Title: Tears of Blood Author: Kenshin's Radish

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Rurouni Kenshin. That's only wishful thinking.

Chapter 5: Ninjas and the Rooster-Head

When Yahiko awoke, his whole body ached, his arm where he was cut still burned but the intensity had dulled. He was bound by the wrists and feet. He shook his head to clear his mind to try to determine where he was and how he could escape. He was dangling off of a cliff that was just above the ravenous river and the scalpel-sharp rocks below. He looked around and found that Kaoru was tied up next to him, but she was still unconscious. Soichiro was sitting on a ledge off to the side and when he noticed Yahiko's struggling to escape he said in his booming voice, "I wouldn't waste my time Mr. Myoujin. The only way you can go is down. And you'll either die from the impact or hitting the rocks. I personally would prefer to die from the."
"Shut-up you bastard! Let me go! What do you want with us!" screamed Yahiko angrily, clenching his fists the best he could with his tied hands.
"Tut-tut-tut. Such a feisty little boy. I can't imagine why the Battousai would spend his days with you. And no, I'm not going to let you go. On the other hand, your sensei, Kaoru, is much more quiet and subdued. You are just an insolent brat. Feh, samurai blood. What a waste," cackled Soichiro as he helped himself to some rice that he took out of his pack. Yahiko licked his parched lips. He was hungry and thirsty. "Aw, little boy hungry? Well, being as you are going to die anyway I probably could feed you a last meal."
"Stop teasing him like that!" shouted Kaoru. She was awake now and very irritable, after all she was hanging by a rope on a ledge over a raging river.
"Ah, so you aren't the subordinate little girl I thought you were. Hm, you and Yahiko are very alike. Stubborn and irritable. You could pass for brother and sister," said Soichiro as he took a bite of rice.
"Well we aren't!" replied Yahiko indignantly.
"I'd rather be dead than be related to him," groaned Kaoru, but as soon as she spoke, she wished she could eat those words right back up.
Grinning widely and maniacally he said, "That can be arranged."

"Kenshin, do you have any idea where we are? I think we are walking in circles. I've seen that same mating squirrel three times already!" whined Sanosuke as he plopped down under a tree to rest. Kenshin sat down next to him. They leaned their heads back on the tree.
"I don't know Sano, that I do not. I don't understand what's wrong with me. Something's wrong, that it is. I can't think clearly and I'm just so." he trailed off suddenly when he heard footsteps in the brushes. He jumped up whipped out his sakabatou he had grabbed last minute before he left for Chiba and held it defensively. Sano just laughed.
"Jeez Kenshin, along with all that, you are also becoming more paranoid. That was just the mating squirrels. Squirrels need love too," joked Sano. Kenshin put the sword back in it's sheath and sat back down. He shook his head and put his head in his hands. Sano could swear he heard Kenshin crying. In the two years he had known Kenshin, he never knew him to cry. "Ah cheer up Kenshin, I was only trying to make you happier. I'm sure Kaoru and Yahiko are fine. Soichiro doesn't want them remember?"
Kenshin shook his head again, "No, you don't understand. I know something is wrong. I don't know what. We need to find them as soon as we can. I just don't know where we'd find them. There are so many places they could be." Sano nodded. It was true. For all they knew they could be on their merry way to Kyoto or Nagasaki. They were just past Tokyo and had no idea where to go from there. Suddenly Sanosuke had a thought.
"Why don't we just follow the river?" he asked. Kenshin looked at him, eyes shining from tears of frustration.
"Why do you think they are by the river?" inquired Kenshin curiously.
Sano shrugged replying casually, "Eh, just a thought." With that, Kenshin and Sanosuke went to the river to continue their search.

"Sir, we found the Battousai. He's not alone. He's with some rooster- haired man. What should we do?" asked the slimy, voice of Shigure Arima, who was a ninja and was also Soichiro's bodyguard.
"Follow them. If necessary kill the other man, but leave the Battousai alone. Other than that, just keep tabs on them and don't get caught!" ordered Soichiro.
"Of course master, we wouldn't want your plan destroyed by the likes of.him," replied Shigure as he darted off the ledge and down the cliff side to where the others where and like lions on a hunt were off.
"Ah, very soon Battousai, very soon you will meet your end."

"Dammit Kenshin! We've been walking forever. Can we please take a break? We've searched nearly this whole side of the river and we haven't found anything to lead us to that Souchiro guy or Kaoru and Yahiko!" Sanosuke whined as he sat himself down on the riverbank.
"We mustn't give up Sano. Kaoru and Yahiko are counting on us that they are. We need to find them as soon as we can!" replied Kenshin.
"But I'm so tired, and hungry," said Sano as his stomach grumbled loudly.
Kenshin rolled his eyes, Even in the most urgent of times, he always thinks with his stomach. Kenshin sat next to him and pulled out some rice balls he had bought on their way through Tokyo. Can't be unprepared! he reasoned with this purchase. Suddenly Kenshin looked up from his meal and whipped out his sword. Something was in the bushes and it wasn't mating squirrels.
"I feel a presence. Somebody is out there, watching us. Waiting to find out what we'll do next. They know where Kaoru and Yahiko are, as well as Soichiro Miyazawa," spoke Kenshin. With that eleven ninjas including Shigure Arima leapt out of the bushes and a few out of the reeds on the riverbank. They were totally encompassed by henchmen of Soichiro. Kenshin held his sword defensively as Sano jumped up and got ready to fight. "I don't want to kill any of you. Just tell me where Soichiro Miyazawa is and none of you will get hurt."
One of the ninjas chuckled, "Ha, some 'Legendary Hitokiri Battousai'. He's holding a sakabatou. He's completely harmless. Let's kill them both for the fun."
"No, we mustn't. Master Miyazawa wants Battousai alive and unharmed. But we can do what ever we want with his rooster-haired friend," hissed Shigure.
"Will you PLEASE stop making comments about my hair!" screeched Sano indignantly.
"Kill him."
All of the ninjas ambushed Sano, their assorted weaponry bared. With one swift stroke of his sakabatou all but six of them were left standing.
"Kuso! That sword is bewitched! Retreat!" cried one of the ninjas, two more followed him. Only Shigure and two of the largest and strongest of the ninjas were left.
"We know where your friends are. If you do not find them by sundown, they will be killed," said Shigure in his oily voice. He cackled menacingly, "Soichiro's waiting for you Battousai. He's been waiting for twelve years."
"You bastard! Tell us where Yahiko and Kaoru are!" shouted Sanosuke as he grabbed and lifted Shigure by the collar, "Where are they! Tell us now!"
"Feh, do I look that stupid to you?"
"Sanosuke look out!" yelled Kenshin as he tried to warn his friend, but it was too late. Three throwing daggers in god-like speed where thrust into Sanosuke's back. He screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground.
Shigure chuckled, "Ah, Battousai, it seems you failed to protect not only Saito but now your friend here. Remember. At sundown, Yahiko and Kaoru will also meet their demise as well." With that he yanked the daggers out of Sano's back and Kenshin thrust out his sword and caught him in the leg, cutting it. "You bastard!" shouted Shigure as he limped off with his comrades into the forest. He was headed back to report to Souchiro.
Kenshin kneeled next to his injured friend. Sano looked back up at him, "I'll be fine Kenshin," he grimaced, "Go save Jou-chan and Yahiko. Hurry! I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
Kenshin studied him; Sano's normally white gi was now stained a deep crimson. The stain was spreading. "I will worry about you. But I will go, that I will," said Kenshin. He took off the violet over coat of his gi and pressed it on Sano's wounds. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Sano didn't hear him, he'd already lost consciousness.
He was angry. Infuriated that once again he had failed at protecting his friend. His normally orchid colored eyes flashed amber and he sprinted through the forest following the path of blood that leaked from Shigure's wound that Kenshin had inflicted upon him. Not that that mattered. Kenshin's Hitokiri Battousai instincts were returning. He could smell the blood as well as the suffering of those close to him. He ran, ignoring the branches and brambles that caught at his clothing and tore at his face. He had one goal and one goal only. To destroy Soichiro Miyazawa.