CHAPTER 11- FESTIVAL
As Yahiko had predicted, there were many people that had turned up at the festival, more than anyone could have imagined. They crowded in and around the roads to play games, dance, or just chat. Others swarmed the Akabeko and other restaurants for huge meals. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Jiani wandered about on her own, having purposely parted from her friends. Her sword tucked at her side, she scanned the area around her with darting, dark eyes. She would be ready to act if need be, but hoped that she wouldn't have to in such a mass of people.
'Something is definitely wrong.' She concluded. 'I feel as though I am being tailed.'
This feeling grew stronger with every step she took into the throngs. Her eyes narrowed. Her heart began to beat faster. She reached across and grasped her sword. Whoever it was, it was right on top of her!
"Hey, Jiani! Where did you go?"
It was Sanosuke.
Jiani swiftly sheathed her sword and turned to face him as he pushed his way towards her. Inwardly, she sighed with relief. "Sanosuke,"
Suddenly, his face paled in terror. "LOOK OUT!"
She whirled back around. "What??"
VASH!!!!!
A terrible burning pain raced up and around her arm. Jiani cringed, her hand coming to rest on the fresh slice just over her elbow. But she couldn't succumb to the throbbing pain and sudden head rush. Her eyes darted up to what had hit her. "Y-You!"
Sanosuke saw who it was too and gasped aloud. It was a tall young man with glowing amber eyes and thick brown hair. A long scar cut through his right cheek, over the bridge of his nose, and over his left eye. He was smirking devilishly.
"So, you remember me after all this time, do you?" Seiji asked, pointing his sword at her. "Did you honestly think I would allow you to get very far?"
Jiani stood up. "I'd say the distance from Kyoto to Tokyo is quite far. Yes, I must say that this is a surprise."
"Well then, you must know why I have come for you," he said.
She nodded her head once. "You're here because of what happened to your father."
'His father?' Sanosuke thought. This all was puzzling him.
"That's right." Seiji told her. His face turned serious. "So draw your sword for your last fight."
"Jiani!" Sanosuke took a step forward to help, knowing she was injured.
Suddenly, four swords pointed at him from all sides. He froze, completely fenced in.
Jiani glanced over her shoulder, seeing his predicament. "Sanosuke!"
But Seiji wasn't one to wait. VASH!!!!!!!!
"Augh!" Jiani crashed to the ground, blood spraying from her leg. Sanosuke's eyes were wide as he watched her fall.
"If you don't hurry up and draw your sword, then I will just go ahead and kill you!" Seiji swore angrily.
Jiani struggled to her feet once again, balancing on one foot. Her hand came to rest on her sword hilt.
"Jiani." Sanosuke murmured. Just what was she thinking?
The people nearby fell silent, having witnessed the entire thing. Kaoru and Yahiko came running out of the Akabeko, curious to see what was happening.
Seiji and his men watched and waited for the girl to act. Seiji's smirk returned. "That's right. Come at me, Red Wind."
SHK! The sword was pushed back into place. Jiani glowered up at her foe. "I refuse to fight here. Let us take this somewhere away from people."
Seiji clenched his teeth. "No way! I told you to fight now! Or else, I shall kill you!"
Jiani turned away. "I know you too well, Ozawa. We will have our fight in that field over there." She pointed towards a grassy stretch of land behind the buildings. "I will settle this with you there."
Aki, who was among those holding back Sanosuke, gazed up at his brother. "Seiji?"
The leader sighed and sheathed his sword. "Very well. You had best dig yourself a grave for me to throw you in." He turned away as well. "Sunset on this night. Prepare yourself." With that, he disappeared among the throng. His men drew their swords away and dematerialized after him. Jiani and Sanosuke were left alone.
"Jiani, are you okay?" Sanosuke asked. "Those cuts don't look too good."
Jiani nodded. "They were mere warning blows. They will require nothing more than bandages." She looked up at him. "We had best go find Kaoru and Yahiko."
"Are you crazy? You can't walk on that leg!" he declared. Faster than he could throw a punch, he scooped her up in his arms. "I'll carry you back."
Jiani was too stunned to say or do anything. Blushing bright red and wondering why the hell he had just picked her up, Sanosuke dashed away, holding her against him.
As Yahiko had predicted, there were many people that had turned up at the festival, more than anyone could have imagined. They crowded in and around the roads to play games, dance, or just chat. Others swarmed the Akabeko and other restaurants for huge meals. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Jiani wandered about on her own, having purposely parted from her friends. Her sword tucked at her side, she scanned the area around her with darting, dark eyes. She would be ready to act if need be, but hoped that she wouldn't have to in such a mass of people.
'Something is definitely wrong.' She concluded. 'I feel as though I am being tailed.'
This feeling grew stronger with every step she took into the throngs. Her eyes narrowed. Her heart began to beat faster. She reached across and grasped her sword. Whoever it was, it was right on top of her!
"Hey, Jiani! Where did you go?"
It was Sanosuke.
Jiani swiftly sheathed her sword and turned to face him as he pushed his way towards her. Inwardly, she sighed with relief. "Sanosuke,"
Suddenly, his face paled in terror. "LOOK OUT!"
She whirled back around. "What??"
VASH!!!!!
A terrible burning pain raced up and around her arm. Jiani cringed, her hand coming to rest on the fresh slice just over her elbow. But she couldn't succumb to the throbbing pain and sudden head rush. Her eyes darted up to what had hit her. "Y-You!"
Sanosuke saw who it was too and gasped aloud. It was a tall young man with glowing amber eyes and thick brown hair. A long scar cut through his right cheek, over the bridge of his nose, and over his left eye. He was smirking devilishly.
"So, you remember me after all this time, do you?" Seiji asked, pointing his sword at her. "Did you honestly think I would allow you to get very far?"
Jiani stood up. "I'd say the distance from Kyoto to Tokyo is quite far. Yes, I must say that this is a surprise."
"Well then, you must know why I have come for you," he said.
She nodded her head once. "You're here because of what happened to your father."
'His father?' Sanosuke thought. This all was puzzling him.
"That's right." Seiji told her. His face turned serious. "So draw your sword for your last fight."
"Jiani!" Sanosuke took a step forward to help, knowing she was injured.
Suddenly, four swords pointed at him from all sides. He froze, completely fenced in.
Jiani glanced over her shoulder, seeing his predicament. "Sanosuke!"
But Seiji wasn't one to wait. VASH!!!!!!!!
"Augh!" Jiani crashed to the ground, blood spraying from her leg. Sanosuke's eyes were wide as he watched her fall.
"If you don't hurry up and draw your sword, then I will just go ahead and kill you!" Seiji swore angrily.
Jiani struggled to her feet once again, balancing on one foot. Her hand came to rest on her sword hilt.
"Jiani." Sanosuke murmured. Just what was she thinking?
The people nearby fell silent, having witnessed the entire thing. Kaoru and Yahiko came running out of the Akabeko, curious to see what was happening.
Seiji and his men watched and waited for the girl to act. Seiji's smirk returned. "That's right. Come at me, Red Wind."
SHK! The sword was pushed back into place. Jiani glowered up at her foe. "I refuse to fight here. Let us take this somewhere away from people."
Seiji clenched his teeth. "No way! I told you to fight now! Or else, I shall kill you!"
Jiani turned away. "I know you too well, Ozawa. We will have our fight in that field over there." She pointed towards a grassy stretch of land behind the buildings. "I will settle this with you there."
Aki, who was among those holding back Sanosuke, gazed up at his brother. "Seiji?"
The leader sighed and sheathed his sword. "Very well. You had best dig yourself a grave for me to throw you in." He turned away as well. "Sunset on this night. Prepare yourself." With that, he disappeared among the throng. His men drew their swords away and dematerialized after him. Jiani and Sanosuke were left alone.
"Jiani, are you okay?" Sanosuke asked. "Those cuts don't look too good."
Jiani nodded. "They were mere warning blows. They will require nothing more than bandages." She looked up at him. "We had best go find Kaoru and Yahiko."
"Are you crazy? You can't walk on that leg!" he declared. Faster than he could throw a punch, he scooped her up in his arms. "I'll carry you back."
Jiani was too stunned to say or do anything. Blushing bright red and wondering why the hell he had just picked her up, Sanosuke dashed away, holding her against him.