Samurai X: A Zanza's Love
Chapter 4: The Truth 2
(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
For a long moment no one said anything. Aya was clutching a small brown bag, holding it as if her life depended on it. Kenshin, Kaoru and Yahiko waited silently, while Sano had a strange expression on his face, staring at Aya. Megumi sat some distance away from all of them. This is none of my business,
Or my problem, Megumi thought.
But this does concern Sano, so.
"Sanosuke." Aya started.
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara" Aya's words kept on repeating inside Sano's head. "I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara"
".All of you." Aya continued.
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara"
"My real name is Ayako."
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara" No, it can't be., Sano thought.
"Sagara," Aya finally revealed.
Megumi lifted an eyebrow. Kenshin drifted off in thoughts. Sano didn't say a thing.only Kaoru and Yahiko voiced their thoughts.
"Ayako Sagara? Doesn't that make you..." Kaoru said.
"Then chicken-head here is." Yahiko started. Sano gave the spoilt brat a glare.
"I am Souza Sagara's daughter." Aya stated. She told them about where her family lived, Souza's sudden farewell.
"And he left me these." Aya ended, showing the letter and the badge. Sano took the badge from her hand and looked at it thoughtfully. Kenshin took the letter and read it quickly, with Kaoru and Yahiko reading over his shoulder. Megumi slipped over to Sano's side to get a closer look at the badge. It was carved out of wood and had a marking on it.
"What's with the strange marking?" Megumi said aloud. Sano must have been really deep in thought, as he was quite surprised to see Megumi sitting next to him.
"Huh? Oh, this is the symbol of the Sekihotai.this was a very special badge." Sano replied. Memories started to flow.
"Because I was the one who made this."
---------------------------------------------------------------- ----
(Flashback: in the camp of the Sekihotai)
"Look what I made, Captain Sagara!" A very small, kawaii Sano said. He showed his captain a round piece of wood, with the Sekihotai symbol carved on it. Souza smiled and gave Sano a pat on the head.
"I want you to have this," Sano continued, offering it up to him.
"Why, thank you Sanosuke," Souza replied picking up the handmade badge. He noticed that Sano's fingers had some cuts. Sano quickly hid his fingers.
"Your fingers," Souza said, worried, "did you cut yourself while making this?"
Sano nodded, quite embarrassed to be unable to do such an easy task properly. Souza kneeled down to Sano's level.
"You don't need to be embarrassed Sanosuke. The fact that you're injured showed how much trouble you went through to make this badge. I appreciate your gift very much Sano, I'll treasure it with all my life. Come on, let's do something about those cuts," Souza said kindly, stretching out his hand to Sano. Sano gave a big smile and took his hand.
"Next time get Katsu to help you."
"Okay."
(End of flashback)
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(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
Sano gave a small smile. I'll treasure it with all my life, that's what he said, Sano thought. Everyone was looking at Sano now, waiting for him to react to Ayako's confession. Sano looked straight at Ayako.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Megumi stated.
"She's telling the truth," Sano suddenly said, "Captain Sagara likes to keep things to himself, but I never expected him to hide such a huge secret.I knew you looked familiar."
"Ano." Ayako said, out of concern. Sano raised the badge.
"He gave you this?" Sano asked. Aya nodded. She wanted to ask something. something she wanted to know for a very long time now.
"Sano, the letter instructed Ayako-chan not to reveal her real name. What was Souza Sagara afraid of? Could there be someone after her?" Kenshin said seriously.
"You're right Kenshin," Sano replied, turning to Ayako, "were you attacked on your way here?"
"But Sano, it's been so many years.why would anyone want to harm Ayako, even if they did know her real identity?" Kaoru insisted.
"Actually." Aya spoke. Everyone turned to look at her, "I was attacked by a group of people soon after I left the village.they told me to hand something over, but I didn't know what they were talking about. I managed run off, but they chased me. I was going to be captured when the elderly couple hid me from them and took care of me. But when I set off to here after the couple died to look for you," she pointed to Sano, "I didn't meet any trouble at all."
"Maybe they didn't recognize you.you did hide your identity pretty well," Kaoru reasoned. Kenshin shook his head.
"If they wanted to find Ayako, it would be pretty easy for them.the fact that it is too quiet worries me. But they'll probably attack soon, after they have find out more about this place," Kenshin added. Everyone was silent at the truth of Kenshin's reasoning. "Did Captain Sagara hand you anything else?" Kenshin asked. Aya shook her head, still clutching the brown bag.
The brown bag.
"Ayako, can I have a look at the bag you're holding?" Kenshin said firmly. Ayako nodded and passed it to Kenshin.
"There isn't anything else inside." Aya commented. Kenshin put his hand inside and felt around the bag. He ripped open the part where he felt a small bulge. He pulled out an envelope. Ayako gasped. Is that what they wanted? Aya thought.
Kenshin read the letter inside silently to himself. Halfway through, his eyes widened in shock. Sano was getting impatient.
"Oy Kenshin, hurry up and tell us what it said," Sano said, quite irritated. As he reached forward to grab the letter, the red-head placed the items into his sleeve.
"I'll tell you later Sano, when the time is right," Kenshin said, looking very serious.for a while. Kaoru grabbed Kenshin by the collar and shook him hard.
"KENSHIN, WHY CAN'T YOU TELL US NOW? ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING FROM ME???HUH? SAY SOMETHING YOU." Kaoru ordered, a vein popping out of her head. Megumi quickly went forward to grab Kenshin's arm.
"I'm sure Kenshin dear will tell me later in private. We have no secrets to each other, isn't that right, Kenshin dear? Hohoho," Megumi teased. Kaoru was red from head to toe.
"Go Away You Fox!...IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, KENSHIN!!! ANSWER ME!!!!" Kaoru shouted, shaking Kenshin harder.
"Ore?!." was all Kenshin could say as he was becoming dizzy from Kaoru's shaking *o*. Everyone except Kaoru sweatdropped. ^o^0 Sano gave a sigh and stood up.
"Well, I guess today's meeting is over," Sano commented. He turned to Ayako, "looks like I have to take care of you from now on." He gave her a wink. Ayako blushed at Sano's comment. It was quite true.father did ask him to look after her.
Father.
"Ahem." Megumi suddenly said. Sano turned to look at her. "I'm going back to the clinic," she announced, making her way to the door.
"Do you need me to accompany you back?" Sano asked.
"No, happy playing with your new sister," Megumi replied casually.
"What happened to my father, Sano?" Ayako suddenly said. Everybody became silent, surprised by her question. Megumi stopped in her tracks and Kaoru stopped shaking Kenshin (which is a good thing for him ^^).
"Don't you know what happened to him? He.Mmphfp!!!!" Yahiko started to say, before Kenshin covered his mouth quickly.
"Uh, I think we'll leave you two alone for a while." Kenshin said, signaling to Kaoru. She took the hint.
"Come on Yahiko, it's time for your practice," Kaoru told Yahiko, pushing him out of the room.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Yahiko protested.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Kaoru warned.
"Nothing, nothing," Yahiko answered timidly.
"Ano." Kenshin commented. ^^0
All of them exited the room, Megumi last, leaving the two Sagaras alone.
Leaving Sano to tell her the truth.
"I've heard some rumors."Ayako managed to say. Her heart clutched in fear, frightened and dreadful of the truth that this man was going to reveal to her. The key to all her questions.
Guess the only way is to tell her as it is, Sano thought.
So he did.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Kamiya Dojo, corridor)
Much to her own surprise, Megumi found herself staying longer at the Kamiya Dojo, not because of her Kenshin dear, but because of the chicken head fellow.
More surprising is that she was leaning against the door to the hall, where Sano and Ayako were, trying to listen to what they were saying. She had no idea why she was doing this, but she just wanted to know. She pulled the door slightly ajar.
And saw Sano hugging Ayako.
She quickly closed the door and ran away, heading in no particular direction. Her mind whirled in confusion. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. A million thoughts ran through her mind: Sano just needed to tell Ayako the truth, why is he hugging her.why do I feel hurt? I don't care what the stupid chicken head does.
Do I?
---------------------------------------------------------------- ---
(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
It seemed that the Captain Sagara's death, and how he died, was too much for Ayako. Tears which she hold back for many years of loneliness, sadness and worries broke through at last. She wept for her father, wept at his manner of death, wept for the betrayal from the government to the Sekihotai.
Sano was at a lost. He could handle any fight easily, no matter how tough the enemy was. But when it comes down to comforting a crying woman, he had no strategies at all. So he did the best thing he thought was appropriate.he hugged her.
"Uh.you can cry on my shoulder.if it makes you feel better," Sano said. Ayako cried for a while longer, giving out small little sobs, and then her tears were gone.
"Must stop crying.Father wouldn't like to know I'm crying," Ayako finally managed to say. She released herself from Sano's arms, "thank you for telling me the truth Sano."
"It's nothing.you sure you're fine?" Sano asked.
"I'm fine, arigato again Sano-san" Ayako said, giving a smile. She gave a sigh of exasperation, "what I'm worried about are those bad people. Kenshin-san said they would attack soon.Ouch! o" Ayako exclaimed as Sano gave a sharp knock to her head.
"What was that for?" Ayako asked in pain.
"You were getting depressed. There's no need to worry about that now. Besides Captain Sagara wouldn't like that," Sano said. He stood up and made a fist, "they can come as many as they want, but I'm still going to pound their faces flat!"
Ayako's eyes widened. She gave her best smile.
"Yeah, the Sagaras never give up. We'll make them crawl away like dogs!"
"That's the spirit!"
They both laughed. Yes, Ayako thought, we are no longer friends now. The barrier and tension between the both of them were gone. Ayako's secret admiration for Sano had dissolved to an admiration for Sano as a big brother, someone who can cooperate with her and share her past with. Someone who can say with her that Souza Sagara was the greatest and most important man of their life. Ayako could just imagine how fun it would be, sharing with Sano her happy moments with their respected father and teacher, Souza Sagara, and Sano sharing his own moments with the captain.
Yes, Ayako thought, we are no longer friends now.
We're siblings.
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Author's Notes: Next chapter coming up. What did the secret letter said? Who is going after Ayako? Will Megumi's misunderstanding be cleared? Will Sano and Megumi figure out their feelings for each other? Does Ayako help his brother? Will the secret letter fall into the wrong hands? (Phew, that's a lot of questions.) More excitement coming up in Chapter fiveeeeeeeeeee (and hopefully a better title ^^0) Please review!!!!!!!!!
Check out my Saiyuki fics: Of Doors and Signs, Goku's Paradise and Radio Crisis etc.
Chapter 4: The Truth 2
(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
For a long moment no one said anything. Aya was clutching a small brown bag, holding it as if her life depended on it. Kenshin, Kaoru and Yahiko waited silently, while Sano had a strange expression on his face, staring at Aya. Megumi sat some distance away from all of them. This is none of my business,
Or my problem, Megumi thought.
But this does concern Sano, so.
"Sanosuke." Aya started.
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara" Aya's words kept on repeating inside Sano's head. "I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara"
".All of you." Aya continued.
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara"
"My real name is Ayako."
"I need to talk to all of you, especially you.Sanosuke Sagara" No, it can't be., Sano thought.
"Sagara," Aya finally revealed.
Megumi lifted an eyebrow. Kenshin drifted off in thoughts. Sano didn't say a thing.only Kaoru and Yahiko voiced their thoughts.
"Ayako Sagara? Doesn't that make you..." Kaoru said.
"Then chicken-head here is." Yahiko started. Sano gave the spoilt brat a glare.
"I am Souza Sagara's daughter." Aya stated. She told them about where her family lived, Souza's sudden farewell.
"And he left me these." Aya ended, showing the letter and the badge. Sano took the badge from her hand and looked at it thoughtfully. Kenshin took the letter and read it quickly, with Kaoru and Yahiko reading over his shoulder. Megumi slipped over to Sano's side to get a closer look at the badge. It was carved out of wood and had a marking on it.
"What's with the strange marking?" Megumi said aloud. Sano must have been really deep in thought, as he was quite surprised to see Megumi sitting next to him.
"Huh? Oh, this is the symbol of the Sekihotai.this was a very special badge." Sano replied. Memories started to flow.
"Because I was the one who made this."
---------------------------------------------------------------- ----
(Flashback: in the camp of the Sekihotai)
"Look what I made, Captain Sagara!" A very small, kawaii Sano said. He showed his captain a round piece of wood, with the Sekihotai symbol carved on it. Souza smiled and gave Sano a pat on the head.
"I want you to have this," Sano continued, offering it up to him.
"Why, thank you Sanosuke," Souza replied picking up the handmade badge. He noticed that Sano's fingers had some cuts. Sano quickly hid his fingers.
"Your fingers," Souza said, worried, "did you cut yourself while making this?"
Sano nodded, quite embarrassed to be unable to do such an easy task properly. Souza kneeled down to Sano's level.
"You don't need to be embarrassed Sanosuke. The fact that you're injured showed how much trouble you went through to make this badge. I appreciate your gift very much Sano, I'll treasure it with all my life. Come on, let's do something about those cuts," Souza said kindly, stretching out his hand to Sano. Sano gave a big smile and took his hand.
"Next time get Katsu to help you."
"Okay."
(End of flashback)
---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
Sano gave a small smile. I'll treasure it with all my life, that's what he said, Sano thought. Everyone was looking at Sano now, waiting for him to react to Ayako's confession. Sano looked straight at Ayako.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Megumi stated.
"She's telling the truth," Sano suddenly said, "Captain Sagara likes to keep things to himself, but I never expected him to hide such a huge secret.I knew you looked familiar."
"Ano." Ayako said, out of concern. Sano raised the badge.
"He gave you this?" Sano asked. Aya nodded. She wanted to ask something. something she wanted to know for a very long time now.
"Sano, the letter instructed Ayako-chan not to reveal her real name. What was Souza Sagara afraid of? Could there be someone after her?" Kenshin said seriously.
"You're right Kenshin," Sano replied, turning to Ayako, "were you attacked on your way here?"
"But Sano, it's been so many years.why would anyone want to harm Ayako, even if they did know her real identity?" Kaoru insisted.
"Actually." Aya spoke. Everyone turned to look at her, "I was attacked by a group of people soon after I left the village.they told me to hand something over, but I didn't know what they were talking about. I managed run off, but they chased me. I was going to be captured when the elderly couple hid me from them and took care of me. But when I set off to here after the couple died to look for you," she pointed to Sano, "I didn't meet any trouble at all."
"Maybe they didn't recognize you.you did hide your identity pretty well," Kaoru reasoned. Kenshin shook his head.
"If they wanted to find Ayako, it would be pretty easy for them.the fact that it is too quiet worries me. But they'll probably attack soon, after they have find out more about this place," Kenshin added. Everyone was silent at the truth of Kenshin's reasoning. "Did Captain Sagara hand you anything else?" Kenshin asked. Aya shook her head, still clutching the brown bag.
The brown bag.
"Ayako, can I have a look at the bag you're holding?" Kenshin said firmly. Ayako nodded and passed it to Kenshin.
"There isn't anything else inside." Aya commented. Kenshin put his hand inside and felt around the bag. He ripped open the part where he felt a small bulge. He pulled out an envelope. Ayako gasped. Is that what they wanted? Aya thought.
Kenshin read the letter inside silently to himself. Halfway through, his eyes widened in shock. Sano was getting impatient.
"Oy Kenshin, hurry up and tell us what it said," Sano said, quite irritated. As he reached forward to grab the letter, the red-head placed the items into his sleeve.
"I'll tell you later Sano, when the time is right," Kenshin said, looking very serious.for a while. Kaoru grabbed Kenshin by the collar and shook him hard.
"KENSHIN, WHY CAN'T YOU TELL US NOW? ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING FROM ME???HUH? SAY SOMETHING YOU." Kaoru ordered, a vein popping out of her head. Megumi quickly went forward to grab Kenshin's arm.
"I'm sure Kenshin dear will tell me later in private. We have no secrets to each other, isn't that right, Kenshin dear? Hohoho," Megumi teased. Kaoru was red from head to toe.
"Go Away You Fox!...IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, KENSHIN!!! ANSWER ME!!!!" Kaoru shouted, shaking Kenshin harder.
"Ore?!." was all Kenshin could say as he was becoming dizzy from Kaoru's shaking *o*. Everyone except Kaoru sweatdropped. ^o^0 Sano gave a sigh and stood up.
"Well, I guess today's meeting is over," Sano commented. He turned to Ayako, "looks like I have to take care of you from now on." He gave her a wink. Ayako blushed at Sano's comment. It was quite true.father did ask him to look after her.
Father.
"Ahem." Megumi suddenly said. Sano turned to look at her. "I'm going back to the clinic," she announced, making her way to the door.
"Do you need me to accompany you back?" Sano asked.
"No, happy playing with your new sister," Megumi replied casually.
"What happened to my father, Sano?" Ayako suddenly said. Everybody became silent, surprised by her question. Megumi stopped in her tracks and Kaoru stopped shaking Kenshin (which is a good thing for him ^^).
"Don't you know what happened to him? He.Mmphfp!!!!" Yahiko started to say, before Kenshin covered his mouth quickly.
"Uh, I think we'll leave you two alone for a while." Kenshin said, signaling to Kaoru. She took the hint.
"Come on Yahiko, it's time for your practice," Kaoru told Yahiko, pushing him out of the room.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Yahiko protested.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Kaoru warned.
"Nothing, nothing," Yahiko answered timidly.
"Ano." Kenshin commented. ^^0
All of them exited the room, Megumi last, leaving the two Sagaras alone.
Leaving Sano to tell her the truth.
"I've heard some rumors."Ayako managed to say. Her heart clutched in fear, frightened and dreadful of the truth that this man was going to reveal to her. The key to all her questions.
Guess the only way is to tell her as it is, Sano thought.
So he did.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Kamiya Dojo, corridor)
Much to her own surprise, Megumi found herself staying longer at the Kamiya Dojo, not because of her Kenshin dear, but because of the chicken head fellow.
More surprising is that she was leaning against the door to the hall, where Sano and Ayako were, trying to listen to what they were saying. She had no idea why she was doing this, but she just wanted to know. She pulled the door slightly ajar.
And saw Sano hugging Ayako.
She quickly closed the door and ran away, heading in no particular direction. Her mind whirled in confusion. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. A million thoughts ran through her mind: Sano just needed to tell Ayako the truth, why is he hugging her.why do I feel hurt? I don't care what the stupid chicken head does.
Do I?
---------------------------------------------------------------- ---
(In the hall of the Kamiya Dojo)
It seemed that the Captain Sagara's death, and how he died, was too much for Ayako. Tears which she hold back for many years of loneliness, sadness and worries broke through at last. She wept for her father, wept at his manner of death, wept for the betrayal from the government to the Sekihotai.
Sano was at a lost. He could handle any fight easily, no matter how tough the enemy was. But when it comes down to comforting a crying woman, he had no strategies at all. So he did the best thing he thought was appropriate.he hugged her.
"Uh.you can cry on my shoulder.if it makes you feel better," Sano said. Ayako cried for a while longer, giving out small little sobs, and then her tears were gone.
"Must stop crying.Father wouldn't like to know I'm crying," Ayako finally managed to say. She released herself from Sano's arms, "thank you for telling me the truth Sano."
"It's nothing.you sure you're fine?" Sano asked.
"I'm fine, arigato again Sano-san" Ayako said, giving a smile. She gave a sigh of exasperation, "what I'm worried about are those bad people. Kenshin-san said they would attack soon.Ouch! o" Ayako exclaimed as Sano gave a sharp knock to her head.
"What was that for?" Ayako asked in pain.
"You were getting depressed. There's no need to worry about that now. Besides Captain Sagara wouldn't like that," Sano said. He stood up and made a fist, "they can come as many as they want, but I'm still going to pound their faces flat!"
Ayako's eyes widened. She gave her best smile.
"Yeah, the Sagaras never give up. We'll make them crawl away like dogs!"
"That's the spirit!"
They both laughed. Yes, Ayako thought, we are no longer friends now. The barrier and tension between the both of them were gone. Ayako's secret admiration for Sano had dissolved to an admiration for Sano as a big brother, someone who can cooperate with her and share her past with. Someone who can say with her that Souza Sagara was the greatest and most important man of their life. Ayako could just imagine how fun it would be, sharing with Sano her happy moments with their respected father and teacher, Souza Sagara, and Sano sharing his own moments with the captain.
Yes, Ayako thought, we are no longer friends now.
We're siblings.
---------------------------------------------------------------- --------
Author's Notes: Next chapter coming up. What did the secret letter said? Who is going after Ayako? Will Megumi's misunderstanding be cleared? Will Sano and Megumi figure out their feelings for each other? Does Ayako help his brother? Will the secret letter fall into the wrong hands? (Phew, that's a lot of questions.) More excitement coming up in Chapter fiveeeeeeeeeee (and hopefully a better title ^^0) Please review!!!!!!!!!
Check out my Saiyuki fics: Of Doors and Signs, Goku's Paradise and Radio Crisis etc.