Disclaimer: Kenshin isn't mine!
Chapter 15:
"Demo Kenshin!" Kaoru reached out and grabbed his hand, "You aren't invincible! Remember what Megumi said!" She wept.
"Kaoru, I'll be careful, that I will. I will not allow myself to push it." He kissed her cheek, "We must find Tsubame-chan, that we do."
"Okay." She let him go and he disappeared into the dark night. "Please be safe." She prayed as she rested her arms on her belly.
"Yahiko show me where she was supposed to go." Kenshin said as they ran.
"Hai! She was supposed to deliver some beef hot pot to the Kamishu residence. Let's check there first."
"Wait Yahiko someone's following us." They stopped and Kenshin turned around abruptly to come face to face with their favorite freeloader. "Sano?"
"I tried catching up with you two, demo you run so goddamn fast." He breathed heavily. "What's going on?"
"Tsubame's missing. We think she's been kidnapped."
"Great. Well, let's get going, ne?"
"Who invited you Rooster head?" Yahiko spat.
"What am I no help at all?"
"Nope."
"Now, now Yahiko. He wants to help."
"He'll only make fun of me along the whole way."
"We don't have time for this, that we don't."
"Kenshin's right, let's go!" Sighing loudly, Yahiko and his partners ran to the house once again.
"Who are you? What do you want?" The frightened girl managed to say through nervous convulsions.
"What you really don't remember us? After all we did for your worthless family." She remembered now these were the men who she had worked for. They were the ones who made her steal the key from the Akebeko. "We've come to take you back and possibly fight that little brat again. This time he won't defeat us. You are our property."
When they reached the house, all the lanterns were out. "Something's wrong here. Be careful." Kenshin warned. The two nodded and Kenshin slowly walked into the house, his Sakobatou drawn. Moonlight beamed in from the windows and the house was in shambles. "There was a struggle here, that there was."
"Isn't that obvious?" Sano smart-assed.
"Isn't that Miss Kamishu?" Yahiko said as he pointed to a figure on the ground. "Is she?"
"No, she's not dead." Kenshin finished his sentence and went over to lift up the woman in his arms. He set her gently on her futon.
"As our leader predicted, you've arrived." A voice from the shadows spoke.
"Who are you and why have you taken Tsubame-chan?" Kenshin questioned.
"She is our gang's servant after all."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Yahiko raged.
"Ah it's the brat. Have you come to save your little girlfriend?"
"Nani?!" He yelled drawing out his bokken. "I guess I'll just have to kick your asses again, huh? I know who you are! Your that gang that Tsubame was forced to work for! She will not be placed in your hands again!" He charged into the shadows, but he didn't hit anything. "Damn, he's gone." Yahiko cursed.
"Well, it looks like they're looking for a fight." Sano smirked, "Well they got one."
"It seems like they're in this vicinity. Let's check out the rest of the house." It was a very large house. The Kamishu's were very wealthy people and Miss Kamishu was living there alone because her family was out on business. Room by room they checked, until they came upon a closed door. "More than likely they're in here." Kenshin stated as he proceeded to kick in the door, revealing a bounded Tsubame. Yahiko quickly ran to her, but was stopped by the leader.
"Where do you think you're going, brat!?" He kicked him aside. "I remember how you disgraced me before. That will not happen again. If you defeat me, which I doubt, you can have her, if not we will take her back."
"Be prepared to lose!" He said smirking, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Yahiko-chan! Don't worry about me!" Tsubame cried.
"Don't be stupid! I will not let them take you! I swore that I would protect you." Kenshin smiled at the boy's maturity and realized how much he had grown.
"Shouldn't we do something Kenshin?"
"No, this is Yahiko's fight. If he needs us, he'll ask."
"Bastard! Prepare yourself! Hyaaa!!!" He said as he swung his bokken at the Leader. He ducked the blow and slashed Yahiko on the back, making him fall to the ground. He slowly got back up, wobbling.
"Yahiko!" Kenshin called, "Use this!" He tossed the Sakabatou to the boy, who caught it, staring at it in amazement. He looked back up at Kenshin. Kenshin nodded his head. "Sword against sword is the best way, that it is. It would be unfair for you to use a bokken against a real sword, ne?" Yahiko smiled and drew Kenshin's sword out. 'I forgot how heavy this thing was.'
"So brat, you're actually gonna use a real sword?" He sneered. "You can't even handle it." He laughed.
"Shut up! Low-life!" Yahiko charged at full speed and jumped high in the air shouting: "Ryuu Shou Sen Modoki!"
"Whoa, did he copy that from just watching you?"
"Hai, Kaoru told me, while they were fighting Shishio's Juppon Gatana at the Aoiya Yahiko used it. But just watching him fight, I don't know. I feel pride. He's grown so much." Sano nodded as they watched Yahiko bring down his opponent with that attack. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he turned and smiled to the two men before passing out on the floor. "Yahiko!" Kenshin called as he rushed over to the boy's side. Sano undid the bonds on the girl. As she opened her eyes, she saw Yahiko's form in Kenshin's arms.
"Yahiko-chan!" The girl cried as she went over to him, cupping her hand around his.
"I'm glad you're okay." He said softly before he passed out once again.
"Sano could you go get Megumi? Take Miss Kamishu to her as well. Oh yeah and could you call the police Chief as well? We'll be waiting at the dojo."
"What do I look like, Kenshin? Your slave?" "You wanted to come along." He smiled.
"Okay, okay." Kenshin held the boy and got up, Tsubame trailed behind
him and she started to sniffle.
"What's wrong Tsubame-chan? Are you hurt?"
"No, demo Yahiko-chan is because of me."
"Don't feel guilty. He wouldn't want that, that he would not. All that mattered to him was that you were returned safely to Tae-san." Kenshin looked back at the girl and smiled. They returned to the dojo after a few minutes.
"Oh my! What happened?" Kaoru exclaimed as she saw Yahiko's form slung over Kenshin's shoulder.
"He's fine, that he is. He just got a slash wound on his back." They took him and laid him on his stomach on an extra futon. Kaoru brought some cloths, a bucket of water, and bandages. She began to treat the wound.
"No let me Miss Kaoru." Tsubame blushed. "I was the cause of this, so allow me."
"Okay. Kenshin, let's go and um..admire the stars."
"Oro? Oh yeah." They left the room, shutting the door slowly behind them.
"Are you hurt?"
"Oro? Oh no, Yahiko defeated the man on his own, that he did."
"Really?"
"It was the same gang that Tsubame was working for. The Leader wanted her back."
"After all this time? That's odd. Wasn't Yahiko using his bokken? Did he fight against a real sword?"
"Hai he was using his bokken. I let him use the Sakabatou, that I did."
"Really? How'd he do?"
"He did just fine. I'm very proud."
"It's funny how he's kinda like an adopted son, ne?"
"Hai."
"Itai." The boy breathed as a sharp pain was sent throughout his body.
"Gomen."
"Tsubame?"
"Hai?"
"What are you doing?"
"Dressing your wound."
"Arigato."
"No, thank you for saving me. There done." She said meekly as she tied the bandage. "Gomen, for getting you involved."
"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing."
"Huh?"
"I wasn't there to protect you. I should have walked with you to deliver the food."
"No, no. It's not your fault. Now you should rest and get better." She went around to his face and pecked him on the cheek. "Goodnight, Yahiko." Blushing madly, he was speechless. 'She didn't say chan.' She walked out onto the porch.
"Are you ready to go back to Tae-san's?" Kenshin asked.
"Hai, arigato."
"How's he doing?"
"Just fine." She giggled and blushed. Kaoru just smiled in return.
"I'll escort you home, that I will." With that said Kenshin took Tsubame's hand and walked out of the gate. Karou headed inside to check on the boy. Still on his belly, he turned his face to Kaoru. It was still dark pink.
"So, Yahiko's got a little girlfriend." Kaoru teased.
"Shut up! She's not my girlfriend!"
"Sure she isn't and Kenshin's not my husband." She giggled. Yahiko tried to move, but his wound wasn't having it.
"Itai! Damn!"
"You stay put. This is great! I can say whatever I want and you can't touch me."
"Oi!"
"Okay, okay. Goodnight, Yahiko-chan."
"Enough with the chan crap!" He yelled.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." He grumbled. She blew out the oil lamp and shut the door behind her. 'He's becoming a man more and more everyday.'
Chapter 15:
"Demo Kenshin!" Kaoru reached out and grabbed his hand, "You aren't invincible! Remember what Megumi said!" She wept.
"Kaoru, I'll be careful, that I will. I will not allow myself to push it." He kissed her cheek, "We must find Tsubame-chan, that we do."
"Okay." She let him go and he disappeared into the dark night. "Please be safe." She prayed as she rested her arms on her belly.
"Yahiko show me where she was supposed to go." Kenshin said as they ran.
"Hai! She was supposed to deliver some beef hot pot to the Kamishu residence. Let's check there first."
"Wait Yahiko someone's following us." They stopped and Kenshin turned around abruptly to come face to face with their favorite freeloader. "Sano?"
"I tried catching up with you two, demo you run so goddamn fast." He breathed heavily. "What's going on?"
"Tsubame's missing. We think she's been kidnapped."
"Great. Well, let's get going, ne?"
"Who invited you Rooster head?" Yahiko spat.
"What am I no help at all?"
"Nope."
"Now, now Yahiko. He wants to help."
"He'll only make fun of me along the whole way."
"We don't have time for this, that we don't."
"Kenshin's right, let's go!" Sighing loudly, Yahiko and his partners ran to the house once again.
"Who are you? What do you want?" The frightened girl managed to say through nervous convulsions.
"What you really don't remember us? After all we did for your worthless family." She remembered now these were the men who she had worked for. They were the ones who made her steal the key from the Akebeko. "We've come to take you back and possibly fight that little brat again. This time he won't defeat us. You are our property."
When they reached the house, all the lanterns were out. "Something's wrong here. Be careful." Kenshin warned. The two nodded and Kenshin slowly walked into the house, his Sakobatou drawn. Moonlight beamed in from the windows and the house was in shambles. "There was a struggle here, that there was."
"Isn't that obvious?" Sano smart-assed.
"Isn't that Miss Kamishu?" Yahiko said as he pointed to a figure on the ground. "Is she?"
"No, she's not dead." Kenshin finished his sentence and went over to lift up the woman in his arms. He set her gently on her futon.
"As our leader predicted, you've arrived." A voice from the shadows spoke.
"Who are you and why have you taken Tsubame-chan?" Kenshin questioned.
"She is our gang's servant after all."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Yahiko raged.
"Ah it's the brat. Have you come to save your little girlfriend?"
"Nani?!" He yelled drawing out his bokken. "I guess I'll just have to kick your asses again, huh? I know who you are! Your that gang that Tsubame was forced to work for! She will not be placed in your hands again!" He charged into the shadows, but he didn't hit anything. "Damn, he's gone." Yahiko cursed.
"Well, it looks like they're looking for a fight." Sano smirked, "Well they got one."
"It seems like they're in this vicinity. Let's check out the rest of the house." It was a very large house. The Kamishu's were very wealthy people and Miss Kamishu was living there alone because her family was out on business. Room by room they checked, until they came upon a closed door. "More than likely they're in here." Kenshin stated as he proceeded to kick in the door, revealing a bounded Tsubame. Yahiko quickly ran to her, but was stopped by the leader.
"Where do you think you're going, brat!?" He kicked him aside. "I remember how you disgraced me before. That will not happen again. If you defeat me, which I doubt, you can have her, if not we will take her back."
"Be prepared to lose!" He said smirking, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Yahiko-chan! Don't worry about me!" Tsubame cried.
"Don't be stupid! I will not let them take you! I swore that I would protect you." Kenshin smiled at the boy's maturity and realized how much he had grown.
"Shouldn't we do something Kenshin?"
"No, this is Yahiko's fight. If he needs us, he'll ask."
"Bastard! Prepare yourself! Hyaaa!!!" He said as he swung his bokken at the Leader. He ducked the blow and slashed Yahiko on the back, making him fall to the ground. He slowly got back up, wobbling.
"Yahiko!" Kenshin called, "Use this!" He tossed the Sakabatou to the boy, who caught it, staring at it in amazement. He looked back up at Kenshin. Kenshin nodded his head. "Sword against sword is the best way, that it is. It would be unfair for you to use a bokken against a real sword, ne?" Yahiko smiled and drew Kenshin's sword out. 'I forgot how heavy this thing was.'
"So brat, you're actually gonna use a real sword?" He sneered. "You can't even handle it." He laughed.
"Shut up! Low-life!" Yahiko charged at full speed and jumped high in the air shouting: "Ryuu Shou Sen Modoki!"
"Whoa, did he copy that from just watching you?"
"Hai, Kaoru told me, while they were fighting Shishio's Juppon Gatana at the Aoiya Yahiko used it. But just watching him fight, I don't know. I feel pride. He's grown so much." Sano nodded as they watched Yahiko bring down his opponent with that attack. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he turned and smiled to the two men before passing out on the floor. "Yahiko!" Kenshin called as he rushed over to the boy's side. Sano undid the bonds on the girl. As she opened her eyes, she saw Yahiko's form in Kenshin's arms.
"Yahiko-chan!" The girl cried as she went over to him, cupping her hand around his.
"I'm glad you're okay." He said softly before he passed out once again.
"Sano could you go get Megumi? Take Miss Kamishu to her as well. Oh yeah and could you call the police Chief as well? We'll be waiting at the dojo."
"What do I look like, Kenshin? Your slave?" "You wanted to come along." He smiled.
"Okay, okay." Kenshin held the boy and got up, Tsubame trailed behind
him and she started to sniffle.
"What's wrong Tsubame-chan? Are you hurt?"
"No, demo Yahiko-chan is because of me."
"Don't feel guilty. He wouldn't want that, that he would not. All that mattered to him was that you were returned safely to Tae-san." Kenshin looked back at the girl and smiled. They returned to the dojo after a few minutes.
"Oh my! What happened?" Kaoru exclaimed as she saw Yahiko's form slung over Kenshin's shoulder.
"He's fine, that he is. He just got a slash wound on his back." They took him and laid him on his stomach on an extra futon. Kaoru brought some cloths, a bucket of water, and bandages. She began to treat the wound.
"No let me Miss Kaoru." Tsubame blushed. "I was the cause of this, so allow me."
"Okay. Kenshin, let's go and um..admire the stars."
"Oro? Oh yeah." They left the room, shutting the door slowly behind them.
"Are you hurt?"
"Oro? Oh no, Yahiko defeated the man on his own, that he did."
"Really?"
"It was the same gang that Tsubame was working for. The Leader wanted her back."
"After all this time? That's odd. Wasn't Yahiko using his bokken? Did he fight against a real sword?"
"Hai he was using his bokken. I let him use the Sakabatou, that I did."
"Really? How'd he do?"
"He did just fine. I'm very proud."
"It's funny how he's kinda like an adopted son, ne?"
"Hai."
"Itai." The boy breathed as a sharp pain was sent throughout his body.
"Gomen."
"Tsubame?"
"Hai?"
"What are you doing?"
"Dressing your wound."
"Arigato."
"No, thank you for saving me. There done." She said meekly as she tied the bandage. "Gomen, for getting you involved."
"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing."
"Huh?"
"I wasn't there to protect you. I should have walked with you to deliver the food."
"No, no. It's not your fault. Now you should rest and get better." She went around to his face and pecked him on the cheek. "Goodnight, Yahiko." Blushing madly, he was speechless. 'She didn't say chan.' She walked out onto the porch.
"Are you ready to go back to Tae-san's?" Kenshin asked.
"Hai, arigato."
"How's he doing?"
"Just fine." She giggled and blushed. Kaoru just smiled in return.
"I'll escort you home, that I will." With that said Kenshin took Tsubame's hand and walked out of the gate. Karou headed inside to check on the boy. Still on his belly, he turned his face to Kaoru. It was still dark pink.
"So, Yahiko's got a little girlfriend." Kaoru teased.
"Shut up! She's not my girlfriend!"
"Sure she isn't and Kenshin's not my husband." She giggled. Yahiko tried to move, but his wound wasn't having it.
"Itai! Damn!"
"You stay put. This is great! I can say whatever I want and you can't touch me."
"Oi!"
"Okay, okay. Goodnight, Yahiko-chan."
"Enough with the chan crap!" He yelled.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." He grumbled. She blew out the oil lamp and shut the door behind her. 'He's becoming a man more and more everyday.'