Megumi looked up in shock. Mommy? It was, it was her mommy. She hadn't seen her mother in a long time, but she instantly knew who she was. Mommy had come to get her. Mommy still loved her. She wasn't sure because somewhere in the back of her mind she accused Mommy of leaving. Maybe Mommy left because of her?
She wasn't sure what was happening. She knew Sano was in trouble. And now she was too. The man behind her smelled strongly of sweat and fear. The cold blade pressed against her throat made her shiver in fright. She hardly felt it when he tightened up and nicked the skin open.
When he started to drag her towards the car her instincts started screaming. If he got her in there that would be it. No one could save her then. Not Mommy, Sano, or 'Tari.
Even when he pressed the knife closer she lashed out. She realized when he was moving he didn't have the same kind of leverage. He couldn't press down hard enough from that angle.
"Quit moving you little slut." He hissed in her ear. His hot breath seared her cheek. "If you don't stop I'll carve you up."
She didn't doubt that he would do it.
She went limp becoming dead weight. His arms sagged and she lurched up hoping to slip away. He wasn't letting go that easily. He snatched a fist full of her long, black hair and yanked her back like a yo-yo. White flashed in front of her eyes but she strained forward feeling clumps tear free of her scalp.
As a last resort she whipped her head around and sank her teeth into his bony hand. The flesh tasted bitter, but she ground her teeth in slicing back on forth as if he were a tough piece of meat. Coppery blood flooded her mouth, choking her. She sputtered while sluicing it out with her tongue. It dribbled between her lips and down her chin.
"You little whore!" The man yelped balling his fist and striking her repeatedly on the head. Each time he connected she was jarred loose, but she readjusted her grip somehow thinking if she held on long enough to the oily flesh she would live.
Then she was free. Well, mostly free. The man's hand was still clutched firmly in her hair, but it was no longer attached to it's owner. Instead white bone jutted out of bloody flesh at the elbow. With an ear piercing scream she hurtled away and ripped it off her not paying heed to the hair that went with it.
Her heart was racing furiously and she dug her small fingernails into her palm. Voices were calling her, but now that she was free all semblance of calm had departed. She was frenzied to get out of there.
Darting off in the most likely direction she felt herself suddenly up in the air. She soared for about two yards before tumbling roughly on the ground. Warm, loving hands braced her shoulders and she looked up into worried gray eyes. She flung her arms around her mother and broke down. It took a moment to realize that Mommy was bawling right along with her.
She looked up craning around to see Saitoh staring at her. In his hand was a bloody sword and at his feet was the dismembered body of Kanyruu. He was favoring his leg and she could see the dark strain spreading across his pant leg. Traveling across the rest of him she noted he wasn't just cut there. Incisions covered his entire body.
"Tokio," A soft voice said from behind them making her mother jump, "I think we should go home, that I do."
"Next time stay out of it." Saitoh said, addressing her mother. Mommy pursed her lips ready to toss out a scalding remark.
She changed her mind abruptly, smoothing her face into a mask. "Thank you for saving my daughter."
He continued to eye her with an amber glint leaning slightly on his sword.
"Thank you sir." Megumi chimed in wanted to go over and hug him. He didn't hate it as much as he pretended to. Instead she settled for a small wave. Somehow she knew Mommy wasn't going to let her down to say good bye. Mommy didn't like Mr. Wolf.
"Hey, you take care of that kid of yours." Sano commanded. He was supporting 'Tari with one free hand. There was a sad sort of smile on his face. "She's a pistol."
"I am assuming you took care of her?" Mommy asked.
"Eh." Sano replied embarrassed rubbing the back of his head with the free hand. At least until 'Tari butted in.
"Of course not. This rooster-head couldn't take care of a pet rock!"
"If you weren't all shot to hell I would pummel you!" Sano mock growled and Megumi giggled. She knew they would be okay then.
"'Bye Sano, 'bye 'Tari." She said softly. She knew she wouldn't see them again either. "I'll miss you."
"Do you want..." The man with the violet eyes started to offer and 'Tari cut him off.
"How about a get out of jail free card?" He asked with a flirtatious wink at the small man. Then he glanced at Mommy and said sincerely, "I know I was glad for the last one I had courteously of this lovely lady here."
"God man, get off it." Sano said whacking 'Tari on the shoulder lightly. "Although I wouldn't mind having my ass saved next time I'm in jam. Deal?"
The short man nodded agreeably and smiled as they turned to leave.
A/N: Almost done ^^
Reviewers:
the sacred night: ^__^ Good, because they're over for now. I suppose if I do a sequel I'll have to tangle with them some more. It's hard to see 'Tari as serious, isn't it?
eriesalia: ^__^ As if I would be so cruel. Besides, we all know this is about the cute 6 yr old ^.~ I refuse to take responsiblity for the prior fluff scene X_X
Wistful-Eyes: Class has computers, and I work on my stuff at home on mine. I had to take a learning styles test too -__-' All my scores were even so I fudged it a bit ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Manipulating test scores on a retake is easy. It will conclude *does quick count*Hehe, just the Epilogue is left, I didn't realize I was done.
MissBehavin: Hey hey, I'm not mean to Aoshi ALL the time -__-' *points to Addiction* ... wait, that was mean too (unless you're a Aoshi/Misao shipper). Normal, I know, scary. Yes, I suppose it could. Hehe, since they're side characters, no one will died/be kidnapped/acquire some fatal diease/etc.
Fyyrrose: Agreed. As muse you can be fired (did I tell you I got a compliment on my torture scene @.@), TDTI is almost done and you wouldn't help with the last chapter anyway! I know where you live, although I'm not sure what I'd do with that info. You want to borrow some magna? I'm just waiting to get #4 and #5 of SKD. No DVDs?!! ;_; I wanna see the Christian Arc. I'd ship you T&B except it's in CA still. T and Cara... NOOOOOOOOO. They can take turns throwing pens at my head until I snap and scare the beejeebees out of them. Raven, you want a story about your boy, do it on your own time. This is about the Wolf and Foxy. Well, with a bit of Rooster. Kaoru got like 5 paragraphs, does that count? Hiko less. Kite is nicer than I am, she likes "Seta-san". We-ll, she likes everyone I think, even if Misao keeps up the assassination attempts. Fyyrrose, good luck. Mine don't talk to each other. Kiks doesn't like the other two, D is a bit immersed in other things (getting Cyetoh a mini), and Kite is herself.
The Golden Persimmon
Trupana: *whistles innocently* Hera was sort of a bi-atch, wasn't she? Yup, reference off the top of my head. I couldn't remember which myth it belongs to. Minotaur (sp)? Oh yes, she was the only RK fem that could kick butt in that role. @.@ I didn't do that on purpose. Aoshi just seemed like a good Ares. Three kids, I just know Cupid. Misao was the odd one out X_X and the male/fem ratio in RK is a wee bit tipped, so she was stuck. *starts laughing* My playlist is on random and as soon as I started typing about her it switched to Misao's theme song (after playing Kenshin... that's creepy... my computer is trying to drive me mad!). This is out of 50 hours of music that it picked those two songs O__O;; Sano was perfect for that role ^^ Er, again, didn't really have many choices with casting. I don't know jack about Sayo (except what I've been told; since fyyrrose abors religion it wasn't too flattering. Mostly, 'the bi-atched died! YES!'). Yumi's got the creds. up front. Okay, bad pun, my grandfather is rubbing off on me. And please do! I'd love to see other myths butchered and pieced back together >:)
MissBehavin: Maybe, if I have time and a tick. That's how this story started, writer's block on BSR.
Fyyrrose: Well, thank you. I didn't look into the history of the golden apples ^^; but Japan was pretty isolated at that time period, being an island and all. He would, he's too nice. No flinging of lightning bolts. You let my brain hurt for you! I'm good at that. Yes, Prince isn't all glory and girls... well, yes it is, before it goes to heck. I knew that Eris was Ares' twim ^__^ I did so *some* research but I didn't know #2. What did she do with the apple anyway. Oh, I won the golden apple over those two dips, now what?
Wistful-Eyes: Ah yes. I could do the Trojan War. OR I could find some other myths to butcher. The possiblities are stunning.