Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply.
Author's greetings: Hey, thanks for reviewing the previous chapter. So, here's the eighth chapter. Hope you'll like it.
Rating: PG-13 (may fluctuate)
WARNING: OOCNESS may be evident. I also would like to tell you that THERE ARE SOME FOUL WORDS IN THIS CHAPTER. KINDLY SKIP THEM IF YOU MUST.
Love Me As Who I Really Am
Chapter VIII: Surprise
7:42 p.m.
"Kenshin, there's a warehouse up ahead." Sano said, maneuvering the steering wheel to the right. "What do you want me to do?"
"Hide the car behind those bushes. Then turn off the engine." Kenshin replied, pointing towards some undergrowth. "Let's see what happens next."
"Okay." Sano drove the car silently towards the direction Kenshin was pointing to with the headlights extinguished. He parked the car behind the bushes in such a way that it can't be seen from afar because of the darkness, then he turned off the engine. They sat quietly on their seats but all the while their eyes were fixed on the red, six-wheel truck.
Several meters in front of them was an abandoned warehouse with a wide parking space. The truck parked right in front the warehouse's large metal entrance. Its headlights and engine were still on when the driver got off it and walked towards the door. After knocking thrice, the metal door was immediately compelled open by several hands from the inside. The driver spoke briefly with one of the sixteen armed men who opened the door from the inside and they shook hands. After that, the driver went back on the truck and drove into the depot, the metal door dropping close behind them with a loud slam.
"Wow, did you see the rifle one of those guys were carrying?" Sano exclaimed, slapping his hand on his knee. He ran his fingers on the wheel, expressing running legs. "Awww! Doesn't he look cute? He looked like he's going to hunt for several cute bunnies. Hahaha!"
"Sano, we're going in." Kenshin said, ignoring Sano's statement. He reached under his denim jacket and plucked his gun from his shoulder holster. It was a Beretta 92F pistol. He reached into the back seat for a black bag which he always kept inside the car in cases of emergency. He zipped it open and took out a set of bullets which he loaded into his gun.
Sano was watching him all the while, one eyebrow raised. "This really is serious, isn't it?" He pointed at Kenshin's gun doubtfully. 'I mean, you're going to bring your gun with you."
"Sano, like most warehouses," Kenshin started, ignoring Sano's comment once again. "I'm confident that this one has a back door which is almost always kept open when there is an operation going on inside the building. That back door serves as the escape exit. We will both find that back door. Once we've gotten inside the building, I want you to see what that truck was carrying, while I try taking them out one by one. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah." Sano replied uncaringly as he also loaded his gun. "I asked for some asses to kick. Now I've got more than some of them." He looked at Kenshin and smirked with pleasure. "Let's roll, pardner."
They both got off of the car casually but warily walked to the back of the building.
They didn't see the black Porsche parked across the parking space opposite them. It was hidden behind tall bushes and was made invisible by the darkness.
@@@
7:45 at Ryu's office...
With the use of his body, he pinned her against the wall. "Don't be so shy, sapphy. I know you want to do this."
"Ryu..." Kaoru was panting heavily, out of nervousness and desperation. "Please don't. Please don't do this..." she pleaded, feeling her voice break.
"That would be... impossible." He whispered to her ear smugly. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he kissed her again, his mouth almost crushing her lips. He ran his hands down her arms. He took her wrists and placed them above her head. "You're going to enjoy this. Trust me."
No, I don't trust you. I did that before and I don't want to make the same mistake again, damn you! Kaoru's mind screamed. She frantically thought for a way out, but Ryu's mouth was driving her to distraction. Damn it, I hope something will happen. My God, please help me! She prayed silently.
Her prayer was answered.
Ryu's cell phone rang loudly. He broke the kiss and angrily looked at the cell phone on top of his desk, then back at Kaoru again. She looked back up to him, panting heavily. He smiled and traced a finger on her jaw line. The phone rang one more time and he dropped her wrists. He strode towards the table and answered the phone.
"Who the hell is this?!" He bellowed.
"Ryu, it's me. I'm inside my car right now." A man said. It was the man he hired to spy on Kenshin Himura's every move, the man who called him when Himura drove to the airport.
"So, why the hell should I care?!" Ryu inquired, exasperated.
The man chuckled. "I'm inside my car right now. And my car, by the way, is parked outside your warehouse. And Ryu, my man, you better come here. You've got a problem."
Ryu felt himself getting angrier as each second passed. "Who gave you this number?"
The spy laughed. "I couldn't reach you on your other phone so I tried this one. Ryu, I'm a professional. I know everything necessary about you. You are my employer, aren't you? I should know every way possible to report my findings to you."
The spy's explanation was ignored. "What's the problem?" Ryu asked as he threw a sideway glance at Kaoru's direction, who was still pressed against the wall, right hand against her chest.
The spy's voice lowered. "It seems Himura was able to notice that the truck which brought your goods from the airport was really yours. I just saw him and his partner creep into the building. Passing through the back door, of course."
Ryu ran a hand on his face. "Oh, shit." He muttered. "Were they the only ones?"
The spy heaved a sigh. "Well, actually, before I came here to your warehouse, Ryu, I tapped an FBI agent's telephone and I heard him tell another agent to, you know, get ready, because they're going to bring down the Snake. Haha. Some of them can be pretty careless at times, you know what I mean?" He stated casually. To his enemies, Ryu Ban was known as 'the Snake'.
Ryu suddenly jerked into an upright position. "Damn it!" He slammed his clenched fist on the desk angrily. He didn't even bother to ask how the man knew where his warehouse was located but like he said, he was a professional. "I'll call you again if I need you." At that, he slammed the phone back down angrily. He looked back up into space and thought. Suddenly, he roared an expletive. "BASTARDS!"
Kaoru suddenly gasped at the sudden shout. He looked at her direction. Then, he got his phone once again and dialed the warehouse's number. Nothing. Somebody had cut the telephone line.
After deciding that doing nothing would do no good, he dialed a number he had often used.
"Ben," Kaoru heard him say to the cell phone. "Open the door."
Kaoru heard a click from the other side of the door. She watched Ryu shove the cell phone into his pocket and turn towards her. He smiled at her as he walked towards her.
When he reached her, he kissed her again and pushed her out of the way of the door. As he opened the door, he took her by the wrist and pulled her out with him. He fixed a smile on his face as several men waved to him from all over the room. He took Kaoru by the hips and whispered to her ear, "Smile."
Kaoru complied and forced a smile on her face. She looked around and saw Angela dancing on a mini stage. She smiled at her. The other girl smiled back but the smile was strained. Ryu pulled her along with him as he waved to a small fat man with a protruding stomach. A scantily-clad young red-head was seated on the fat man's knees but it was obvious to Kaoru that the young woman was forcing her smiles and giggles as she perched on the man's knees.
As they were approaching the fat man's table, Ryu called out, "Hey, Ellison! It's been a long time, old man!"
The man looked up and smiled in greeting. The young woman stood up from his knees and moved away as the man rose and opened his arms wide. Ryu and the fat man shared a friendly hug. "It's been a long time, no?" Ellison, or whatever he was called, said cheerfully.
"I have a gift for you." Ryu said as he motioned for Kaoru to come closer.
She smiled at the old man and he eyed her hungrily. Kaoru was disgusted but she hid all her disdain behind a smile.
"You like her?" Ryu asked him. "She's one of my best girls but I'm afraid this is her first time." He added, feigning apology.
"No, no. First time is best time." Ellison said cheerfully. "Where we do it? My hotel room? I stay at best suite."
Kaoru didn't answer, that is, until Ryu squeezed her by the waist. "Anywhere you would want me to take you to heaven." She immediately said. I make myself sick.
"We leave right now?" Ellison said and immediately walked towards the elevator. As he passed by the red-head, Kaoru saw him shove a few bills inside her plunging neckline. The girl beamed at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then immediately ran into the dressing room.
Kaoru started after Ellison, but not before she heard Ryu say, "I want you to tell me what he'd be doing, reading, saying. I want you to report to me tomorrow. Understand, sapphy?" She nodded and went after Ellison. As she entered the elevator, she gave Ellison her best smile.
He pressed the button leading to the basement parking lot. Before the elevator doors slid close, she glared at Ryu.
Ryu understood her glare. It said, Go to hell.
@@@
7:50 p.m.
"Kenshin, I've cut the telephone lines. Should I check out the truck now?" Sano whispered, crouching next to Kenshin behind a line of cargo boxes piled up, one above the other.
Kenshin looked around the interior of the warehouse and sighed. "That would be a bit difficult, don't you think, Sano?" He asked as he scanned the place.
The place looked like any other storehouse, on the outside, that is. The interior looked like it was properly taken care of and had just been repaired. It had a very high ceiling. The ground floor was packed with several stacked-up cargo boxes and metal scraps. There were three other trucks and one, black Mercedes-Benz inside the warehouse. The red, Junie's truck sat at the very center of the place and there were about thirty-three men inside the depot, including the driver and passenger of the red truck. Of these thirty-three men, thirty-one had guns and firearms.
Kenshin looked beyond the trucks and saw a metal stairway leading up to the second level. It wasn't exactly a second floor. More like a banister or balustrade glued against the wall high up. There were six additional armed men up there. That's thirty-seven. He sighed. "Looks impossible to me."
Sano snorted. "Impossible? With Sano, nothing is impossible." He looked around and counted how many armed men there were. "Tsk, tsk. Security, huh?" He said below his breath as he tightened his hold on his gun. "Kenshin, I'm going over there at the back. I want to get a closer look."
"Okay." Kenshin replied as he strained his ears to hear the men's conversation. He didn't even notice Sano slinking dangerously near the center of the area.
"Okay, let's see the stuff." Kenshin heard a man with blond hair say. "I hope it's good."
"Of course, it is, man." An unshaven man replied.
The man with blond hair chuckled humorlessly. "Then, let's see them."
"Let's see what you've got first." The other one countered.
"Sir..." The driver of the red truck cut in hesitantly. "My friend and I would like to go now." He added nervously.
The blond-haired man cocked his head. Immediately, two men beside him buried four bullets each into the driver's and his companion's skulls. It looked as if strawberry punch had been spilled on the floor beneath the fresh corpses. Kenshin felt himself getting angry as his face twisted into obvious rage and disgust.
The blond-haired man tightened his grip on his Beretta. "Are you accusing us of backing down on our deal?" He asked angrily, his voice rising. He spoke as if the driver never spoke up.
"Believe me, the shoe fits, man. You've done that before." The unshaven guy sneered. Several men behind him laughed, mocking.
The blond-haired man snapped his fingers. The remaining men behind him who hadn't laughed immediately aimed their guns at the men who had ridiculed him. Kenshin can then clearly see two groups forming. And that was when he realized. These parties are going to have an exchange tonight. But what would they exchange? Who are they working for?
"Come on, you guys. We have to do this quickly so let's put the past behind us." Another man in a blue shirt from the unshaven guy's side said diplomatically,
"Yeah, Stan, let's put the past behind us. You shouldn't get insulted. Be a sport, man." The unshaven man said, ridiculously feigning apology as he theatrically frowned. "Look, I'll show our goods first then you show yours. Then we'll do the exchange."
Stan, the blond-haired man, stared at the unshaven guy's group for a few seconds as if thinking, then he sighed. He snapped his fingers once again and his men put their weapons down. "Okay, Mike. We'll do that. And by the way, it's Stanislaus. Not 'Stan'. You get that?"
"Sure, sure." Mike, the disgustingly unkempt guy, replied. He turned to his men. "Unload the cargo." Several of his men hurried to the back of the red truck and started unloading several rectangular crates. They placed the crates on the floor beside the truck and pried them open using metal pokers and their guns.
Stanislaus' group stood stationary on their places and watched the other group unload and pry open the crates. Kenshin could see straw bursting from inside the crates but he couldn't quite get what was hidden among the straws. He looked up the banister and saw two out of the six men whispering to each other, their eyes fixed at the far end of the warehouse, at the back. Kenshin held his breath. Sano, don't do anything stupid!
He pressed himself against the boxes before him to not focus attention on himself, clutching his gun tightly in both hands. He stole a peek once again at the six men up the banister. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he jerked back behind the boxes. Was it my imagination or was one of those men up there staring right at me? Kenshin asked himself. He peeked once again and sure enough, that same man, with brown hair, beard and moustache, was staring down at him out of the corner of his eyes.
Kenshin shifted his gaze on the two groups a few feet away from his position and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"So... what do you think?" Mike asked Stanislaus, gesturing royally towards the machine guns and several other armaments his men held up from the crates.
Stanislaus smirked, slowly massaging his chin. "Not bad, Mike, not bad. We'll take them." He motioned his men to get the weapons.
Mike's men immediately held their guns up, ready to shoot. Mike held up his hand as Stanislaus' men were starting towards the crates. "The documents, Stanislaus. That was the deal, remember? We give you the artillery; you give us the documents my boss asked for."
Boss? Kenshin thought, straining his ears.
"Okay, fine." Stanislaus said. A man behind him handed him a long brown envelope which he threw at Mike's feet. "There. You happy?"
Mike glared at him and stooped down. He picked the enveloped and began scanning its contents. His men still haven't put their weapons down. After examining the documents, he glared back up. "What do you think am I? Stupid? This is lacking! Where's the file about my boss's investments and connections in Europe and the Middle East?"
"Well... my boss decided to keep that." Stanislaus said casually, shrugging.
"BULLSHIT, STAN!" Mike roared, aiming his 9mm caliber gun directly at Stan's face.
At that, Stan's men held up their guns too at Mike and his men. It was a shoot-and-die situation.
"Wow, look at that gun!" A voice at the back of the depot suddenly exclaimed.
All guns, including Mike's, changed target. The target was Sano.
Sano didn't seem to mind that he might be a walking bullet-counter sooner or later. "Where'd you get that gun?" He asked Mike in particular as he walked towards the two groups, smiling. He stopped several feet away from them and stared at them all smugly.
Kenshin slapped his forehead. Great. He thought tiredly.
He stood up from his crouched position and took a deep breath. He then walked out into the open, a few feet behind Stanislaus' group, gun aimed at both Mike and Stanislaus. "Sorry. Party's over." He said in a loud voice.
At the sound of his voice, all eyes shifted to him. Half of Stanislaus' men jerked towards him and aimed their guns at him, then at Sano, then back at him again.
Stanislaus suddenly let out a laugh. "You must be Kenshin Himura, aren't you? I've heard about you. They said you're very good. But don't you think what you and your partner just did and are doing right now are a bit stupid?" He laughed.
Kenshin shrugged, the right corner of his mouth twitching up into a humorless smile. "Maybe."
"Give it up, Himura." Mike chirped. "You are outnumbered."
Sano cracked his gum loudly. "What? Am I invisible?" He asked no one in particular as he pulled out his gun.
Mike stared at Sano impassively. "You are still outnumbered. Two against thirty-seven armed men."
"Wrong." A voice from above them said, echoing. "Eight against thirty-one can make a difference."
Everyone looked up the banister. All six men up there had their guns pointed at Stanislaus, Mike and their groups. The man who had stared at Kenshin minutes before pulled at his hair. The brown hair came off. It was a wig. Then he pulled off the brown stocking he had over his dark hair. Next, he removed his moustache and beard.
"AOSHI!" Sano and Kenshin yelled in surprise, simultaneously.
The remaining five did the same, pulling off stockings and wigs and moustaches. They looked like something taken out of a Big Mama film.
"What'd you do to my men?!" Mike yelled angrily.
"Hannya took care of them." Aoshi answered coolly.
Mike began to redden and steam was visibly seen coming out of his ears. "KILL THEM!!"
Kenshin instantaneously ran towards one of Stanislaus' men and grabbed him by the neck, blocking his windpipe. The man immediately fell limp to the floor. Kenshin looked up and saw the center of the warehouse clear out. Most of the men before him ran out of the depot through the back door while some ran for cover behind cargo boxes as Aoshi and his men rained them with bullets from above. Blood spewed to the floor as four bodies fell down. One of the bodies was Mike's. Bubbles of blood formed on his lips as he lost his breath, muttering expletives.
Kenshin saw Stanislaus dart from his hiding place behind a pile of metal scraps and towards the back door. On his way, he grabbed the brown envelope from Mike's cold hands. Kenshin started towards him but Stanislaus shot at him but missed. Aoshi aimed his gun down at Stanislaus' running form and shot, successfully hitting the man at the arm. The man hissed in pain but still dashed out the back door. Sano raised an eyebrow at Kenshin and Kenshin nodded. Then Sano ran after Stanislaus.
Kenshin stood and saw one man hiding behind a stack of cargo boxes, quivering. The man, seeing Kenshin stare at him, shakily aimed his gun at Kenshin and began pulling the trigger.
He attempted to shoot Kenshin but Kenshin was faster. He shot him at the wrist. The man howled in pain as he let go of his gun, his whole body shaking as he saw blood gush out of his wrist. His face began to take on a bluish shade, then he finally fell to the floor... in dead faint.
Kenshin sighed then looked up to Aoshi. Aoshi nodded then he and his men ran down the metal staircase and moved towards him. The other men spread out in search of the prey. Kenshin heard one scream after another fill the whole building, then another one roaring, "SHIT!" Another begging for mercy and another assuring someone he won't be hurt.
"You said Hannya is outside?" Kenshin asked Aoshi.
"Yes." Aoshi replied, expression remaining stoic. "With several others." He added.
Kenshin and Aoshi walked towards the large metal door and pulled it open. They used a lever to secure it in place.
What greeted Kenshin when they opened the metal door was a bit of a shocker. He looked around the parking space curiously. The whole place was swarming with cars and agents. Their sirens were loudly wailing to the max that Kenshin can't even hear himself. Several men were escorting their prisoners towards safety vans from inside the building and from the trees at the back of the warehouse.
He saw Sano holding Stanislaus from behind, walking from behind some trees a few feet from the area where Kenshin's car was parked. Suddenly, Stanislaus jerked free, turned around and punched Sano hard in the face. Angered, Sano punched back. Stanislaus staggered back and was caught by several men and was shoved up on the safety van. The doors were locked close and the van sped away. The van's loud engine drowned Stanislaus' expletives and curses.
Sano walked towards Kenshin and Aoshi. "Whoa! I just love what we just did!"
"Sano, did you get the brown envelope Stanislaus, or whoever he was, got from Mike's hands before he ran out to escape?" Kenshin asked, voice serious.
Sano's expression suddenly grew solemn. "That's the problem, you guys. When I found him in the woods, he was on his knees, burning the envelope using a lighter."
"Those files were photocopies." Aoshi concluded.
Sano shoved his hands into his pockets. "So, did we find something tonight?"
Kenshin heaved a sigh. "Yes and no."
Sano groaned.
Aoshi looked around the cemented parking lot as he watched the whole place clear out as the cars began leaving one by one. "Then, let's just hope Stanislaus will sing."
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8:32 p.m.
"Come in, girly. Do not be shy." Marlon Hoyle Ellison chirped sweetly to Kaoru when the elevator doors opened into the penthouse's black marble foyer. He settled his pudgy hand at the back of her waist and they both stepped into the private vestibule of his suite. The doors automatically closed behind them and the elevator started its swift descent. "You make yourself comfortable, yes, while I go shower." He drawled disgustingly as he switched on the tiny lights concealed in the cove of the ceiling.
Ellison disappeared through a door which she guessed was a bedroom door. Kaoru sighed and noticed that the door was half-way open. She walked towards it and opened it all the way. A four-poster bed sat a few feet from her and there was another door at the far end of the bedroom.
Must be the bathroom. Kaoru thought.
She turned her back on the room and went back into the foyer. She looked around and saw a large, built-in cabinet which was supposed to be some sort of bar at the right-hand corner of the vestibule. She walked over to the bar and removed a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator, certain that Ellison... er... Hoyle or whoever he was wouldn't mind. She popped the cork on the champagne and plunged the bottle into the ice bucket on the bar. Automatically, she looked around for a glass. She saw one on the top shelf and immediately reached for it. After a few minutes, she heard the bedroom door slam shut.
Okay, Kaoru. This is it. You aren't going to kill him. You're only trying to protect your virginity. Nobody's going to coerce you to have sex with nobody. She heaved a sigh, preparing herself. Here goes nothing.
She tucked the ice bucket into the crook of her elbow and, with a champagne flute in each hand, forced herself to take small, cautious steps towards the bedroom door.
She stood outside the door and, hesitantly, knocked thrice. "Ummm, Mr. Ellison, may I come in?"
"Yes, yes, please!" She heard him reply from the inside of the room.
She turned the knob and threw the door open. Walking into the room, she saw Ellison's corpulent form sitting on the edge of the bed, engulfed in one of the hotel's thick, terry-cloth robes. She walked towards a coffee table and set the ice bucket and champagne flutes on it.
She stood in front the coffee table in such way that she had her back on the man. "Champagne, Mr. Ellison?" She asked softly, secretly wincing at the sexual tone of her own voice.
Ellison looked up gratefully, smiling. "Yes, please! Thank you, thank you!" He said. He was looking over some papers.
Kaoru smiled to hide her disgust. She turned her attention back to the champagne. Taking the champagne bottle in one hand, she took the flute in the other and filled it half-way with alcohol. She glanced over her shoulder at Ellison, eyes wary, and slowly reached into her plunging neckline.
Megumi had given her a powerful soporific, a valium, and insisted Kaoru to bring a packet with her. The woman even resorted to extortion, saying that she would leak the news to the entire university about Kaoru's new-found career and the rumors would turn out so bad that Kaoru won't even consider going back there – albeit for 'Kaoru's own good'.
Kaoru dumped the tranquilizer into the glass and watched it dissolve. She took the flute in her hand and whirled it around slightly, just enough to let the powder settle at the bottom of the glass and seem as if it had never found its way into it. Then she filled it with champagne all the way, almost reaching the rim.
She carried the champagne flute to Ellison, which he gratefully accepted with a wide smile that his eyes were almost hidden between the folds of thick, loose, facial skin, and she sat down beside him on the bed.
After finishing his shot, he stared at the glass in his hand and up to her. "I wants more." He said, shoving the glass into Kaoru's open hands.
Kaoru nodded, stood up and went back to the coffee. With her back on Ellison, she filled the glass once again, dumping the remaining valium into it. She took the glass in one hand and removed the bottle from the ice bucket. She walked back to the bed and handed the champagne flute to him, putting the bottle on the floor near her feet.
He finished that drink then took another one. Then another. By his sixth shot, Kaoru was eyeing him with obvious amusement, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. He had finished six glasses of champagne yet he's still standing like a gallant heavy-weight champion, which obviously, he wasn't, and ready to take more punches.
At his tenth drink, Kaoru began to feel desperate. Sooner or later, he'd stop drinking and, instead of sleeping, he'd... Kaoru shuddered at the thought of what would happen if he would still be awake.
Just when Kaoru's hopes were about to fall, Marlon Hoyle Ellison dropped the fragile glass to the floor. Kaoru stifled a scream and quickly stooped down and caught the glass before it hit the floor.
Ellison seemed not to care. He stood up and walked towards a desk beside the bed and shuffled through a stack of documents. Kaoru watched him for a few minutes.
Finally, he took the documents and placed them inside a briefcase. Kaoru noticed he had not secured the lock at all. He smiled at her and walked towards the huge closet. He was watching her intently when he opened the closet.
Kaoru wasn't used to such frank scrutiny. Self-consciously, she tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear.
"You a nice girl." He said, reaching for something inside the closet. "I likes you many much." He held up a nice, black purse for Kaoru to see. "You likes it? I give to you."
He approached her and dropped the purse on her lap. She took it on her hand and felt very guilty. Easy, Kaoru. She reminded herself. You're not killing him. You're only putting him to sleep.
He was yawning when he lied back on the bed. "I'm getting a bit sleepy now. Let's do it before I fall asleep." He said.
Kaoru stared at him, mouth dropping open. Megumi said the valium would work immediately. It was a strong sedative. How come he's not yet asleep?!
Ellison watched her inquisitively. "Take off your dress now so we may start." He said once again, tone impatient. He yawned once again. Then again. Then again.
Kaoru reluctantly stood up and turned her back on him. She closed her eyes and willed the tears to not fall.
"HURRY!" He urged.
She placed her hands on her right shoulder, then, closing her eyes, slowly pulled down the strap of the dress. When the strap was halfway down her arm, she settled her hands on her other shoulder.
As she was in the process of pulling the other strap down, she heard a noise. It was the kind of noise Yahiko makes when he was asleep, but the sound was kind of deep. She turned around, expression expectant. She almost cried and screamed with joy when she saw Ellison sleeping soundly among the sheets, snoring loudly. He looked like a big human teddy bear!
She fell to the floor tiredly. The tears started to fall and she covered her face with her hands, sobbing quietly. She pulled the straps up her shoulders and cried.
This was all she could take. This was what she had to do to protect Yahiko. He was all she had.
She eventually fell asleep on the floor, leaning against the side of the bed. Her tear-stricken face was a picture of weariness and agony as she slept.
She was mumbling one thing as she drifted into the world beyond. Kenshin, where are you?
TBC
Author's notes: I finally finished it. I hope you enjoyed. Sorry for all the errors you might have found. All of the chapters, including my other fics, were all actually typed hastily. So I never had time to read any of it from the top until after I've uploaded it to FF.net,, much less correct any typographical error before I update.
Sorry for not updating earlier. School just started and I realized I needed the sleep. Actually, I had a very bad case of insomnia lately but even that can't help me face the computer because my eyes start to hurt when I do so. So that's all.
