**Pechan does not own any of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise.
~ Awakening ~
Goro awoke to the sound of crackling flames. He slowly opened his eyes, and found a burning network of pipes in front of him. He groaned, and turned on his back, sending a dull pain to his senses. He kept his eyes closed, as he breathed heavily.
Where was he?
He raised his hand to rub his face, and opened his eyes. There was blood on his gloves.
Blood? Who's......................
He looked down at his body. Ah, his blood.
Shishio.
The thought shot through him, and everything came back to him in a deafening rush, as he sat up in realization that there was a burning building only a few stories up. He exclaimed in pain, and his hand went immediately to the slashes on his chest. His shoulder stung like hell, and he was just about to lop the damn thing off and forget about it.
He lay back down, and sighed, reaching for a cigarette. Well, at least his life was boring like all the other common fools he ran into. He stuck a cig in his mouth, and fumbled for his box of matches. He stared up at the burning mass, and found it kind of amazing it was still holding up. He expected his body to be crushed by now under a fiery hell.
Yet, here he was. Still alive, and kicking. Well, he would be, if it weren't for those damn wounds he was harboring after his last fight. He slowly unbuttoned his jacket, wincing slightly as his burns burned underneath the movement of his jacket. He slowly slid out of it, and wrapped it around his waist. It was constricting his arms from free movement, and he tied it around his waist. When he got home, maybe Tokio would patch it up for him.
He stopped.
Tokio...........
He smirked, and got back to tying the jacket. Who would've thought the idea of coming home to that loud, noisy girl was enough determination to get him to return? No doubt once he got back though, the government would send him after some dog to slaughter for their incompetence. That would make her slightly mad, since he promised to make time for her.
He made so many promises to her. And he fulfilled them all, sooner or later. Would he break this one?
With a thundering crash, a wooden beam fell near him, showering a fresh spark of embers on him. He batted them away, and rolled out, leaving a trail of blood. Damn, if he wanted to get his damn train of thought interrupted, it looks like he had to do it elsewhere. He reached out, and gripped his sword. The blade was nicked, and quite possibly useless. Ah well. It wasn't his original, anyways. Nothing was as good as his sword his used in the Revolution.
All because that Battousai ruined it.......
He opened his eyes. Did that foolish pacifist and his idiotic friend make it out in time? What of Shinomori? He seemed the type that had the best chance on making it out. He had a map, but he didn't have a Battousai hanging off his shoulders, weighing him down.
Saito smirked, and knelt, ready to stand after the pain burned away in his legs....
......... although, the last time Saito saw Shinomori, he had a new spark in his eyes. An enlightened flare, for life. Not just for his own. He probably helped the Battousai through as well. He smirked again, and thought, 'Well, between an idiot and a ninja, they possibly did have a chance of escaping.'
Saito gripped his sword, using it as a cane, as he woozily stood. His knees shook, and he was getting fed up with this pain. He was never going to make the same mistakes like that again with an opponent.
Saito slid down the rocks, and landed at the base of the mountain, grunting from the pain. He couldn't' help himself now, since they were fairly fresh. His sword clanked against the floor, and he picked it up, sheathing it. He strained to keep himself from falling over, and he pushed himself to run into the woods.
He ran, because if he allowed himself to walk, he would eventually settle for sitting. And he didn't want to stop. He had to get home, before he bled himself to death. He found it unfair how the human spirit always outdoes the body. He came to a stretch of trees that was the forest, and took a final glance at the mountain where Shishio and his woman lay.
Ah, he had nearly forgotten about that Komogata woman.
He frowned in disgust, and turned away, walking in a fast pace over the tall grass.
When he saw Shishio stab the woman who was always by his side, his disgust outdid his surprise. Seeing that woman being pierced............... he knew some people did anything to reach their goal. No matter how low or twisted it got. But she was smiling. The foolish woman was smiling. Happy because she helped her lover in some last futile attempt for his affections.
Stupid. Foolish. Idiotic. Words failed Saito at the thought of it.
He had seen the glimmer of worry and love for Shishio in her eyes. So disillusioned in her love for him, she did not even see the evil that overpowered what any of her feelings were to him. It had to be. That could be the only reason, why she allowed herself to be slain. To be useful, in the most useless possible way. Useless, because she died from it. What did it matter if it helped you win the battle? Losing the one you had sworn to protect as just the same as killing them yourself. If you hadn't prepared to keep them safe, it was your fault. And that was unforgivable. That is why he didn't tolerate the Battousai's words of protection for his friends, since they constantly got hurt to lure him into a trap.
But Shishio didn't want to protect, he wanted to destroy. Love is wasted on mongrel dogs such as him. Any kind of love, pity or understanding is wasted on the likes of him.
He shook his head, and had to catch his breath a second time, leaning against a tree.
Her eyes, that bothered him the most. Through that crazy film of tears for Shishio, inside her eyes were the pure pain of love and despair. What bothered him was that he had seen those eyes before. Tokio had displayed them once or twice. He mind drifted more, and a thought of Tokio shielding him crossed his mind.
He shook his head, and pressed onward. Tokio wasn't stupid. And besides, he'd never let her join in on a suicide mission. Sometimes he let her travel at his side, but only when the situation was mildly dangerous. He felt he owed it to her; he didn't want her constantly waiting for a man who may not return one day.......
Yet, Komogata's eyes ate at him. He hated the way they reminded him of Tokio. He hated Tokio, for being his one weakness. He knew that if she were in any........ any danger.............
Saito stumbled, nearly falling. The double cuts above his knees once again reminded him he was only teetering on that fine line between life and death. The ones Usui gave him were just a taste of what Shishio gave him. Cuts so close together they might not be able to get stitched well.........
He clenched his knees for a second, breathing, trying to force out the pain that tremored from his legs. after resting for five minutes, the focused back to Tokio, trying to keep his mind over matter.
If Tokio wasn't his wife, then staying alive wouldn't have been such a big deal. It would have been okay if there was no one waiting, worrying............... crying over him. If he were still the lone wolf he had sought out to be years ago, then he would have died peacefully and joined his wolf pack in heaven. Or hell. Whichever held vacancy for his kind.
Yet......... Tokio was expecting him. He smirked; she was expecting him for dinner. And the sun was already gone. Night was coming soon. It would be slightly harder to navigate by dark. Wounded, no less.
He gulped, and ran half speed through the woods again, trying to cover as much ground to home as possible. Any man, allowing the people he valued, to get involved and hurt in the heat of battle, were not worthy of them. If you cannot even keep the one you love safe, then you are of no use to them.
Of course, Tokio did not marry him for safety.....
He smirked. She did not marry him for that. she cried in his arms when he proposed. She just wanted to be with him. Whether it was at home in their futon or on a train to Kobe for a dangerous mission, she wanted to go. Regardless of the danger he might put her in. but he always kept at a safe distance. Close enough for her to be near him, but far enough to be out of harm's way.
He preferred to keep her at home, safe away from any trouble, so he wouldn't have to worry about her, and complicate things even more.
But she'd pout, in the stupid, alluring way she did, and hold him. Not daring to let go until he said yes.
He stumbled to his knees again, this time the cross on his chest starting to burn. He fingered his wound, and a smile slowly curled into his lips. Stupid girl. She, and only she, could make him change his mind about something. Someday, he'd have to out an end to that maybe if he just left the house without her knowing.
No, that'd make her follow him, and catch up with him the hard way.
He stopped for a pause again, as some rain bean to fall. He sighed, and lit a cigarette. It looks like he'd be stuck with that stupid woman the rest of his life.
He bent his head forward, keeping the rain from hitting his face, and he smirked. 'Well, I could live with that............."
~ Awakening ~
Goro awoke to the sound of crackling flames. He slowly opened his eyes, and found a burning network of pipes in front of him. He groaned, and turned on his back, sending a dull pain to his senses. He kept his eyes closed, as he breathed heavily.
Where was he?
He raised his hand to rub his face, and opened his eyes. There was blood on his gloves.
Blood? Who's......................
He looked down at his body. Ah, his blood.
Shishio.
The thought shot through him, and everything came back to him in a deafening rush, as he sat up in realization that there was a burning building only a few stories up. He exclaimed in pain, and his hand went immediately to the slashes on his chest. His shoulder stung like hell, and he was just about to lop the damn thing off and forget about it.
He lay back down, and sighed, reaching for a cigarette. Well, at least his life was boring like all the other common fools he ran into. He stuck a cig in his mouth, and fumbled for his box of matches. He stared up at the burning mass, and found it kind of amazing it was still holding up. He expected his body to be crushed by now under a fiery hell.
Yet, here he was. Still alive, and kicking. Well, he would be, if it weren't for those damn wounds he was harboring after his last fight. He slowly unbuttoned his jacket, wincing slightly as his burns burned underneath the movement of his jacket. He slowly slid out of it, and wrapped it around his waist. It was constricting his arms from free movement, and he tied it around his waist. When he got home, maybe Tokio would patch it up for him.
He stopped.
Tokio...........
He smirked, and got back to tying the jacket. Who would've thought the idea of coming home to that loud, noisy girl was enough determination to get him to return? No doubt once he got back though, the government would send him after some dog to slaughter for their incompetence. That would make her slightly mad, since he promised to make time for her.
He made so many promises to her. And he fulfilled them all, sooner or later. Would he break this one?
With a thundering crash, a wooden beam fell near him, showering a fresh spark of embers on him. He batted them away, and rolled out, leaving a trail of blood. Damn, if he wanted to get his damn train of thought interrupted, it looks like he had to do it elsewhere. He reached out, and gripped his sword. The blade was nicked, and quite possibly useless. Ah well. It wasn't his original, anyways. Nothing was as good as his sword his used in the Revolution.
All because that Battousai ruined it.......
He opened his eyes. Did that foolish pacifist and his idiotic friend make it out in time? What of Shinomori? He seemed the type that had the best chance on making it out. He had a map, but he didn't have a Battousai hanging off his shoulders, weighing him down.
Saito smirked, and knelt, ready to stand after the pain burned away in his legs....
......... although, the last time Saito saw Shinomori, he had a new spark in his eyes. An enlightened flare, for life. Not just for his own. He probably helped the Battousai through as well. He smirked again, and thought, 'Well, between an idiot and a ninja, they possibly did have a chance of escaping.'
Saito gripped his sword, using it as a cane, as he woozily stood. His knees shook, and he was getting fed up with this pain. He was never going to make the same mistakes like that again with an opponent.
Saito slid down the rocks, and landed at the base of the mountain, grunting from the pain. He couldn't' help himself now, since they were fairly fresh. His sword clanked against the floor, and he picked it up, sheathing it. He strained to keep himself from falling over, and he pushed himself to run into the woods.
He ran, because if he allowed himself to walk, he would eventually settle for sitting. And he didn't want to stop. He had to get home, before he bled himself to death. He found it unfair how the human spirit always outdoes the body. He came to a stretch of trees that was the forest, and took a final glance at the mountain where Shishio and his woman lay.
Ah, he had nearly forgotten about that Komogata woman.
He frowned in disgust, and turned away, walking in a fast pace over the tall grass.
When he saw Shishio stab the woman who was always by his side, his disgust outdid his surprise. Seeing that woman being pierced............... he knew some people did anything to reach their goal. No matter how low or twisted it got. But she was smiling. The foolish woman was smiling. Happy because she helped her lover in some last futile attempt for his affections.
Stupid. Foolish. Idiotic. Words failed Saito at the thought of it.
He had seen the glimmer of worry and love for Shishio in her eyes. So disillusioned in her love for him, she did not even see the evil that overpowered what any of her feelings were to him. It had to be. That could be the only reason, why she allowed herself to be slain. To be useful, in the most useless possible way. Useless, because she died from it. What did it matter if it helped you win the battle? Losing the one you had sworn to protect as just the same as killing them yourself. If you hadn't prepared to keep them safe, it was your fault. And that was unforgivable. That is why he didn't tolerate the Battousai's words of protection for his friends, since they constantly got hurt to lure him into a trap.
But Shishio didn't want to protect, he wanted to destroy. Love is wasted on mongrel dogs such as him. Any kind of love, pity or understanding is wasted on the likes of him.
He shook his head, and had to catch his breath a second time, leaning against a tree.
Her eyes, that bothered him the most. Through that crazy film of tears for Shishio, inside her eyes were the pure pain of love and despair. What bothered him was that he had seen those eyes before. Tokio had displayed them once or twice. He mind drifted more, and a thought of Tokio shielding him crossed his mind.
He shook his head, and pressed onward. Tokio wasn't stupid. And besides, he'd never let her join in on a suicide mission. Sometimes he let her travel at his side, but only when the situation was mildly dangerous. He felt he owed it to her; he didn't want her constantly waiting for a man who may not return one day.......
Yet, Komogata's eyes ate at him. He hated the way they reminded him of Tokio. He hated Tokio, for being his one weakness. He knew that if she were in any........ any danger.............
Saito stumbled, nearly falling. The double cuts above his knees once again reminded him he was only teetering on that fine line between life and death. The ones Usui gave him were just a taste of what Shishio gave him. Cuts so close together they might not be able to get stitched well.........
He clenched his knees for a second, breathing, trying to force out the pain that tremored from his legs. after resting for five minutes, the focused back to Tokio, trying to keep his mind over matter.
If Tokio wasn't his wife, then staying alive wouldn't have been such a big deal. It would have been okay if there was no one waiting, worrying............... crying over him. If he were still the lone wolf he had sought out to be years ago, then he would have died peacefully and joined his wolf pack in heaven. Or hell. Whichever held vacancy for his kind.
Yet......... Tokio was expecting him. He smirked; she was expecting him for dinner. And the sun was already gone. Night was coming soon. It would be slightly harder to navigate by dark. Wounded, no less.
He gulped, and ran half speed through the woods again, trying to cover as much ground to home as possible. Any man, allowing the people he valued, to get involved and hurt in the heat of battle, were not worthy of them. If you cannot even keep the one you love safe, then you are of no use to them.
Of course, Tokio did not marry him for safety.....
He smirked. She did not marry him for that. she cried in his arms when he proposed. She just wanted to be with him. Whether it was at home in their futon or on a train to Kobe for a dangerous mission, she wanted to go. Regardless of the danger he might put her in. but he always kept at a safe distance. Close enough for her to be near him, but far enough to be out of harm's way.
He preferred to keep her at home, safe away from any trouble, so he wouldn't have to worry about her, and complicate things even more.
But she'd pout, in the stupid, alluring way she did, and hold him. Not daring to let go until he said yes.
He stumbled to his knees again, this time the cross on his chest starting to burn. He fingered his wound, and a smile slowly curled into his lips. Stupid girl. She, and only she, could make him change his mind about something. Someday, he'd have to out an end to that maybe if he just left the house without her knowing.
No, that'd make her follow him, and catch up with him the hard way.
He stopped for a pause again, as some rain bean to fall. He sighed, and lit a cigarette. It looks like he'd be stuck with that stupid woman the rest of his life.
He bent his head forward, keeping the rain from hitting his face, and he smirked. 'Well, I could live with that............."