Ch4
Annli kissed Sano before he left, and then flopped back into bed with a sigh. She'd never been happier to lead a man on for the sake of a job before. Of course every other time they never got as far as Sano did, but she'd wanted it this time. He was incredible....charming, roguish, suave, and incredibly handsome...everything she could ever ask for. Too bad she was going to lose it all when her job was finished....well most likely anyways. There was always that slim possibility that it might play out perfectly, and he'd never find out what she was up too. She'd get her money, and her man, a man she was more than willing to keep around for more than a night.
Next to her bed a tiny com link beeped persistently.
"What now?" She groaned reaching over and flipping it on.
"What do you want? I'm tired." A silken male voice came from the other end.
"You're dawdling. The Jedi should be dead by now...you're having too much fun with his friend." Annli's eyes shot open, and she pulled her sheets tight around her body as she glanced around the room.
"It's all part of my plan. Don't worry. I promised you Himura's life, and you'll get it. " The voice seemed to rise a little.
"Don't get bold with me little girl...you're working for me, and if you don't get me what I want it'll be your life that ends up gone." With that the com link clicked, and the voice was gone. Annli frowned and chunked the com across the room watching it shatter into pieces.
"You'll get what you want dammit. I want Himura dead as much as you do."
***
Sanosuke woke up and stretched slightly looking around the empty arena. Dark eyes rolled under sleepy eyelids not really caring that they had left him...he'd wanted his sleep anyway. He stood he smiling; he was going to meet her again after lunch, and he couldn't wait. All he had to do now was find Kenshin and arrange for him to meet her which wouldn't be a problem.
Sano walked slowly down each hallway half looking for Kenshin half daydreaming about Annli. Even though his body and conscious mind begged for her, something still didn't feel quite right. She had appeared so suddenly, and had seemed so interested in the other Jedi...why couldn't she just go to the academy and find out, and why had he felt that strange buzzing after kissing her? Just as suddenly as the thought appeared he brushed it away....it was all ridiculous and pointless to worry about.
"Hey Kaoru where's Kenshin?" He said seeing her up ahead in the corridor.
"He said he was going to meditate." Sano rolled his eyes.
"Where?" At this question Kaoru's eyes opened wide.
"Oh no! I don't know! What if he...oh we have to find him!" Sano just laughed.
"Calm down Missy...I think I know where to find him." She smiled breathing a sigh of relief.
"Okay...I've got to go...find him for me okay?" Sano nodded, and then headed for the speeders.
Sano sped through the skyways passing anyone going slower than him without a second thought. Down below he could just see the restaurant coming into view. He smirked recognizing the red speeder and slid into a parking spot next to it.
"Hey there stranger." He remarked sitting down across from Kenshin.
"Hey Sano." Kenshin said without looking up. He was still puzzling over the strange speeder wreck. He'd always thought he was a good pilot, but if he was why the sudden crash. It was strange, the only other time he'd wrecked a speeder was after he left the Jedi in his youth to become involved in the war of a planet he and his master had been visiting. That was years ago, and he had become a feared assassin on that planet for his work during the war....in fact he had at one time been feared all over, but since then he had wandered, and had now returned, after some persuasion from Kaoru and Yoda, to the Jedi.
"You feeling okay Kenshin?"
"Oh....yeah, I'm fine...just thinking." Sano nodded looking out the window.
"I've been doing a lot of that lately too."
"Really? That's nice." Kenshin was paying attention, he really was, but his mind was pondering many things at once.
"Yeah, I've been thinking.....I want you to meet this girl that I've been seeing." Kenshin nodded.
"The one you stayed with last night eh?" Sano's eyes widened and he rubbed the back of his head.
"Heh...yeah. I want to know what you think of her. I like her a lot, but somehow...."
"You don't trust her." Kenshin finished. "Of course I'll meet her Sano...how about this evening at the river preserve on the bridge." Sano smiled brightly, and nodded.
"Thanks Kenshin." He then stood. "I'm going to see her now."
"Don't have too much fun." Kenshin called after him, but Sano just saluted in a silly way.
***
Misaou scanned through holofile after holofile trying to find some mention of the name Annli Haban. The sun was already past its peak when she was about to give up, but strange name caught her eye.
'Li'ann Banha – Jedi Apprentice – left the order at age 14 after
the death of her master – high mastery at young age – Midi
chloriel count : very high – saber mastery: superior'
"Li-ann....Ann-li....I see Annli is Li'ann... Well, Li'ann you are indeed very skilled, or you were. No doubt you made that lightsaber you have now AFTER abandoning the Jedi order....well we know who you were...the question is who are you now?" As her eyes ran over and over the information another name caught her eye, a familiar name.
'Kenshin Himura – Jedi Master – left the order at age 14 to join a planetary war. Became an assassin of extreme danger. Returned to the order 9 years later, and is a master after undergoing a time of probation – high mastery at a young age – Mid Choriel count : very high – saber mastery: High Master'
Misaou's jaw dropped. The woman's file looked just like Kenshin's profile with a few differences....that was strange. She scrolled down searching for the name of Kenshin's master, and when she found it her jaw dropped....Li'ann's master was the same.
"That's very interesting....Well, we'll just see about you then miss Li'ann." She then closed the file, and decided to check the intergalactic news before she left since she hadn't done it yet.
She scanned the pages idly half way reading trying to see if anything important caught her eye. Her eyes lingered for a moment on a large title written in bold letters.
'Murderes Continue!'
Misaou's brow furrowed as she skimmed through the article that outlined a recent outbreak of murderer of high ranking officials...they all seemed to die from a slash injury...not blaster fire. A picture of the crime scene blinked softly next to the article....there was a crowd all staring horrified at the scene...except one face which was lacking of all emotion.
"Multiply times ten." Misaou commanded to the computer, and there she was...Annli Haban watching with a hand on her lightsaber. It was her...Misaou was sure of it. She had to warn Sano, she doubted the woman was after him, but it was possible...he had managed to anger some people in the underworld...some that would no doubt pay dearly to see him dead.
She leapt up and went running out of the library, and down a large stair case past a group of young padawans.
***
A buzzer rang below, and Annli peered down, it was Sano. Her lips glimmered as a smile spread across her face. Tucking a small vile into her pocket, she hit the button to allow him up. The instant he came through the door she ran toward him, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him slowly for several minutes. Before long they were on the couch kissing in long drawn out exchanges.
"We're going to meet Kenshin at the water preserve on the bridge later." Sano said running a hand through her hair. He was suddenly feeling very tired, and didn't know why.
"Really?" She asked kissing him again.
"yeah..." he nodded. "Wow, I'm still really tired Annli." She smiled sweetly, and it was the last thing Sano saw for his eyes closed and he fell asleep on the couch.
"I hate to do this, but a job's a job, I'm sure you understand." She wiped her lips quickly removing the remaining sleep drug and then slipped out of the apartment locking the lift so no one could get in OR out until she gave the password.
***
Misaou grabbed Kaoru by the shoulders, and shook her roughly.
"Where's Sano?"
"He went to find Kenshin...why?" Misaou grabbed her hand.
"I'll explain on the way."
They went running quickly down the hallway to the landing platform with Yahiko not far behind demanding to know what was going on, but getting no answer until they took off.
***
Kenshin walked quietly through the beautiful water preserve, and smiled, but stopped when he felt a ripple in the force. Suddenly waves of images came flooding back to him...the young girl from the chancellor's building....she had lightsaber on her hip, but she was no Jedi, he'd never seen her at the academy...when he passed her he felt a flutter in the force it was light yet dark...confused as he once had been....it was the same feeling he felt when he lost control of his speeder only then it had been magnified....and now he felt it again. His eyes narrowed as he glanced around.
"I know you're there so you might as well come out." A soft laugh came from behind a nearby tree.
"So the great Kenshin Himura knows why I'm here?" Annli's face was shadowed, as she looked at him.
"I wonder are you really as good with a saber as you're rumored to be? I was always the best in my classes, and was always told to keep in mind my drive...and not lose my path as my Master's OLD apprentice had done." Kenshin watched her every move. She was ready...clearly experience, but he doubted she had went against many Jedi in a long time.
"You are confused...I know how it feels....its scary, but it's no reason to give yourself to the dark side." She laughed at this.
"You're one to talk Himura! If you hadn't left the Jedi my master would still be alive....its your fault he came after you and tried to save you...his prodigal padawan....How pathetic." The remark stung, but Kenshin let it pass.
"He was loyal to you just as he was too me....WE betrayed him he was not at fault."
Annli closed her eyes, and when they snapped open so did her lightsaber. It hummed menacingly in the air glowing amber gold.
"I was hired to kill you, but the pleasure is all mine." Then she lunged meeting Kenshin's electic purple blade in a close clash. They danced back and forth reading each other's movements before they made them, knowing where the blade would be before it was there....if someone had chanced upon it they would have just stared in wonder at the sight before them for it was truly beautiful....a deadly dance that would seemingly never end.
"Stop this Li'ann! It will be your downfall." The girl rolled her eyes, and attacked again. The woman was an excellent swordsman, had she stayed with the Jedi she would have been better than him, but her anger and sadness were clouding her judgment as a growing fog was clouding the view. Their sabers hissed dangerously as they cut through the damp air. The two fought continuously moving slowly toward, and then on the stone bridge that connected one sector of the water preserve with the other. Looking down off the bridge one would see an endless sea of grey in the fog by now....it was high in the air, and offered a straight drop to the planet floor many hundreds of feet down.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru's voice filtered through the grey air as she, Misaou, and Yahiko looked on worried. Then there was another voice.
"Annli...stop this...you're too good for this sort of thing, and you're going to lose if you don't just stop." Sano walked slowly up behind the others truly worried for the girl.
Her eyes went wide knowing that she had been caught.
"Li'ann..." She stumbled backward her eyes trained on Sano, barely hearing Kenshin's voice. "Li'ann...it was us, not our Master....turn away from it, I know its hard, but once you do..."
"Stop. I don't need to hear your words. I've lost everything dear in my life. The only thing I have is myself...and even that's not good enough anymore." Tears began to stream down her face as the scared little girl that had been hiding inside all those years began to creep out, the girl who hadn't known how to deal with the death of her master.
"I've betrayed the Jedi, myself, my master, and....Sano. I tricked him, used him to try and kill you Kenshin....I – have nothing to offer...." She looked down into the grey oblivion below the bridge, and then back at the others slowly backing up against the edge of the bridge. Sano lunged forward shouting and Kenshin stretched out a hand, but it was too late. Li'ann leapt over shouting 'I'm sorry' as she went. Sano fell to his knees held roughly by Kenshin as he gripped the lightsaber that clattered to the ground on the bridge. Sano looked sadly at the lightsaber, and turned it over and over in his hands examining its every groove, and design. He stood slowly and looked over the edge of the bridge....he lost her....she was gone. He didn't know what he was living for either....and now....the one thing he had thought could be sacred was gone. Sano stood slowly, and smiled sadly at the others tracing an idle hand on the stone bridge. Kenshin stepped forward placing a hand on his friend's shoulder to console him, but Sano just pushed it away. "I...I need to be alone." Kenshin nodded, turning away, but stopped a felt the force ripple. Sano leapt onto the edge of the bridge, closed his eyes and leapt out. Kenshin's eyes went wide, and he lunged grabbing his friend's shirt, but only succeeded in being pulled along. Kaoru's voice ripped through the foggy air, and it was the last thing Kenshin heard as he drifted through the foggy air not knowing when the end would come. As he opened his mind allowing the force to consume him he felt something drawing near...but it was too soon.
With a loud crash Sano slammed into the strange metal obstruction, Kenshin landing lightly after him. He stood quickly, and looking into the fog saw that he had landed on a conveyor belt of some sort. Sano was right next to him shaking violently, but Kenshin couldn't help smirking. The girl was smart...much smarter than he would have given her credit for...she knew her battle field. He closed his eyes and sent out a soft ripple, and felt a soft ripple come back. She would be okay. As he stood there smiling suddenly the belt came to a hard stop, and his body was thrown forward slamming into the metal hard knocking him unconscious.
Kenshin's eyes snapped open, and his heart raced. He sat up and quickly scrambled to his feet.
"Slow down there Kenshin...you're in pretty bad shape." He glanced down, and several pairs of eyes stared up at him...Miss Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko, Miss Misaou, and Miss Migume. Suddenly he realized that the world was spinning, and decided it would be a good idea to sit down.
"What's going on?" Kaoru, and Migume exchanged a glance.
"We were at the restaurant and some guys were rough housing....you got hit on the head with a table...you've been out for an hour." He rubbed his head looking around at the worried faces. His Sakabatou rested safely in Sano's lap, and he was in the familiar dojo again.
"Are you okay Kenshin? You're acting pretty weird." Sano said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes...I'm fine I just had the strangest dream....swords were made of colorful energy blades...the colors were amazing, and you were all there even you Miss Misaou, and you had the strangest weapon...it shot energy bolts, and you Sano...you fell in love with a beautiful woman....it was the strangest thing."
"Whats so strange about that eh?!" Sano said bowing up a little.
"That's not strange at all. What WOULD be strange is if a beautiful woman fell in love with HIM." Misaou added getting a laugh from Yahiko.
"Shut up weasel girl."
"Make me dog breath."
"Are you sure you're okay Kenshin?" Kaoru asked laying a hand on his knee. He looked down at her hand, and at everyone around him.
"I am now, that I most certainly am."
THE END
Annli kissed Sano before he left, and then flopped back into bed with a sigh. She'd never been happier to lead a man on for the sake of a job before. Of course every other time they never got as far as Sano did, but she'd wanted it this time. He was incredible....charming, roguish, suave, and incredibly handsome...everything she could ever ask for. Too bad she was going to lose it all when her job was finished....well most likely anyways. There was always that slim possibility that it might play out perfectly, and he'd never find out what she was up too. She'd get her money, and her man, a man she was more than willing to keep around for more than a night.
Next to her bed a tiny com link beeped persistently.
"What now?" She groaned reaching over and flipping it on.
"What do you want? I'm tired." A silken male voice came from the other end.
"You're dawdling. The Jedi should be dead by now...you're having too much fun with his friend." Annli's eyes shot open, and she pulled her sheets tight around her body as she glanced around the room.
"It's all part of my plan. Don't worry. I promised you Himura's life, and you'll get it. " The voice seemed to rise a little.
"Don't get bold with me little girl...you're working for me, and if you don't get me what I want it'll be your life that ends up gone." With that the com link clicked, and the voice was gone. Annli frowned and chunked the com across the room watching it shatter into pieces.
"You'll get what you want dammit. I want Himura dead as much as you do."
***
Sanosuke woke up and stretched slightly looking around the empty arena. Dark eyes rolled under sleepy eyelids not really caring that they had left him...he'd wanted his sleep anyway. He stood he smiling; he was going to meet her again after lunch, and he couldn't wait. All he had to do now was find Kenshin and arrange for him to meet her which wouldn't be a problem.
Sano walked slowly down each hallway half looking for Kenshin half daydreaming about Annli. Even though his body and conscious mind begged for her, something still didn't feel quite right. She had appeared so suddenly, and had seemed so interested in the other Jedi...why couldn't she just go to the academy and find out, and why had he felt that strange buzzing after kissing her? Just as suddenly as the thought appeared he brushed it away....it was all ridiculous and pointless to worry about.
"Hey Kaoru where's Kenshin?" He said seeing her up ahead in the corridor.
"He said he was going to meditate." Sano rolled his eyes.
"Where?" At this question Kaoru's eyes opened wide.
"Oh no! I don't know! What if he...oh we have to find him!" Sano just laughed.
"Calm down Missy...I think I know where to find him." She smiled breathing a sigh of relief.
"Okay...I've got to go...find him for me okay?" Sano nodded, and then headed for the speeders.
Sano sped through the skyways passing anyone going slower than him without a second thought. Down below he could just see the restaurant coming into view. He smirked recognizing the red speeder and slid into a parking spot next to it.
"Hey there stranger." He remarked sitting down across from Kenshin.
"Hey Sano." Kenshin said without looking up. He was still puzzling over the strange speeder wreck. He'd always thought he was a good pilot, but if he was why the sudden crash. It was strange, the only other time he'd wrecked a speeder was after he left the Jedi in his youth to become involved in the war of a planet he and his master had been visiting. That was years ago, and he had become a feared assassin on that planet for his work during the war....in fact he had at one time been feared all over, but since then he had wandered, and had now returned, after some persuasion from Kaoru and Yoda, to the Jedi.
"You feeling okay Kenshin?"
"Oh....yeah, I'm fine...just thinking." Sano nodded looking out the window.
"I've been doing a lot of that lately too."
"Really? That's nice." Kenshin was paying attention, he really was, but his mind was pondering many things at once.
"Yeah, I've been thinking.....I want you to meet this girl that I've been seeing." Kenshin nodded.
"The one you stayed with last night eh?" Sano's eyes widened and he rubbed the back of his head.
"Heh...yeah. I want to know what you think of her. I like her a lot, but somehow...."
"You don't trust her." Kenshin finished. "Of course I'll meet her Sano...how about this evening at the river preserve on the bridge." Sano smiled brightly, and nodded.
"Thanks Kenshin." He then stood. "I'm going to see her now."
"Don't have too much fun." Kenshin called after him, but Sano just saluted in a silly way.
***
Misaou scanned through holofile after holofile trying to find some mention of the name Annli Haban. The sun was already past its peak when she was about to give up, but strange name caught her eye.
'Li'ann Banha – Jedi Apprentice – left the order at age 14 after
the death of her master – high mastery at young age – Midi
chloriel count : very high – saber mastery: superior'
"Li-ann....Ann-li....I see Annli is Li'ann... Well, Li'ann you are indeed very skilled, or you were. No doubt you made that lightsaber you have now AFTER abandoning the Jedi order....well we know who you were...the question is who are you now?" As her eyes ran over and over the information another name caught her eye, a familiar name.
'Kenshin Himura – Jedi Master – left the order at age 14 to join a planetary war. Became an assassin of extreme danger. Returned to the order 9 years later, and is a master after undergoing a time of probation – high mastery at a young age – Mid Choriel count : very high – saber mastery: High Master'
Misaou's jaw dropped. The woman's file looked just like Kenshin's profile with a few differences....that was strange. She scrolled down searching for the name of Kenshin's master, and when she found it her jaw dropped....Li'ann's master was the same.
"That's very interesting....Well, we'll just see about you then miss Li'ann." She then closed the file, and decided to check the intergalactic news before she left since she hadn't done it yet.
She scanned the pages idly half way reading trying to see if anything important caught her eye. Her eyes lingered for a moment on a large title written in bold letters.
'Murderes Continue!'
Misaou's brow furrowed as she skimmed through the article that outlined a recent outbreak of murderer of high ranking officials...they all seemed to die from a slash injury...not blaster fire. A picture of the crime scene blinked softly next to the article....there was a crowd all staring horrified at the scene...except one face which was lacking of all emotion.
"Multiply times ten." Misaou commanded to the computer, and there she was...Annli Haban watching with a hand on her lightsaber. It was her...Misaou was sure of it. She had to warn Sano, she doubted the woman was after him, but it was possible...he had managed to anger some people in the underworld...some that would no doubt pay dearly to see him dead.
She leapt up and went running out of the library, and down a large stair case past a group of young padawans.
***
A buzzer rang below, and Annli peered down, it was Sano. Her lips glimmered as a smile spread across her face. Tucking a small vile into her pocket, she hit the button to allow him up. The instant he came through the door she ran toward him, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him slowly for several minutes. Before long they were on the couch kissing in long drawn out exchanges.
"We're going to meet Kenshin at the water preserve on the bridge later." Sano said running a hand through her hair. He was suddenly feeling very tired, and didn't know why.
"Really?" She asked kissing him again.
"yeah..." he nodded. "Wow, I'm still really tired Annli." She smiled sweetly, and it was the last thing Sano saw for his eyes closed and he fell asleep on the couch.
"I hate to do this, but a job's a job, I'm sure you understand." She wiped her lips quickly removing the remaining sleep drug and then slipped out of the apartment locking the lift so no one could get in OR out until she gave the password.
***
Misaou grabbed Kaoru by the shoulders, and shook her roughly.
"Where's Sano?"
"He went to find Kenshin...why?" Misaou grabbed her hand.
"I'll explain on the way."
They went running quickly down the hallway to the landing platform with Yahiko not far behind demanding to know what was going on, but getting no answer until they took off.
***
Kenshin walked quietly through the beautiful water preserve, and smiled, but stopped when he felt a ripple in the force. Suddenly waves of images came flooding back to him...the young girl from the chancellor's building....she had lightsaber on her hip, but she was no Jedi, he'd never seen her at the academy...when he passed her he felt a flutter in the force it was light yet dark...confused as he once had been....it was the same feeling he felt when he lost control of his speeder only then it had been magnified....and now he felt it again. His eyes narrowed as he glanced around.
"I know you're there so you might as well come out." A soft laugh came from behind a nearby tree.
"So the great Kenshin Himura knows why I'm here?" Annli's face was shadowed, as she looked at him.
"I wonder are you really as good with a saber as you're rumored to be? I was always the best in my classes, and was always told to keep in mind my drive...and not lose my path as my Master's OLD apprentice had done." Kenshin watched her every move. She was ready...clearly experience, but he doubted she had went against many Jedi in a long time.
"You are confused...I know how it feels....its scary, but it's no reason to give yourself to the dark side." She laughed at this.
"You're one to talk Himura! If you hadn't left the Jedi my master would still be alive....its your fault he came after you and tried to save you...his prodigal padawan....How pathetic." The remark stung, but Kenshin let it pass.
"He was loyal to you just as he was too me....WE betrayed him he was not at fault."
Annli closed her eyes, and when they snapped open so did her lightsaber. It hummed menacingly in the air glowing amber gold.
"I was hired to kill you, but the pleasure is all mine." Then she lunged meeting Kenshin's electic purple blade in a close clash. They danced back and forth reading each other's movements before they made them, knowing where the blade would be before it was there....if someone had chanced upon it they would have just stared in wonder at the sight before them for it was truly beautiful....a deadly dance that would seemingly never end.
"Stop this Li'ann! It will be your downfall." The girl rolled her eyes, and attacked again. The woman was an excellent swordsman, had she stayed with the Jedi she would have been better than him, but her anger and sadness were clouding her judgment as a growing fog was clouding the view. Their sabers hissed dangerously as they cut through the damp air. The two fought continuously moving slowly toward, and then on the stone bridge that connected one sector of the water preserve with the other. Looking down off the bridge one would see an endless sea of grey in the fog by now....it was high in the air, and offered a straight drop to the planet floor many hundreds of feet down.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru's voice filtered through the grey air as she, Misaou, and Yahiko looked on worried. Then there was another voice.
"Annli...stop this...you're too good for this sort of thing, and you're going to lose if you don't just stop." Sano walked slowly up behind the others truly worried for the girl.
Her eyes went wide knowing that she had been caught.
"Li'ann..." She stumbled backward her eyes trained on Sano, barely hearing Kenshin's voice. "Li'ann...it was us, not our Master....turn away from it, I know its hard, but once you do..."
"Stop. I don't need to hear your words. I've lost everything dear in my life. The only thing I have is myself...and even that's not good enough anymore." Tears began to stream down her face as the scared little girl that had been hiding inside all those years began to creep out, the girl who hadn't known how to deal with the death of her master.
"I've betrayed the Jedi, myself, my master, and....Sano. I tricked him, used him to try and kill you Kenshin....I – have nothing to offer...." She looked down into the grey oblivion below the bridge, and then back at the others slowly backing up against the edge of the bridge. Sano lunged forward shouting and Kenshin stretched out a hand, but it was too late. Li'ann leapt over shouting 'I'm sorry' as she went. Sano fell to his knees held roughly by Kenshin as he gripped the lightsaber that clattered to the ground on the bridge. Sano looked sadly at the lightsaber, and turned it over and over in his hands examining its every groove, and design. He stood slowly and looked over the edge of the bridge....he lost her....she was gone. He didn't know what he was living for either....and now....the one thing he had thought could be sacred was gone. Sano stood slowly, and smiled sadly at the others tracing an idle hand on the stone bridge. Kenshin stepped forward placing a hand on his friend's shoulder to console him, but Sano just pushed it away. "I...I need to be alone." Kenshin nodded, turning away, but stopped a felt the force ripple. Sano leapt onto the edge of the bridge, closed his eyes and leapt out. Kenshin's eyes went wide, and he lunged grabbing his friend's shirt, but only succeeded in being pulled along. Kaoru's voice ripped through the foggy air, and it was the last thing Kenshin heard as he drifted through the foggy air not knowing when the end would come. As he opened his mind allowing the force to consume him he felt something drawing near...but it was too soon.
With a loud crash Sano slammed into the strange metal obstruction, Kenshin landing lightly after him. He stood quickly, and looking into the fog saw that he had landed on a conveyor belt of some sort. Sano was right next to him shaking violently, but Kenshin couldn't help smirking. The girl was smart...much smarter than he would have given her credit for...she knew her battle field. He closed his eyes and sent out a soft ripple, and felt a soft ripple come back. She would be okay. As he stood there smiling suddenly the belt came to a hard stop, and his body was thrown forward slamming into the metal hard knocking him unconscious.
Kenshin's eyes snapped open, and his heart raced. He sat up and quickly scrambled to his feet.
"Slow down there Kenshin...you're in pretty bad shape." He glanced down, and several pairs of eyes stared up at him...Miss Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko, Miss Misaou, and Miss Migume. Suddenly he realized that the world was spinning, and decided it would be a good idea to sit down.
"What's going on?" Kaoru, and Migume exchanged a glance.
"We were at the restaurant and some guys were rough housing....you got hit on the head with a table...you've been out for an hour." He rubbed his head looking around at the worried faces. His Sakabatou rested safely in Sano's lap, and he was in the familiar dojo again.
"Are you okay Kenshin? You're acting pretty weird." Sano said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes...I'm fine I just had the strangest dream....swords were made of colorful energy blades...the colors were amazing, and you were all there even you Miss Misaou, and you had the strangest weapon...it shot energy bolts, and you Sano...you fell in love with a beautiful woman....it was the strangest thing."
"Whats so strange about that eh?!" Sano said bowing up a little.
"That's not strange at all. What WOULD be strange is if a beautiful woman fell in love with HIM." Misaou added getting a laugh from Yahiko.
"Shut up weasel girl."
"Make me dog breath."
"Are you sure you're okay Kenshin?" Kaoru asked laying a hand on his knee. He looked down at her hand, and at everyone around him.
"I am now, that I most certainly am."
THE END
