Author's Note: I promised a plot twist, and I guarantee that none of you
will guess it, simply because it is the most controversial aspect of the
story. Keep in mind that this is only a 'what if.' This twist is why I
wrote this story, but I'm afraid I can only give you the set up in this
chapter. This leads directly into the good stuff; have fun.
As the sun awoke, Kenshin placed the comb in the inside pocket of his gi. The sun's rays reached forth upon the land as it always does, but this day it did not reach forth with rays of warmth, but of searing light. What once brought great pleasure to Shinta's eyes, now only brought pain.
His mind had cleared, and fatigue set in, and as head began to throb amidst all of this. Kenshin's thoughts now centered on a place to rest, for his body was near collapse, and he was still miles from his destination.
He saw a small two-level hut that bordered the nearby marketplace, but all that mattered was sleep, purely and simply sleep. Kenshin's sword attracted as much attention if not more than his present state as he finally approached the door of the inn. A shocked calm appeared as abruptly and as suddenly as Kenshin's entrance. Fear was as palpable as the bread many of the guests were enjoying, for no man who was of good intent carried a weapon especially with the law that had been passed.
"I need a room, please." Kenshin's words barely escaped his lips as he mustered the remnants of his energy to make the request. Silence followed for several moments still, until finally the innkeeper gathered the courage to speak.
"We have a room just upstairs, please follow me."
Kenshin was lead up a flight of stairs to a quiet, simple room with only the most basic of furnishings. He collapsed on the mat as soon as he touched it, not even bothering to remove his clothing.
The sounds of drums and crickets greeted him as he finally awoke. He let out a quiet groan as he slowly lifted his head. The sun had set, and the marketplace that had many farmers and merchants selling their wares, was now replaced with people enjoying the nightlife. Kenshin stood up and walked over to the window, put his elbows on the sill, and buried his face in his hands.
'How could I let this happen? This is all my fault.'
After waking downstairs and paying the innkeeper, he stepped out into the street. "Two days until the meeting; I'll have to move quickly.'
"Kenshin wait up! Where ya' going?" An all too familiar voice called.
"I know that.Sano! I am curious to know how you found me so quickly, that I am."
Kenshin knew he should expect any manner of surprises on his quest, but even when one expects the unexpected one is never completely prepared for it.
"A person can only travel so quickly on foot, so I used a hoarse to catch up to you. Why did you leave in such a hurry anyway? Yahiko came running in making all kinds of noise about a stranger at the gate and how you and Kaoru were gone." Sano finished recounting his explanation with an exhausted tone. He had chased Shinta a long way after all.
"Is Yahiko here with you? I am very grateful for your concern that I am, but I must do this alone, please understand."
Kenshin turned away, and began walking towards the center of the marketplace when he felt his shoulder being grabbed by Sano.
"Kenshin what's going on? Look, you've got friends, which means you don't have to do this alone! Just tell us what's going on; we can help! Think about it, facing your past doesn't have to mean doing so alone, besides I won't go. We're friends, and that means we stick together."
Sano was now staring Kenshin full on in the face; there was no way he was going to let his friend do this alone.
"Sano.you don't understand how dangerous this is. I'm after two men who dominated and lorded over me during my past. Their identities have been kept a closely guarded secret because they were the best.I couldn't even defeat them. I would rather not see one of my closest friends die as a result of me. I already lost someone very important to me, and all because they tried to help; I won't let that happen again."
Sano was visibly taken back by this. 'Better than Kenshin? Is that even possible? No, it does not matter, friends do not abandon one another even when life gets a little dangerous.'
"Your eyes harden Sano; you still wish to accompany me. Very well, the road I walk is dangerous, and I am grateful for the assistance, that I am."
Kenshin turned, smiling now, as he continued his path toward the marketplace, this time with Sano at his side. They walked silently through the marketplace out to the other side of the city. They approached a fork in the road, on the left into the mountains, and to the right a path into the woods.
"This way Sano," Kenshin told him as he walked off into the woods. "I know a path that will help us make better time, though I wish we did not have to travel through these woods, that I do."
The forest carried with it an ominous presence as the pair walked the dark and foreboding path. The trees knew well the smell of blood, and this man who carried the scent was not welcome, for even mother nature knew of this manslayer. Something was different though, he smelled of the manslayer they knew all too well, but he did not carry the air that he had when last they met. This feeling was purer somehow, missing the taint of inhumanity that a true manslayer carried; this confused the trees as this strange man walked through their forest. This did not go unnoticed by Sano, and he looked about the forest with a feeling of mixed fear and wonder.
"I don't get it Kenshin, what happened here? I don't know why, but this forest seems unsure about something, like it knows you or something."
"You are right Sano, that you are. A long time ago, I was ordered to murder a group of advisors for the old regime. Fifty men met their deaths here, and the trees remember that day. The trees remember me, and are wary of me after all these years."
After a day of journeying, Kenshin and Sano approached the sea. The tides were changing as they walked along the shoreline in search of a city where they might hire a ferry. All was peaceful and quiet, and could have even been an enjoyable trip, save for the circumstances which propelled them forward. The rest of the trip went with equal placidness, this time interrupted by a little girl that approached them roughly a mile from the coastal city that they now made their way towards.
She was small, four or five in age, and wearing a simple pink kimono. The girl who looked remarkably like Kaoru was running toward them with all the speed her tiny legs could muster calling out his name. Kenshin, who always treated children with tender care, squatted down smiling at the girl as he waited for her to finally make her way to him. After a minute or so of waiting, he could finally hear the girl calling out to him as she got closer.
"Hello miss, why is a pretty."
He was interrupted in that he was busy catching the girl who had fallen just a few meters before him. What worried Sano was that she seemed to have something sharp in her hand as she fell, but not even the scratch Shinta received on his arm seemed to bother him, as the nasty fall the girl had to endure was avoided.
"Well there you go miss. Do try and be more careful now. Was there something."
He gave a quizzical look towards the girl as she ran off once again.
The city itself bustled as many port cities do, but the murmur of conversation amongst the crowd was not as it normally would have been, for the topic of everyone's conversation was an impending storm that evening. After asking around several of the ferry services, the only gain Kenshin and Sano had for their efforts was the understanding that there was no hope in crossing should they fail to find a braver ferryman.
The sun was nearly set as they finally came to a ferry-master by the name of Soonai. He was a large man, boasting an impressive belly and stature along with a great red beard and mustache. The man of about forty-five carried a jovial attitude as he announced to his potential customers that he was willing and able to set sail through any storm the sea could conjure, for a price of course.
"Excuse me sir, how much are your services? My friend and I have urgent business that requires us to brave such an inhospitable storm."
"Tonight? This is a very dangerous storm, but I suppose 100 yen ought to cover it."
The shopkeeper had his back to the pair, and as he looked into the mirror saw Shinta's face, but more importantly his eyes. At that instant he became very cold and sweaty, a fear he hadn't felt since the old days now gripped him entirely. 'I haven't seen eyes like those I a long time, he must be the legendary manslayer. Forget the price, the faster I can get him where he's going the better.'
"On second thought sir," the man visibly trying to repress the fear in his eyes by this point, "Why don't we just forget about my fee and just get you on your way?"
"When should we be ready to leave?" Sano now spoke up after having been engrossed in the man's severely altered reaction.
"Give me a half-hour." The shopkeeper replied.
"Very well, we shall return in a half-hour." Shinta's gaze had not left the man's face since the conversation stared, but he now broke the gaze to turn and leave.
On the way out, Sano started at the grunt Kenshin made as he rubbed the scratch he received earlier. What had started out as a scratch, had now manifested itself into what appeared to be a bruise. Kenshin saw the look his wound had received, and even though he had begun to sweat profusely, he tried, badly, to pass off his scratch as nothing.
Author's Note: Well? It seemed like a good place to stop, and it's going to be slow going to finally put the next chapter together, because I really want to put some effort into what's to come. As always, let me know what you think.
As the sun awoke, Kenshin placed the comb in the inside pocket of his gi. The sun's rays reached forth upon the land as it always does, but this day it did not reach forth with rays of warmth, but of searing light. What once brought great pleasure to Shinta's eyes, now only brought pain.
His mind had cleared, and fatigue set in, and as head began to throb amidst all of this. Kenshin's thoughts now centered on a place to rest, for his body was near collapse, and he was still miles from his destination.
He saw a small two-level hut that bordered the nearby marketplace, but all that mattered was sleep, purely and simply sleep. Kenshin's sword attracted as much attention if not more than his present state as he finally approached the door of the inn. A shocked calm appeared as abruptly and as suddenly as Kenshin's entrance. Fear was as palpable as the bread many of the guests were enjoying, for no man who was of good intent carried a weapon especially with the law that had been passed.
"I need a room, please." Kenshin's words barely escaped his lips as he mustered the remnants of his energy to make the request. Silence followed for several moments still, until finally the innkeeper gathered the courage to speak.
"We have a room just upstairs, please follow me."
Kenshin was lead up a flight of stairs to a quiet, simple room with only the most basic of furnishings. He collapsed on the mat as soon as he touched it, not even bothering to remove his clothing.
The sounds of drums and crickets greeted him as he finally awoke. He let out a quiet groan as he slowly lifted his head. The sun had set, and the marketplace that had many farmers and merchants selling their wares, was now replaced with people enjoying the nightlife. Kenshin stood up and walked over to the window, put his elbows on the sill, and buried his face in his hands.
'How could I let this happen? This is all my fault.'
After waking downstairs and paying the innkeeper, he stepped out into the street. "Two days until the meeting; I'll have to move quickly.'
"Kenshin wait up! Where ya' going?" An all too familiar voice called.
"I know that.Sano! I am curious to know how you found me so quickly, that I am."
Kenshin knew he should expect any manner of surprises on his quest, but even when one expects the unexpected one is never completely prepared for it.
"A person can only travel so quickly on foot, so I used a hoarse to catch up to you. Why did you leave in such a hurry anyway? Yahiko came running in making all kinds of noise about a stranger at the gate and how you and Kaoru were gone." Sano finished recounting his explanation with an exhausted tone. He had chased Shinta a long way after all.
"Is Yahiko here with you? I am very grateful for your concern that I am, but I must do this alone, please understand."
Kenshin turned away, and began walking towards the center of the marketplace when he felt his shoulder being grabbed by Sano.
"Kenshin what's going on? Look, you've got friends, which means you don't have to do this alone! Just tell us what's going on; we can help! Think about it, facing your past doesn't have to mean doing so alone, besides I won't go. We're friends, and that means we stick together."
Sano was now staring Kenshin full on in the face; there was no way he was going to let his friend do this alone.
"Sano.you don't understand how dangerous this is. I'm after two men who dominated and lorded over me during my past. Their identities have been kept a closely guarded secret because they were the best.I couldn't even defeat them. I would rather not see one of my closest friends die as a result of me. I already lost someone very important to me, and all because they tried to help; I won't let that happen again."
Sano was visibly taken back by this. 'Better than Kenshin? Is that even possible? No, it does not matter, friends do not abandon one another even when life gets a little dangerous.'
"Your eyes harden Sano; you still wish to accompany me. Very well, the road I walk is dangerous, and I am grateful for the assistance, that I am."
Kenshin turned, smiling now, as he continued his path toward the marketplace, this time with Sano at his side. They walked silently through the marketplace out to the other side of the city. They approached a fork in the road, on the left into the mountains, and to the right a path into the woods.
"This way Sano," Kenshin told him as he walked off into the woods. "I know a path that will help us make better time, though I wish we did not have to travel through these woods, that I do."
The forest carried with it an ominous presence as the pair walked the dark and foreboding path. The trees knew well the smell of blood, and this man who carried the scent was not welcome, for even mother nature knew of this manslayer. Something was different though, he smelled of the manslayer they knew all too well, but he did not carry the air that he had when last they met. This feeling was purer somehow, missing the taint of inhumanity that a true manslayer carried; this confused the trees as this strange man walked through their forest. This did not go unnoticed by Sano, and he looked about the forest with a feeling of mixed fear and wonder.
"I don't get it Kenshin, what happened here? I don't know why, but this forest seems unsure about something, like it knows you or something."
"You are right Sano, that you are. A long time ago, I was ordered to murder a group of advisors for the old regime. Fifty men met their deaths here, and the trees remember that day. The trees remember me, and are wary of me after all these years."
After a day of journeying, Kenshin and Sano approached the sea. The tides were changing as they walked along the shoreline in search of a city where they might hire a ferry. All was peaceful and quiet, and could have even been an enjoyable trip, save for the circumstances which propelled them forward. The rest of the trip went with equal placidness, this time interrupted by a little girl that approached them roughly a mile from the coastal city that they now made their way towards.
She was small, four or five in age, and wearing a simple pink kimono. The girl who looked remarkably like Kaoru was running toward them with all the speed her tiny legs could muster calling out his name. Kenshin, who always treated children with tender care, squatted down smiling at the girl as he waited for her to finally make her way to him. After a minute or so of waiting, he could finally hear the girl calling out to him as she got closer.
"Hello miss, why is a pretty."
He was interrupted in that he was busy catching the girl who had fallen just a few meters before him. What worried Sano was that she seemed to have something sharp in her hand as she fell, but not even the scratch Shinta received on his arm seemed to bother him, as the nasty fall the girl had to endure was avoided.
"Well there you go miss. Do try and be more careful now. Was there something."
He gave a quizzical look towards the girl as she ran off once again.
The city itself bustled as many port cities do, but the murmur of conversation amongst the crowd was not as it normally would have been, for the topic of everyone's conversation was an impending storm that evening. After asking around several of the ferry services, the only gain Kenshin and Sano had for their efforts was the understanding that there was no hope in crossing should they fail to find a braver ferryman.
The sun was nearly set as they finally came to a ferry-master by the name of Soonai. He was a large man, boasting an impressive belly and stature along with a great red beard and mustache. The man of about forty-five carried a jovial attitude as he announced to his potential customers that he was willing and able to set sail through any storm the sea could conjure, for a price of course.
"Excuse me sir, how much are your services? My friend and I have urgent business that requires us to brave such an inhospitable storm."
"Tonight? This is a very dangerous storm, but I suppose 100 yen ought to cover it."
The shopkeeper had his back to the pair, and as he looked into the mirror saw Shinta's face, but more importantly his eyes. At that instant he became very cold and sweaty, a fear he hadn't felt since the old days now gripped him entirely. 'I haven't seen eyes like those I a long time, he must be the legendary manslayer. Forget the price, the faster I can get him where he's going the better.'
"On second thought sir," the man visibly trying to repress the fear in his eyes by this point, "Why don't we just forget about my fee and just get you on your way?"
"When should we be ready to leave?" Sano now spoke up after having been engrossed in the man's severely altered reaction.
"Give me a half-hour." The shopkeeper replied.
"Very well, we shall return in a half-hour." Shinta's gaze had not left the man's face since the conversation stared, but he now broke the gaze to turn and leave.
On the way out, Sano started at the grunt Kenshin made as he rubbed the scratch he received earlier. What had started out as a scratch, had now manifested itself into what appeared to be a bruise. Kenshin saw the look his wound had received, and even though he had begun to sweat profusely, he tried, badly, to pass off his scratch as nothing.
Author's Note: Well? It seemed like a good place to stop, and it's going to be slow going to finally put the next chapter together, because I really want to put some effort into what's to come. As always, let me know what you think.