Chapter 6: An Arrow for a Life
Author's Note: hello again all you dear fans!! =^.^= i'm back for my next chapter....whew, the last one was very long, but thats only cuz i had to fit so much in. from here on out they will be relitivel shorter...but just as good! ^o^ anywhoosles, i am in the process of writing a sort of explanitory fanfic thingee that will include bios on all RK characters, definitions of different japanese words, a breif history of the meji era, tidbits and teasers of different stories i have coming up, featured top ten lists, and a bunch more. anyways, if you like Rouroni Kenshin you should check it out...it will be up sometime this month. well, just so all you people out there understand, the story is pretty much split from here on out. the first part is gonna be all about kaoru and kenshin and sano and such. the second part is going to be focusing on yahiko and his quest. ^_^ ah well. onto the story....(i need reviews incase you haven't noticed).
Disclaimer: I don't own this series. i wish i did...excuse me whilst i go and pout >_
-Selina Gonzales
Yahiko walked along down the road, whistling some old song. He had bid Shemo farewell that morning and set off without the slightest clue where to go. The conversation from last night played over and over in his head.
He smiled. Atleast I have something to keep my mind off home...I wonder what they are doing right now? I wonder if they are searching the town for me??...
He walked on, his feet kicking up dust. The scenary was boring, a wide countryside filled with rice feilds and farms. He shivered slightly and pulled his gi tighter around him. He looked up at the overcast sky wryly.
I know I had to leave, but maybe it wasn't that smart to leave in mid-winter...
In the distance he heard the braying of donkeys and the bellows of oxen.
The path beneath him was dutsy and cold, the ground packed hard. He halted for a moment and looked down at the path. He stamped his foot several times, testing the dirt beneath him. It was hard, a sign of the oncoming frost.
He slowly continued to walk on.
Well....what do I do now?...
A crow cawed loudly.
He continued walking. I suppose I should search out more information on the whereabouts of this sword. It won't be easy, seeing as the stupid thing has been missing for centuries. Could Shemo have given me a harder task??
He shifted the weight of his new sword uncomfortably at his side. He was used to a training staff on his back, but this new item was much heavier and far more cumbersome. He wasn't used to it's length and heaviness at all. It would take a few days to adjust.
He put a hand up to his cheek gingerly. His face was still a little sore where Shemo had wounded him. He would have a small scar over his right eye for the rest of his life.
Yahiko scowled to himself. He also told me to figure that out on my own! How the hell and I supposed to know why he lashed out at me??
As he continued on in thought, the countryside around him started to thin away. The feilds gave way to pastures, which gave way to a few sparce trees until finally, Yahiko stood on the outskirts of a small village.
The smell of the midday's lunches cooking over warm fires made Yahiko's mouth water. He eagerly started forwards, itching to get his hands on some home cooked meals.
Just as Yahiko was beginning to devise a plan that would get him a free lunch, the sound of harsh voices arguing made him dodge behind a nearby bush.
Yahiko pushed the leaves quietly aside and watched on as the scene unfolded.
A large burly man who wore a mask over his mouth and nose was patrolling the path that led into the countryside from which Yahiko had just emerged. He seemed to be arguing with his companion who wore the same blue uniform. The mans companion was slightly shorter than the first, but he looked a lot dumber.
"...says thats we shouldn' be strayin from our watch."
"Oh come off it Rika, theres naught but the ol country bumkins about. What says you and I go have a look see down at the tavern."
"No. Masters orders. Wouldn be caught dead off patrol iffin I was you."
The man gave an exasperated sigh and faced Rika.
"Look, the way I sees it, we can have just as much right to be enjoyin our lunches right now as the rest of them do."
They stopped on the path a few feet away from Yahiko's bush. From where he was, Yahiko's escape was blocked, but he could just as easily reach out and grab the man's feet.
Rika looked back at the small village uncertainly.
"I dunno, Baiske, just don't seem that smart. What if we get caught, eh?"
"Aw, now cummon, we wouldn get caught!" He spoke persuasivley, ushering his freind to turn around and head back with him. "Our watch is over in just a couple o' minutes anyways."
"Then why we gotta leave early?"
Baiske shook his head angrily.
"Because you numbscoll, if we don't leave now, lunch will be gone by the time we get off!"
Rika seemed to think at this for a moment. Slowly, he nodded his head in agreement and they turned to head back to the village.
Yahiko waited apprehensively, wishing they would walk faster so he could crawl out from his undignified hiding spot.
They had just about turned the last bend to enter the village when something slimy started crawling up Yahiko's leg.
"AHH!!" Yahiko rolled out wildly, half standing, half crawling, thrashing his leg about like a lunatic.
The men turned and looked at Yahiko dumbly.
Yahiko looked down at his leg, kicking the air, trying to free it from the small black snake that had slithered up his pants.
Yahiko screamed and gave one last mighty kick that sent the offending snake back into the brush. He layed back and panted, trying to regain his breath.
"Who?"
"Cummon, lets gettim!"
Yahiko turned his head to face them and scowled. The two men were charging at him.
Great! This is just lovely...I hate snakes...
Yahiko rolled into a crouching position and made a grab at his back for his weapon. It wasn't there! Yahiko sat there for a moment in shock at the loss of his weapon when he remembered he now carried a sword that hung at his side. Yahiko gasped and made a desperate reach for his sword, but it was too late.
The two thugs were upon him and they knocked him flat.
Yahiko gasped at the pain as he felt the wind leave him. He sat in shock, panting, but before he had time to recover from the force of their blows, they were upon him again.
The taller man, Baiske, was holding Yahiko's arms behind his back. Yahiko could barely move for the pain. It was throbbing in his head. He felt as though he was about to be ripped in two if the man would not release his arms. He felt a soft tingling as his hands started to go numb.
Rika came from the front and punched Yahiko in the gut. Again the wind was knocked from Yahiko.
He felt the blow in every corner of his body. His head throbbed with the hit and his vision started to blur. His head became heavy. It was getting harder to breath and he couldn't think clearly through the pain.
Everything was going out of focus...then darkness overtook him.
Kenshin and Sano walked calmly across the courtyard, discussing the weather and nothing in particular.
Kenshin still favored his left side, for the injury that the scarred man had given him was not fully healed yet. Nevertheless, they strolled along, enjoying the morning sun playing on their faces.
Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled into the soft breeze. When he opened his eyes, he looked back to find that Sano had stopped a few feet behind him and was looking at the forest.
"Whats wrong?..."
"..."
"Sano?" Kenshin turned to face him a quizzical frown on his face.
"What do you think he's doing right now?"
"Oh...well, something interesting, I hope."
"Yeah...its just...well..." Sano shifted his feet awkwardly and continued to gaze on into the forest.
"I'm sure he was ready for this. Why else would he have left? He can take care of himself."
Sano turned to face Kenshin. "How can you be so sure? I mean, come on, he didn't even have a proper weapon."
Kenshin narrowed his eyes and looked not at Sano, but at some point of in the distance. "It does not take a weapon to complete a journey."
Sano frowned. "Yeah, but it sure would take a load off of my mind if I knew he had one."
Kenshin smiled and shook his head. They came to a halt in front of the door that led to the kitchen.
Sano chewed idily on a fishbone and sighed. They turned and stared at the morning sky.
"The snow is late this winter."
Kenshin nodded his head in agreement. He opened his mouth to say something but before he could, Kaoru opened the door behind them.
They turned to face her.
"Kenshin?"
"Yes?" He looked up at her attentively.
"You have another job back in town." She looked mildly irritated about something.
Kenshin's head snapped up and he suddenly looked alert. "Is it the scarred man?"
"No, just some swordsman who wandered into town. He's been giving everyone quite a bit of trouble, but no one wants to talk to him. Their afraid he will get violent."
Kenshin relaxed a little and closed his eyes."Alright, I suppose I will be heading out in a few minutes then. Did they give you any details about him?"
She shook her head. "Only that he was really good with the sword and really rude. He's been bossing all the maids around ever since he arrived at the hotel."
"Alright. I suppose I won't be back till later in the afternoon."
Kaoru reached inside her kimono and pulled out a small peice of paper. "Oh, and Kenshin, while you are in town, would you mind picking up some things for me? I am almost out of rice and our tofu supply is down pretty low as well."
He took the slip of paper from her and tucked it away. "I'll be off then." Kaoru headed back inside and shut the door behind her. Kenshin turned to Sano. "Keep an eye on the place while I am gone, would you?"
Sano nodded.
With that, Kenshin turned and headed off down the road that led to town.
Sano stood there for a while and watched Kenshin until he became a small spot off in the distance.
He shrugged and headed into the house.
The day progressed without further excitement. Everyone went about there chores in a dull and bored fashion. The wind had picked up since that morning and it was becoming increasingly harder to fight off the chill of winter.
Inside Miho sat by the fire, shining a brass helmet used as decoration. She was humming to herself, taking her time.
Kaoru was over by the door with five or six kids crowding around her. She was teaching them different brush strokes as they all giggled about something behind her back.
Out on the porch, Sano stood lazily punching the air, beating his imaginary foe. His chores complete, he had decided on a few small moments rest.
He turned around to deliver a kick. When he turned back around, he stopped in mid punch. Slowly, he lowered his hands and glared at the man standing in front of him.
They were both silent for a moment.
"Who the hell are you?" Sano eyed the man suspiciously, making no attempt at all to hide his dislike.
The man did not respond.
"I said- who the hell are yo-"
"Is this the residence of mister Kenshin Himura?" He sneered at Sano's look of outrage. His voice was greasy and squeaked every so often. Overall he had the apperance of a weatherworn peasent.
"Whos asking?" Sano was starting to raise his voice. He did not like being inturuppted.
"If it isn't then tell me, otherwise i will chop your nose off." He made a deft motion with his hand. Sano barely had time to see what it was before the man was swinging it around in an irritated fashion. Sano grimaced. The man had pulled out a tiny blade on a short chain.
"Listen pal, I don't have to tell you anything. And if you try and swing that little toothpick at me, I'll rip your arms off." Sano gave the man a cocky smile.
The man frowned and slowed down the chain, letting it drop at his side.
"Forgive me." The man's voice was under tight control. "Let us go about this with manners." He cleared his throat. "Would you be so kind as to tell me, is this the residence of a mister Kenshin Himura?" His words were polite, but he said them with a sneer.
The corner of Sano's mouth twitched.
"Yeah, so what if it is?"
"Good. That is all I needed to know."
He gave a small shout and started spinning the blade so fast that Sano lost sight of it.
Inside the house, the girls were still oblivious to the fight taking place right outside the door.
Miho continued to clean, listening on to the soothing sound of Kaoru's voice explaining the different letters of the alphabet.
The lesson was over and Kaoru ushered the children out of the room and followed them. She turned to face Miho.
"Finish with that, and then come in for lunch."
"Ok." Miho smiled as Kaoru left the room.
Alone again with her cleaning, Miho paused. There were strange noises coming from just outside the door. Noises of a scuffle. She frowned.
Slowly, she stood up and looked around her. She knew that someone was outside the house. She knew she had to go out and see what it was. But she knew she couldn't do it without a weapon.
Back outside, the battle was becoming more heated with every blow.
Sano's punches and kicks were proving a hard front to break through. His lightning fast limbs were coming so close to the man's face that he was having a hard time swinging his chain.
Sano cought the man with a hard right hook. There was a sickening thud as he connected and the man crumpled into a heap moaning.
Sano bent over him to deliver a final blow, but the man made a small movement with his hand. It was so fast that Sano didn't have time to react, he had thought the man to be unconcious.
Blood was trickling down the man's face and a large purple bruise covered the side of his head where Sano had hit him.
The man's chain was wrapped around Sano's neck.
A small line of blood was slowly appearing where the chain had coiled into his skin.
"You see. I told you I could kill you." The man was smiling with a crazed look in his eyse.
Sano grasped at his neck, an instinct and primal fear of death overcoming him. He couldn't breath. His vision was already blurring.
He turned his head as much as he could, wishing that he could call for help.
The man squeezed tighter and laughed.
There was a small whistling noise, and then a loud thud. The man screamed and released Sano instantly.
Sano gasped loudly and collapsed onto the ground, his hands still groping about his bloody neck.
Gasping deeply for breath, he turned to see what had happened.
The man was in a pathetic position on the ground, writhing in pain. An arrow stuck out of his knee at an awkward angle. Blood was spurting from it like a fountain and was quickly staining the ground around him.
On the porch, Miho still stood in the stance she had released the arrow in. Sano had never seen her face like that before. Her eyes were ablaze with fury and her figure had a commanding arua about it.
Miho still stood motionless, glaring angrily at the man on the ground, when footsteps inside the house started getting louder.
Koaru came running out of the door, staff in hand.
"What going on? I heard someone scream? What happen...." She stared at the man on the groun (who was now whimpering with pain) and fell silent.
"Oh...um...who is that?"
Sano had finally regained enough breath to talk again. "Some dumbass." He stood up angrily.
Miho slowly lowered her bow and gazed down sternly at the man. She remained silent.
Koaru looked from Sano to Miho to the man, and back to Sano. She looked flustered. "What the hell is going on?!"
Miho closed her eyes and still said nothing.
"Nothing, Kaoru. Just give me a sec and I'll get rid of this filth." He looked at her sternly. "Go and check the grounds to see if there are others. If you run into any trouble, yell for me. Take Miho..." He voice faltered. "...take Miho with you."
He turned his back on them and bent over the man's body.
Koaru looked at Miho uncertainly. "Miho I...I, um, didn't know you could fight."
Miho opened her eyes and turned to face Koaru. "Let's get going."
"Right!" Koaru turned and headed inside.
Miho headed after her but paused inside the door. She gave one last glance over her shoulder only to fins that Sano was looking at her as well. She stayed a moment longer, then ran inside to catch up to Koaru.
Sano stared at the empty doorway.
The man gave a long, low moan which seemed to remind Sano that he was still there.
Sano looked down at the man with a look of utter loathing. "I still have to deal with you, don't I?"
He bent down so that his face was level with the man's. "Why are you looking for Kenshin?" The question was forceful.
The man gulped and slightly turned his face away. "Don't pay me....I'll kill..."
Sano raised an eyebrow. "If your of no use to me, you know what I will have to do with you." He cracked his knuckles and smiled menacingly. "Unlike my freind Kenshin, I am glad to say that I don't have any vows."
The man gulped again, but this time he was actually swallowing something.
Sano narrowed his eyes. "So you'd rather die than tell me. Fine. I'll leave you to your end then."
He stood up and walked away. He stopped in the doorway. "But I have to say, taking a pill is much more painful than the way I would have given you. Farewell."
Overhead a bird chirped cheerfully. The man sighed and fell back into the puddle of his blood.
Inside the dojo, the children were whining. It was almost lunchtime.
Author's Note: uh...didn't like it? >_< damn! i knew this chappie was gonna suck no matter what i did!...sry it took me so long to post this. ^_^() it's been almost two weeks since my last update. I have just been so freakin busy since i am startin about three other fanfics as well as finishing the mini-series and getting this one up to date. it is hard, but atleast it gives me something to do! the next chapter will be up sometime next week. as you may have very well noticed, my story is gonna kinda be a romance from here on out on top of the whole action adventure thing. hope that doesn't bug you guys. i just love romantic stories!! ^_^ ::swoons:: ooh...a koaru and kenshin romance...::happy sigh:: i am SUCH a sap!! ah well. i guess thats all. until my next chapter, ja ne!! =^.^=
