Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, the original storyline, any of the
characters, none of it. Neither am I making a profit off of this in any
way. This is only for entertainment purposes.
Step Right, Swing Right
Step Left, Swing Left
Right, Right, Left, Left
Swing all the way, Pause
1...2...3...4...
Yes, that's right, keep it going. Repeat, repeat. Yes, keep going.
I stopped abruptly by a noise, like wood cracking and breaking; it was close. Cautiously, I approached, my wooden sword poised. I gasped when I saw a man with knives standing in the dojo, behind him the wood of the wall had been completely smashed. He came after me and I tried to deflect his attack. But I was too late, and he overpowered me instantly, holding a knive pressed to the skin of my throat. I closed my eyes, trying to stay calm as he dragged me to the floor. I felt my neck go numb as some of my blood spilled to the floor. Moments later, I passed out.
~~switches to Yahiko's POV~~
Blood. There was a lot of blood obviously. And Kaoru was there too, her clothes ripped and her hair messy. The bleeding had stopped mostly, but there was still a lot.
Kenshin, Sano, Megumi, and I had been at the Akabeko for lunch. Kaoru didn't want to come and said she wanted to stay behind and practice. Apparently, someone from the Shuei Yakuza had come back for me, but only found Kaoru, and I guess they tried to kill her.
Now, Megumi was over her, checking her pulse, examining her wounds, with help from Dr. Genzai. Kenshin, Sano, and I, all stood back to let them work. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even hear Kenshin talking to me.
"Yahiko?"
"Huh?" I said.
"Yahiko, are you all right?" Kenshin asked. I gave him a look that told him I wasn't all right at all. He just nodded.
"Yeah, Kenshin, I'm fine," I said. Though, truthfully, inside I was raging inside with hatred for the Shuei Yakuza. They had hurt Kaoru; she meant a lot to me. In many ways, she was just like a sister, a best friend, a role model.
Meanwhile, Suzume and Ayame peeked their heads out from behind a door. Kenshin turned solemnly and ushered the young girls away. Suzume began crying and Kenshin gave her a hug and pulled Ayame into his embrace as well, while whispering comforting words to them.
I envied the girls. Right then, I really needed to collapse emotionally and cry. It doesn't matter that I am the descendant of a long line of proud samurais; everyone is allowed to cry sometime. I didn't feel like preserving my pride and dignity as a man then. I was too angry, to hateful, and too sad to do much of anything. I just wanted to cry. I let the tears rim my eyes, but they refused to fall yet.
Megumi and Dr. Genzai seemed more hurried and flustered now; they were rushed. But I didn't see any of that, I didn't even see Kaoru in the current reality. I just saw our memories, all the times we shared together. She told me she would take my secrets to the grave with her. But now, it seemed that was closer than expected.
Megumi gasped and Dr. Genzai gave her a worried look. They scrambled to help Kaoru for a few moments.
"She's suffered major blood loss, I don't know if she'll make it," Megumi whispered to Dr. Genzai so that Suzuma and Ayame wouldn't hear. Kenshin came back over by us and I could see the worry and fear reflected in his eyes. Even Sano looked distressed.
Suddenly Megumi and Dr. Genzai stopped working and settled back. I hated the look on their faces. I prepared for the worst, because I had a feeling I was about to hear the most devastating news in my life.
Megumi stood and came over to us. She looked to the ground and then forced herself to look us straight.
"She's gone. Kaoru is dead, there's no way we can save her." I felt my knees go weak and I felt disbelief ripple through me. But reality soon sunk in and I sunk to my knees, burying my face in my hands as I began to cry uncontrollably.
~~~~~~~~
*sniffles* How sad. Did you like it?
Step Right, Swing Right
Step Left, Swing Left
Right, Right, Left, Left
Swing all the way, Pause
1...2...3...4...
Yes, that's right, keep it going. Repeat, repeat. Yes, keep going.
I stopped abruptly by a noise, like wood cracking and breaking; it was close. Cautiously, I approached, my wooden sword poised. I gasped when I saw a man with knives standing in the dojo, behind him the wood of the wall had been completely smashed. He came after me and I tried to deflect his attack. But I was too late, and he overpowered me instantly, holding a knive pressed to the skin of my throat. I closed my eyes, trying to stay calm as he dragged me to the floor. I felt my neck go numb as some of my blood spilled to the floor. Moments later, I passed out.
~~switches to Yahiko's POV~~
Blood. There was a lot of blood obviously. And Kaoru was there too, her clothes ripped and her hair messy. The bleeding had stopped mostly, but there was still a lot.
Kenshin, Sano, Megumi, and I had been at the Akabeko for lunch. Kaoru didn't want to come and said she wanted to stay behind and practice. Apparently, someone from the Shuei Yakuza had come back for me, but only found Kaoru, and I guess they tried to kill her.
Now, Megumi was over her, checking her pulse, examining her wounds, with help from Dr. Genzai. Kenshin, Sano, and I, all stood back to let them work. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even hear Kenshin talking to me.
"Yahiko?"
"Huh?" I said.
"Yahiko, are you all right?" Kenshin asked. I gave him a look that told him I wasn't all right at all. He just nodded.
"Yeah, Kenshin, I'm fine," I said. Though, truthfully, inside I was raging inside with hatred for the Shuei Yakuza. They had hurt Kaoru; she meant a lot to me. In many ways, she was just like a sister, a best friend, a role model.
Meanwhile, Suzume and Ayame peeked their heads out from behind a door. Kenshin turned solemnly and ushered the young girls away. Suzume began crying and Kenshin gave her a hug and pulled Ayame into his embrace as well, while whispering comforting words to them.
I envied the girls. Right then, I really needed to collapse emotionally and cry. It doesn't matter that I am the descendant of a long line of proud samurais; everyone is allowed to cry sometime. I didn't feel like preserving my pride and dignity as a man then. I was too angry, to hateful, and too sad to do much of anything. I just wanted to cry. I let the tears rim my eyes, but they refused to fall yet.
Megumi and Dr. Genzai seemed more hurried and flustered now; they were rushed. But I didn't see any of that, I didn't even see Kaoru in the current reality. I just saw our memories, all the times we shared together. She told me she would take my secrets to the grave with her. But now, it seemed that was closer than expected.
Megumi gasped and Dr. Genzai gave her a worried look. They scrambled to help Kaoru for a few moments.
"She's suffered major blood loss, I don't know if she'll make it," Megumi whispered to Dr. Genzai so that Suzuma and Ayame wouldn't hear. Kenshin came back over by us and I could see the worry and fear reflected in his eyes. Even Sano looked distressed.
Suddenly Megumi and Dr. Genzai stopped working and settled back. I hated the look on their faces. I prepared for the worst, because I had a feeling I was about to hear the most devastating news in my life.
Megumi stood and came over to us. She looked to the ground and then forced herself to look us straight.
"She's gone. Kaoru is dead, there's no way we can save her." I felt my knees go weak and I felt disbelief ripple through me. But reality soon sunk in and I sunk to my knees, burying my face in my hands as I began to cry uncontrollably.
~~~~~~~~
*sniffles* How sad. Did you like it?