Chapter 14:
Misery
Beads of sweat rolled down from Yahiko's forehead. Whether they were from the heat, the anticipation or just plain fear was unknown. Time seemed to slow to a halt. Even the crickets had fallen silent. The mood was a thick and inhospitable as the humidity. The smell of rain was in the air and the sky was covered in a milky haze. It would storm again. It would be fierce.
Kenshin's breathing had become labored. His chest felt as if it were about to cave in, but he couldn't let it show. Yahiko could decide at anytime to stop watching Kaoru and Saitou and attack him. If he spots weakness, he will surely pounce. Perhaps it was fear...fear that Kaoru would kill. Yes, he was prepared to do so, but he did not want to see her kill again. The bandits were almost too much to bear. Then again, so was picking up the body of that small child who did not deserve to meet death just yet. Kenshin balled his fists and closed his eyes. It was as if he were fighting a battle with himself, he were battling to control himself.
Battling to control the Battousai.
Kenshin shook his head and kept his eyes on Kaoru. Neither she nor Saitou had made another move since he rose. Kaoru's expression had melted into a serious stone face, her eyes concentrating, trying to pick up the slightest movement from her injured opponent while he contemplated his strike. Surely, he could not die right here in front of his pupil, but he was unsure if he could uphold his beliefs and not die at the same time. But, it was really no argument. His honor was most important. The principles he lived by were paramount. He would strike and in that one strike, kill the female hitokiri, even if that meant him dying.
Saitou moved into stance and Kaoru returned in like. Gatoutsu against battoujustu one final time. A raindrop fell to the ground as both fighters charged for each other. Though injured, Saitou pushed himself to his outer limits. The blood gushed from his wound as he made his body move faster, holding his blade high. Kaoru showed no emotion, her face blank. She knew this would be his strongest attack as well as his craftiest. Saitou darted from side to side, making it hard to predict where he would strike, forcing Kaoru to go on the defense. Her eyes followed his movement, her body remaining still. If she chased him around, she would leave herself open. She waited patiently for the strike that was sure to come and it did. Saitou appeared in front of her and in the blink of an eye, she withdrew her katana and a splatter of blood fell onto the ground.
Saitou stumbled back, blood trickling down the side of his mouth. He smirked, then fell to his knees. Misao rushed to catch him before his whole body reached the ground. Kaoru breathed heavily, grasping her right arm, dropping her sword. Somehow, Saitou managed to cut her, diminishing the power of her strike, disallowing her katana to impale him completely. He was able to injure her, attack and safe face all at the same time. Kaoru "hmphed" and turned her back to Misao and Saitou. The only one left was Yahiko. He had a decision to make.
"Your sensei will die if he does not seek a doctor right now. No one in this town will see you and the next is a few hours away on foot. You can either fight me and die now, or tend to your master and die later. It makes no difference to me," Kaoro said, walking back inside the inn.
Yahiko's body shook from anger, disgust and heartbreak. All he had done...all he had done to protect her honor. It has been in vain. It has all been for nothing. She had thrown her life away to become a murder and share a bed with the man that left her to fend for herself. Yahiko could not understand it. And what happened to the child? Did she just leave it somewhere so she could live a life of murderer?
"Yahiko, Sensei needs help," Misao yelled, tearing him away from his thoughts. He turned around to see her cradling Saitou's head. His chest was barely moving and he had fallen unconscious. They could stabilize him here, but he would have to see a doctor right away. He tried to think of what his sensei would do, but he could not find a definite answer. He turned back to Kenshin, but he had already exited as well.
"Run like the dog you are," he said through his teeth, his eyes full of hatred and spite. He then walked over to Saitou and began to examine him. He ripped off his cut shirt and inspected the two wounds, one across the chest, the other right below his rib cage. He was bleeding badly. Yahiko would first have to stop it before they continued out.
"Misao, give me your shirt," he ordered, putting his hand out. Misao quickly complied and disrobed, taking off her woolen shirt. Yahiko tore it into a long strip and bound Saitou's chest. He then picked the man up and tossed him over his shoulder and pointed to the woods.
"Do you think we should steal a horse," Misao asked, peering into the growth of trees. Yahiko shook his head and walked on.
"If we stop to do that, we will loose precious time. We will do better on foot," he said, leading the way.
They walked for what seemed like an eternity. Their pace was not as quick as they were used to, for Saitou was not a light man. The oppressive conditions did not help matters to much, along with the disturbed heart Yahiko was left with.
What had he been living his life for? Perhaps it was some sort of weird irony. Kenshin was a murderer turned wanderer, vowing never to kill again. Then, the woman he loves goes from a person who believes a sword is used only to protect to an assassin. Then, the student of her style, turns into a murderer in her honor.
In her honor?
Would have really done her any honor to kill for her? She did not believe in killing. She believed in helping. Exacting Kenshin's death, at the time, would not have soothed her soul. For the first time, Yahiko thought of these things. He had only been full of hate, hate for Kenshin. He began to wonder was he even doing it for Kaoru. Perhaps he was doing it for himself and used Kaoru as some sort of honorable excuse. His own reasons were petty, but to uphold a woman's honor was important. A person deserved to die for that.
He wanted Kenshin to die for leaving him.
Yahiko paused in the middle of the path and looked out into the forest ahead of him. He didn't know which way to go, which way to turn. His mind, his heart, his emotions had betrayed him. He let his hatred be his guide, his light, his shadow, his essence. But, even in realizing this, he couldn't let it go. He wouldn't let it go. He had worked to hard to get here, too damn hard. Misao looked up at the sky and let the large raindrops fall on her face and she held her lover's hand.
The rain.
So soothing. At times, it's cleansing. It washes away the past and leaves one refreshed, reborn. Others, it weighs one down with the past, invading their mind, flooding it with ill memories and intentions.
"Set me down," mutter Saitou, who had began to stir.
Shocked, Yahiko put him down against a tree so he could sit up. He knelt before his master, whose eyes were still closed. Misao put her cloak over his head, protecting him from the rain. Saitou slowly pushed her away and tried to stand on his own. Misao put his hand on his arm, helping him up.
"Sensei, save your strength, we are not too far from a medic," Misao said, acting as a brace for him.
As soon as he was on his feet, he took a couple of baby-steps, grabbing his chest. He stumbled over to a tree, taking a breath. Misao was about to run over to him again, but Yahiko stopped her, shaking his head.
"Can't you see he does not want and will not accept help," he said low. Misao growled and took her arm back.
"He's like this because of you. You should have been killing your mark instead of watching him fight. Then you could have helped sensei," she yelled at him, the rain beginning to slick her midnight hair against her face. Yahiko almost raised his hand to strike her, but thought better of it. Why hit her when she only spoke the truth.
"I was caught off guard," he said, walking past her and behind Saitou as he righted himself.
"Have I not told you to expect the unexpected," Saitou said in a low growl, continuing on in a slow, but steady pace. He had been out of it for some time, but it was necessary. His body needed to deal with the shock. He would be fine with a few stitches and honey* on his wounds.
"Yes, sensei. Forgive me," Yahiko said, bowing respectfully. Saitou shrugged his shoulder as he crept forward.
"It matters not if I forgive you. Now, you have two highly skilled killers that have you on the top of their hit list. My teachings can only take you so far. You two are on your own," Saitou announced. Misao and Yahiko stopped in their tracks, the rain beating down on them. Saitou continued forward and eventually, they followed.
"Sensei, you mean, you will not be by our side any longer," Misao cried, hanging on his arm. Saitou pushed her off and she fell to the ground. She was shaking. She was to lose another fixture in her life. Would this be all she ever knows? To be taken in only yo be abandoned?
"I am no help to you right now. It will take me a few days to recover. You do not have that long to deal with your self-created problems. I have taught you all that you need...but I cannot hold your hand on the battlefield. If you live, you will find me. If you die, it matters not. I have a wife that would love to see me," he said without as much as looking back.
A bolt of lightning pierced the sky, illuminating the forest, making the rain drive faster and harder to the ground. It wasn't long before Saitou was out of sight. Yahiko knew better than to chase after him. He had made more than one mistake today. He had to rectify the matter.
Well, I am so glad everyone is loving the fic so much. I really appreciate it. I don't know when I will have the next chapter up, working 60 hours a week and all...but I will have it up as soon as I can. It will definitely take no longer than two weeks. Until then, take care!
Sosoru