked back up at the man. She had suddenly realized why exactly she had recognized him and it made her leery of him. "I'm okay, I guess." She said slowly. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, "I'm pretty hungry though. I haven't eaten anything in days."
"You gave everything to the kid, didn't you? Any food you had, you let him eat." His brown eyes rested on the little boy.
"Yes." She agreed, "I had to keep Yoshi alive and well. He's very dear to me."
"What's your name? Mine's-"
"I know who you are." She cut him off, "You're Zanza, Fighter for Hire."
He looked surprised for a moment, then he smiled. "Not any more. I used to be Zanza. Now I'm just plain old Sanosuke Sagara . And you are...?"
"Michiko. Michiko Atokata. This is Yoshi." She said, a trace of wariness in her voice, "I thank you for saving us, Sagara-San."
"It was no big deal..." He scratched his head, "What were you doing out there, Michiko? What were you running from? You looked terrified."
"Um..." Her head bowed, causing her dark hair to fall into her eyes, "I..." A pause, "I was trying to keep Yoshi safe."
"From who? Or what? What happened to your parents?"
"They died. We have no one but but each other. I cannot lose him now; then I would have nothing."
Sanosuke looked at her silently for a long time. She was small and slight, with sad eyes and short, dark hair. Yoshi looked a lot like her, with the same eyes and glossy hair. He sat on her lap, clinging to her. They looked like scared rabbits.
"He's lucky to have you." He finally said as gently as possible. It was very obvious that something had frightened them both badly and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. There was something about her...She was like a shadow --thrown into darkness she would disappear, but put in the light she would grow stronger . Yet she seemed to shrink away from the light.
She brushed her bangs from her forehead, revealing an ugly bruise on her brow. Sanosuke reached forward, catching her hand gently in his to get a better look. Her eyes widened and she pulled away. "Please don't hurt me!"
His mouth fell open. "You...you think I'm going to hurt you?" He asked in disbelief, "Why would you think such a thing?"
A few tears slid down her face. "I...I'm sorry."
"Who's hurt you? Some one's hurt you before or you wouldn't think that. You've been abused, haven't you? Was it the person you're running from?"
"He...he said I was disobedient.That I didn't know my place. He hit me when I was out of line."
"Who did?"
"I can't tell you! I would be putting Yoshi in danger if I told you too much."
"What about you? Aren't you in danger too? This guy'll come looking for you, right?"
"Probably. But he must not find me. Or at least he must not find Yoshi. I will not let him take Yoshi back." She said desperately, "Please, promise he will not find us."
"I can't keep you safe if I don't know who I'm keeping you safe from."
"Sagara-San, please." Her hands gripped his collar, "You'll protect me." She begged.
Yoshi looked up at Sanosuke, a pleading look on his face. He spoke not a word, but his eyes said it all.
They both looked so pathetic that he felt sorry for them. "I'll try my best, Missy, but it'll be hard since I don't know who's after you. I'm not making any promises."
"I am sorry. Please understand; I cannot tell you. Not until I know that I can trust you."
"Fair enough. You're scared and I won't bully things out of you. But I don't want you living in fear. That's not right."
She smiled faintly. Sanosuke seemed like a nice man, but she wouldn't take any more chances. "That woman who was with you before...Is she your wife?"
A bemused look crossed his face. "My wife? Ha! That's a good one." He laughed, "Megumi's no more my wife than I'm the Battôsai."
The Battôsai?" Her expression was hard to read, but her eyes held a trace of terror. Yoshi buried his face in her shoulder. "You mean the legendary manslayer? Who killed mercilessly during the revolution?"
"That'd be him." He stood up, "C'mon. Let's go down to the Akabeko. I'll get you something to eat and he might be there."
"The Battôsai? Here?"
"Sure. He's harmless. We're friends."
"Friends with him? You can't be...I won't..." She jumped to her feet, Yoshi clutched tightly to her chest. She looked wildly around for a way out.
She ran out into the street, Sanosuke at her heals. "Wait!" He yelled, "Come back!"
She felt lightheaded as she ran. Yoshi was crying and his choked up sobs boomed through her head. Her heart pounded, her breath came in gasps as she stumbled along. Then she tripped. Felt herself falling. Yoshi nearly slipped from her grasp, but she pulled him back. She landed heavily on the ground, sheltering the little boy from harm.
"You shouldn't be runnin' around like that, Missy."
Her eyes widened and sweat ran down her face. Sanosuke loomed over the two, casting a shadow across them. "No...No, please, Sagara-San...Not the Battôsai...Leave us alone." Her chin trembled. Sheer terror was written across her face.
"..." He didn't know what to say to her. "Come on. I promise it'll be okay. He won't hurt you or Yoshi."
"No! No; please no."
"I can't leave you here." He informed her. Then he hoisted her up, practically tossing her over his shoulder. She dangled there, looking at the back of his jacket. Yoshi tried to run, but Sanosuke caught him by the wrist. "C'mon, Kiddo. You too."
Yoshi tugged to free his hand while Michiko pounded on Sanosuke's back. "Let me go! Let me go, Sagara-San! I'll scream!" She threatened.
"Calm down. You're in no shape to do anything." He began to stroll down the street, practically dragging Yoshi along behind him, Michiko protesting all the while.
"Sano, what are you doing?" A girl's voice exclaimed shrilly.
Michiko strained to see the owner of the voice. She was a girl a few years older than herself, with long dark hair pulled up in a ponytail.
"Oh, Kaoru, where's Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked her.
"Wait; I'm confused. Who is that girl?"
"She -Hey!"
Yoshi had used Sanosuke's distraction as an opportunity to escape. He pulled his hand free and tore off down the street.
"Yoshi! YOSHI!!" Michiko screamed, "Yoshi, come back!" She punched Sanosuke in the back, "You idiot! Look what you've done!"
"What I've done?! If you hadn't run off like that-"
"Shut up! I've go to go find him!"
"I don't think so." He looked at the other girl, "Kaoru, go after the kid. Take him to the dojo when you catch him. I'll meet you there and explain everything to you."
"But Sano..." Kaoru's face held a very perplexed expression.
"Just go!"
"Right." She nodded and ran off after the little boy.
Yoshi dodged and darted through the crowd. He'd been a born runner. From the time he was old enough to, he'd been running somewhere. He looked over his shoulder. The girl with the ponytail was chasing him and he didn't intend to be caught. He veered around a woman carrying a bucket and it was then that he crashed head-on into some one.
"You should watch where you're going, that you should." A pleasant voice said.
The boy looked up from where he sat on the ground. A man was smiling down at him from under a fringe of red hair. He looked back over his shoulder again. The girl with the ponytail was coming, yelling something as she ran. Yoshi jumped to his feet, ready to escape.
"Kenshin, don't let that kid get away!" The girl shouted, just as Yoshi took one step in the opposite direction.
The poor boy found himself unable to move. The red-haired man had a hold of his collar. He felt himself being lifted off the ground and panic washed over him.
"This boy, Miss Kaoru? What do you want with him?"
She shrugged. "Sanosuke told me to catch him. I don't know what he's done, or the girl either."
"Girl?" The man asked distractedly. He was trying to control Yoshi, who was swinging wildly at him in an attempt to escape, "What girl?" A hint of confusion filled his voice.
"Look, I don't know what's going on, Kenshin, but Sanosuke told me to take the kid back to the dojo and he'd be waiting there with the girl. He said he'd explain everything."
"All right then." He -much to Yoshi's displeasure- tucked the boy under one arm and picked up the packages he'd been carrying. Then he prodded the girl gently along. "Let's go get this mystery solved."
"In the woods...She was running from something -carrying the kid- and she passed out. It looked like she was forcing herself to keep going."
"She looks so young...Maybe around sixteen or seventeen. I doubt she's any older than that."
"I...I'm sixteen..." Michiko whispered. Her eyelids seemed to weigh a ton each. She tried to sit up, but fell back on the futon. Where was she? What had become of Yoshi? The little boy was nowhere to be seen. Was he okay? He was only two; if he wasn't there, there was no way he'd survive on his own. "Wh-where is...Yoshi? What have you...d-done with him?"
"Your brother is fine."
She blinked. The man she'd glimpsed in the forest before she passed out stared down at her. "My brother...? Oh, yes, my..." She trailed off, her eyes falling shut again. He was a nice looking guy, with brown hair and eyes. He had looked worried while looking down at her. Could he be worried about her? No; that was impossible. He didn't even know her, nor did she know him.
Michiko opened her eyes again to find him looking at the woman next to him. "Will she be all right?"
"She should be. She needs a lot of rest and a good meal."
"And the boy?"
"He's fine. It seems that he's been well fed and rested. She must've given up everything for him. He's lucky to have such a nice sister." The woman rose to her feet, "Better let her sleep, Sanosuke."
He nodded, following her form the room. He stopped in the doorway. "Don't go dying on me, Missy. I don't want to be stuck with the kid."
She smiled weakly. "...I won't..."
Once alone, she pondered the state of her life, trying to remember all the recent events. She'd been running through the woods, carrying Yoshi because he was too small to keep up. It'd been days since she left, she didn't have any food and she was exhausted. Then she'd fallen and there was that man and she begged him to keep Yoshi alive...He must've brought her to the house. How much time had passed between when she'd fainted and right then? Who were these people and why did the man seem vaguely familiar? And Yoshi...they thought he was her brother. She laughed wryly to herself.
It's better this way, she told herself, better if they think that. Let them believe what they wanted. If they wanted to think he was her brother, so be it then.
He won't find us here. Relief washed over her as this thought crossed her mind. She was both physically and mentally drained and didn't think she could possibly run any more. Yoshi and I are safe. She closed her eyes. I won't have to keep running...
***
When next she woke, Michiko felt much better. She managed to sit up this time. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling across her face. She shrank back into the shadows; the light made her eyes hurt. Then she smiled slightly. Everything would be okay.
"How are you feeling?"
She looked up. There in the doorway stood the man, Yoshi in his arms. The little boy slid out of his arms. He ran to her; hugged her furiously. She sat him on her lap, looked back up at the man. She had suddenly realized why exactly she had recognized him and it made her leery of him. "I'm okay, I guess." She said slowly. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, "I'm pretty hungry though. I haven't eaten anything in days."
"You gave everything to the kid, didn't you? Any food you had, you let him eat." His brown eyes rested on the little boy.
"Yes." She agreed, "I had to keep Yoshi alive and well. He's very dear to me."
"What's your name? Mine's-"
"I know who you are." She cut him off, "You're Zanza, Fighter for Hire."
He looked surprised for a moment, then he smiled. "Not any more. I used to be Zanza. Now I'm just plain old Sanosuke Sagara . And you are...?"
"Michiko. Michiko Atokata. This is Yoshi." She said, a trace of wariness in her voice, "I thank you for saving us, Sagara-San."
"It was no big deal..." He scratched his head, "What were you doing out there, Michiko? What were you running from? You looked terrified."
"Um..." Her head bowed, causing her dark hair to fall into her eyes, "I..." A pause, "I was trying to keep Yoshi safe."
"From who? Or what? What happened to your parents?"
"They died. We have no one but but each other. I cannot lose him now; then I would have nothing."
Sanosuke looked at her silently for a long time. She was small and slight, with sad eyes and short, dark hair. Yoshi looked a lot like her, with the same eyes and glossy hair. He sat on her lap, clinging to her. They looked like scared rabbits.
"He's lucky to have you." He finally said as gently as possible. It was very obvious that something had frightened them both badly and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. There was something about her...She was like a shadow --thrown into darkness she would disappear, but put in the light she would grow stronger . Yet she seemed to shrink away from the light.
She brushed her bangs from her forehead, revealing an ugly bruise on her brow. Sanosuke reached forward, catching her hand gently in his to get a better look. Her eyes widened and she pulled away. "Please don't hurt me!"
His mouth fell open. "You...you think I'm going to hurt you?" He asked in disbelief, "Why would you think such a thing?"
A few tears slid down her face. "I...I'm sorry."
"Who's hurt you? Some one's hurt you before or you wouldn't think that. You've been abused, haven't you? Was it the person you're running from?"
"He...he said I was disobedient.That I didn't know my place. He hit me when I was out of line."
"Who did?"
"I can't tell you! I would be putting Yoshi in danger if I told you too much."
"What about you? Aren't you in danger too? This guy'll come looking for you, right?"
"Probably. But he must not find me. Or at least he must not find Yoshi. I will not let him take Yoshi back." She said desperately, "Please, promise he will not find us."
"I can't keep you safe if I don't know who I'm keeping you safe from."
"Sagara-San, please." Her hands gripped his collar, "You'll protect me." She begged.
Yoshi looked up at Sanosuke, a pleading look on his face. He spoke not a word, but his eyes said it all.
They both looked so pathetic that he felt sorry for them. "I'll try my best, Missy, but it'll be hard since I don't know who's after you. I'm not making any promises."
"I am sorry. Please understand; I cannot tell you. Not until I know that I can trust you."
"Fair enough. You're scared and I won't bully things out of you. But I don't want you living in fear. That's not right."
She smiled faintly. Sanosuke seemed like a nice man, but she wouldn't take any more chances. "That woman who was with you before...Is she your wife?"
A bemused look crossed his face. "My wife? Ha! That's a good one." He laughed, "Megumi's no more my wife than I'm the Battôsai."
The Battôsai?" Her expression was hard to read, but her eyes held a trace of terror. Yoshi buried his face in her shoulder. "You mean the legendary manslayer? Who killed mercilessly during the revolution?"
"That'd be him." He stood up, "C'mon. Let's go down to the Akabeko. I'll get you something to eat and he might be there."
"The Battôsai? Here?"
"Sure. He's harmless. We're friends."
"Friends with him? You can't be...I won't..." She jumped to her feet, Yoshi clutched tightly to her chest. She looked wildly around for a way out.
She ran out into the street, Sanosuke at her heals. "Wait!" He yelled, "Come back!"
She felt lightheaded as she ran. Yoshi was crying and his choked up sobs boomed through her head. Her heart pounded, her breath came in gasps as she stumbled along. Then she tripped. Felt herself falling. Yoshi nearly slipped from her grasp, but she pulled him back. She landed heavily on the ground, sheltering the little boy from harm.
"You shouldn't be runnin' around like that, Missy."
Her eyes widened and sweat ran down her face. Sanosuke loomed over the two, casting a shadow across them. "No...No, please, Sagara-San...Not the Battôsai...Leave us alone." Her chin trembled. Sheer terror was written across her face.
"..." He didn't know what to say to her. "Come on. I promise it'll be okay. He won't hurt you or Yoshi."
"No! No; please no."
"I can't leave you here." He informed her. Then he hoisted her up, practically tossing her over his shoulder. She dangled there, looking at the back of his jacket. Yoshi tried to run, but Sanosuke caught him by the wrist. "C'mon, Kiddo. You too."
Yoshi tugged to free his hand while Michiko pounded on Sanosuke's back. "Let me go! Let me go, Sagara-San! I'll scream!" She threatened.
"Calm down. You're in no shape to do anything." He began to stroll down the street, practically dragging Yoshi along behind him, Michiko protesting all the while.
"Sano, what are you doing?" A girl's voice exclaimed shrilly.
Michiko strained to see the owner of the voice. She was a girl a few years older than herself, with long dark hair pulled up in a ponytail.
"Oh, Kaoru, where's Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked her.
"Wait; I'm confused. Who is that girl?"
"She -Hey!"
Yoshi had used Sanosuke's distraction as an opportunity to escape. He pulled his hand free and tore off down the street.
"Yoshi! YOSHI!!" Michiko screamed, "Yoshi, come back!" She punched Sanosuke in the back, "You idiot! Look what you've done!"
"What I've done?! If you hadn't run off like that-"
"Shut up! I've go to go find him!"
"I don't think so." He looked at the other girl, "Kaoru, go after the kid. Take him to the dojo when you catch him. I'll meet you there and explain everything to you."
"But Sano..." Kaoru's face held a very perplexed expression.
"Just go!"
"Right." She nodded and ran off after the little boy.
Yoshi dodged and darted through the crowd. He'd been a born runner. From the time he was old enough to, he'd been running somewhere. He looked over his shoulder. The girl with the ponytail was chasing him and he didn't intend to be caught. He veered around a woman carrying a bucket and it was then that he crashed head-on into some one.
"You should watch where you're going, that you should." A pleasant voice said.
The boy looked up from where he sat on the ground. A man was smiling down at him from under a fringe of red hair. He looked back over his shoulder again. The girl with the ponytail was coming, yelling something as she ran. Yoshi jumped to his feet, ready to escape.
"Kenshin, don't let that kid get away!" The girl shouted, just as Yoshi took one step in the opposite direction.
The poor boy found himself unable to move. The red-haired man had a hold of his collar. He felt himself being lifted off the ground and panic washed over him.
"This boy, Miss Kaoru? What do you want with him?"
She shrugged. "Sanosuke told me to catch him. I don't know what he's done, or the girl either."
"Girl?" The man asked distractedly. He was trying to control Yoshi, who was swinging wildly at him in an attempt to escape, "What girl?" A hint of confusion filled his voice.
"Look, I don't know what's going on, Kenshin, but Sanosuke told me to take the kid back to the dojo and he'd be waiting there with the girl. He said he'd explain everything."
"All right then." He -much to Yoshi's displeasure- tucked the boy under one arm and picked up the packages he'd been carrying. Then he prodded the girl gently along. "Let's go get this mystery solved."
