CHAPTER 14: Defeat
Gimmei pulled away from Saito. She sniffed.
"Are you okay now?" Saito asked. Gimmei gave a faint smile and nodded. She sniffed again.
"Yes... I'm... fine," Gimmei said, hiccuping between words. Her eyes were red and puffy. She wiped away stray tears with her sleeve.
"Good," Saito said standing. "I've got to hurry and get back to Tokio. She's going to need me." He turned to leave, but Gimmei looped her arm around his elbow.
"Let me come!" she said. "I can help!" Saito shook his head.
"Stay here, Neko," Saito said. Gimmei pouted and tightened her hold on his elbow.
"No! I started this and I plan to help put an end to it!" Gimmei protested. Saito yanked his arm out of her grip and pushed her back.
"You'll get in the way," he said. Gimmei growled, then picked up a sword.
"I don't care," Gimmei said. "I'm coming. For repentance." Saito shook his head.
"You sound like Battousai," he said.
"Fine," Gimmei said. "Then I'm coming to save your wife and kick some butt!" Saito smirked.
"There you go," he said. Then, he walked out of the room, giving up on leaving her behind. She followed like a tail, then took the lead so that she could guide him to the exit. They stopped at the exit and Gimmei pushed a heavy rock aside with some help from Saito. They stepped through the hole in the dirt wall and into bright daylight. They both blinked to get their eyes used to the light.
"Tokyo is that way," Gimmei said, pointing. Saito followed her finger, but all he could see was a steep dirt path that was crudely marked by rocks. Trees and ferns were nearly overrunning it. Saito turned and headed that way, grateful that he was finally outside. It was the first time in... how long exactly was he in there?
"Neko?" Saito asked, turning around to face her.
"Hm?" Gimmei answered, following him.
"How long has it been since you captured me?" Saito questioned. Gimmei thought for a second.
"I'd have to say about a week or two," she said. Saito thought about that. It was a long time to be away without notice. Tokio was going to kill him once he got home. Gimmei stared at him for a while longer, then began the trek down the steep path. Saito followed after her, trudging through the soggy dirt from the storming only a day or two before.
"What are you going to do after all this is over, Neko?" Saito asked. "You're all alone now." Gimmei stopped walking. The same question had been going through her mind ever since Shiki died, but the entire time she had chosen to ignore it.
"I don't know," Gimmei said. "I might go wandering. There's nothing else to do. There's not even a reason to live now." Gimmei sighed inwardly. She had thought of committing seppuku many times after Shiki's death, but she never had enough courage to do it. Saito stared at the girl for a moment.
"Oh," he said simply. Gimmei sighed.
"I but I'm not brave enough to kill myself," Gimmei said. "I don't think I'll ever be brave like my brother who almost took his own life once. Mother stopped him, though." Saito thought while he walked.
"You know, Gimmei, it takes more courage to live," Saito told her as he passed. Gimmei stopped walking and stared at him. Saito turned back to her. "Now let's walk. I want to get to my wife in time to save her." He headed off, and Gimmei had to run to catch up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tokio turned quickly and delivered an uppercut to a ninja's chin, then stabbed through another with her wakizashi. Eiji was fighting hard, too, despite his injuries. He jumped up and brought the stick in his hand down on a ninja's head, then rolled between a ninja's legs to dodge a handful of kunai. Eiji struck the ninja in the back, then retreated to a spot next to Tokio.
"Hmmm... I'd better finish you quickly otherwise it'll be three against one," Chuichi muttered as Tokio struck down another man. Kenshin sheathed his sword. He only had the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki left. He hoped with all his heart that it would work. Chuichi looked back to Kenshin.
"Ah, so you've decided to use Battou-jutsu again," Chuichi said, giving Kenshin a smile. Kenshin gave him a steely glare. Chuichi shrugged and crouched down, getting ready to jump. Kenshin rushed at him, but Chuichi jumped up high. He came down with a Ryu-Tsui-Sen, but Kenshin dodged it. Kenshin attacked once more, only for Chuichi to move away and attack with a Ryu-Sho-Sen. Kenshin bounced away, hoping to find a weakness. But there was none. Chuichi's attacks were flawless, his defense solid and his speed was enough to match Kenshin's.
"Why don't we finish this?" Chuichi asked with a grin. He backed up. "Perform your attack." Kenshin took the Battou-jutsu stance, hoping to be able to land an Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. Chuichi drove his sword into the ground. Kenshin ran forward, ready to unsheathe his sword. Chuichi just watched as Kenshin came closer. Then, once Kenshin was only a few yards away, Chuichi ran forward, sword in hand, ripping the blade through the ground and performing the Dou-Ryu-Sen. Bits of dirt and rocks flew up into Kenshin's path, limiting his movements. Chuichi quickly sprang forward and met Kenshin's slowed Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki with a Kuzo Ryu Sen. The attacks were equal in strength, but not equal in speed. Kenshin's attack had been slowed just a notch, costing him enough to allow Chuichi's to meet it's target.
"HIMURA-SAN!!" Eiji yelled, seeing Kenshin fall to the floor, torn pieces of his gi fluttering to the dirt around him. Chuichi sheathed his sword.
"Well, that takes care of that," Chuichi said, giving a ghostly smile. Eiji dropped his stick and ran over to the fallen Kenshin.
"Himura-san!" Eiji cried, crouching down next to Kenshin's body. He stared into glazed eyes. "Get up, Himura-san!" But Kenshin didn't move. Tokio glanced at Eiji, then at Chuichi.
"Take them," Chuichi commanded to the ninjas. They quickly surrounded Tokio and Eiji, grabbing them and binding them.
"LET US GO!" Eiji snapped, squirming against at least ten ninjas. Chuichi gave a genuine smile at him.
"I'm sorry, Eiji-chan, but I cannot do that. Our orders were to capture you, preferably alive, so that is what I must do," Chuichi said. "Of course, you will not be harmed until we get to the base." Chuichi gave Eiji one last smile and turned to Tokio.
"You're quite the fighter, Chuichi-san," Tokio said, hardly fighting against her captors' grip.
"Why thank you, Tokio-dono, but I can say the same thing to you. Who knew that you were this strong!" Chuichi laughed. "I would like to fight you sometime. Hopefully I'll get to before your execution." Tokio watched him as he paced across the street and back.
"Well, I guess we should be going, then," Chuichi said. "There's really no time to waste if we want to get you back to the base before nightfall. We should take the Battousai's body and give him a proper burial, wouldn't you agree?" Chuichi walked over to Kenshin's body and gently closed its eyes. Chuichi slung the body over his shoulder and gestured to the ninjas, who dragged Tokio and Eiji down the road and back toward the house.
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A/N: Please don't kill me for this chapter. I'm sure Kenshin fans will REALLY hate me... * whimper *. Don't worry, everything will turn out all right in the end!! Thanks to everyone who read, and even more to everyone who reviewed!! I'll try to update ASAP!!!
REVIEW REPONSES:
Kairi7: Sleep? What time was it? Oh well, hope you liked this chapter... um... sorry if you like Kenshin or anything... uh... yeah.
Joselyn_Greenleaf: Okay... right... sure... ^___^ Sounds like an interesting show... And you complimented me!! YAY!! Thanks!!
MissBehavin: Reunion should be... next chapter sort of. I know you were cheering for Battousai, but... I just had to stick a twist in there! I just had to! Sorry. Yeah... things are taking a turn for the worst but they WILL get better. Just stick around and see! Thanks for reading!!
Gimmei pulled away from Saito. She sniffed.
"Are you okay now?" Saito asked. Gimmei gave a faint smile and nodded. She sniffed again.
"Yes... I'm... fine," Gimmei said, hiccuping between words. Her eyes were red and puffy. She wiped away stray tears with her sleeve.
"Good," Saito said standing. "I've got to hurry and get back to Tokio. She's going to need me." He turned to leave, but Gimmei looped her arm around his elbow.
"Let me come!" she said. "I can help!" Saito shook his head.
"Stay here, Neko," Saito said. Gimmei pouted and tightened her hold on his elbow.
"No! I started this and I plan to help put an end to it!" Gimmei protested. Saito yanked his arm out of her grip and pushed her back.
"You'll get in the way," he said. Gimmei growled, then picked up a sword.
"I don't care," Gimmei said. "I'm coming. For repentance." Saito shook his head.
"You sound like Battousai," he said.
"Fine," Gimmei said. "Then I'm coming to save your wife and kick some butt!" Saito smirked.
"There you go," he said. Then, he walked out of the room, giving up on leaving her behind. She followed like a tail, then took the lead so that she could guide him to the exit. They stopped at the exit and Gimmei pushed a heavy rock aside with some help from Saito. They stepped through the hole in the dirt wall and into bright daylight. They both blinked to get their eyes used to the light.
"Tokyo is that way," Gimmei said, pointing. Saito followed her finger, but all he could see was a steep dirt path that was crudely marked by rocks. Trees and ferns were nearly overrunning it. Saito turned and headed that way, grateful that he was finally outside. It was the first time in... how long exactly was he in there?
"Neko?" Saito asked, turning around to face her.
"Hm?" Gimmei answered, following him.
"How long has it been since you captured me?" Saito questioned. Gimmei thought for a second.
"I'd have to say about a week or two," she said. Saito thought about that. It was a long time to be away without notice. Tokio was going to kill him once he got home. Gimmei stared at him for a while longer, then began the trek down the steep path. Saito followed after her, trudging through the soggy dirt from the storming only a day or two before.
"What are you going to do after all this is over, Neko?" Saito asked. "You're all alone now." Gimmei stopped walking. The same question had been going through her mind ever since Shiki died, but the entire time she had chosen to ignore it.
"I don't know," Gimmei said. "I might go wandering. There's nothing else to do. There's not even a reason to live now." Gimmei sighed inwardly. She had thought of committing seppuku many times after Shiki's death, but she never had enough courage to do it. Saito stared at the girl for a moment.
"Oh," he said simply. Gimmei sighed.
"I but I'm not brave enough to kill myself," Gimmei said. "I don't think I'll ever be brave like my brother who almost took his own life once. Mother stopped him, though." Saito thought while he walked.
"You know, Gimmei, it takes more courage to live," Saito told her as he passed. Gimmei stopped walking and stared at him. Saito turned back to her. "Now let's walk. I want to get to my wife in time to save her." He headed off, and Gimmei had to run to catch up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tokio turned quickly and delivered an uppercut to a ninja's chin, then stabbed through another with her wakizashi. Eiji was fighting hard, too, despite his injuries. He jumped up and brought the stick in his hand down on a ninja's head, then rolled between a ninja's legs to dodge a handful of kunai. Eiji struck the ninja in the back, then retreated to a spot next to Tokio.
"Hmmm... I'd better finish you quickly otherwise it'll be three against one," Chuichi muttered as Tokio struck down another man. Kenshin sheathed his sword. He only had the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki left. He hoped with all his heart that it would work. Chuichi looked back to Kenshin.
"Ah, so you've decided to use Battou-jutsu again," Chuichi said, giving Kenshin a smile. Kenshin gave him a steely glare. Chuichi shrugged and crouched down, getting ready to jump. Kenshin rushed at him, but Chuichi jumped up high. He came down with a Ryu-Tsui-Sen, but Kenshin dodged it. Kenshin attacked once more, only for Chuichi to move away and attack with a Ryu-Sho-Sen. Kenshin bounced away, hoping to find a weakness. But there was none. Chuichi's attacks were flawless, his defense solid and his speed was enough to match Kenshin's.
"Why don't we finish this?" Chuichi asked with a grin. He backed up. "Perform your attack." Kenshin took the Battou-jutsu stance, hoping to be able to land an Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. Chuichi drove his sword into the ground. Kenshin ran forward, ready to unsheathe his sword. Chuichi just watched as Kenshin came closer. Then, once Kenshin was only a few yards away, Chuichi ran forward, sword in hand, ripping the blade through the ground and performing the Dou-Ryu-Sen. Bits of dirt and rocks flew up into Kenshin's path, limiting his movements. Chuichi quickly sprang forward and met Kenshin's slowed Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki with a Kuzo Ryu Sen. The attacks were equal in strength, but not equal in speed. Kenshin's attack had been slowed just a notch, costing him enough to allow Chuichi's to meet it's target.
"HIMURA-SAN!!" Eiji yelled, seeing Kenshin fall to the floor, torn pieces of his gi fluttering to the dirt around him. Chuichi sheathed his sword.
"Well, that takes care of that," Chuichi said, giving a ghostly smile. Eiji dropped his stick and ran over to the fallen Kenshin.
"Himura-san!" Eiji cried, crouching down next to Kenshin's body. He stared into glazed eyes. "Get up, Himura-san!" But Kenshin didn't move. Tokio glanced at Eiji, then at Chuichi.
"Take them," Chuichi commanded to the ninjas. They quickly surrounded Tokio and Eiji, grabbing them and binding them.
"LET US GO!" Eiji snapped, squirming against at least ten ninjas. Chuichi gave a genuine smile at him.
"I'm sorry, Eiji-chan, but I cannot do that. Our orders were to capture you, preferably alive, so that is what I must do," Chuichi said. "Of course, you will not be harmed until we get to the base." Chuichi gave Eiji one last smile and turned to Tokio.
"You're quite the fighter, Chuichi-san," Tokio said, hardly fighting against her captors' grip.
"Why thank you, Tokio-dono, but I can say the same thing to you. Who knew that you were this strong!" Chuichi laughed. "I would like to fight you sometime. Hopefully I'll get to before your execution." Tokio watched him as he paced across the street and back.
"Well, I guess we should be going, then," Chuichi said. "There's really no time to waste if we want to get you back to the base before nightfall. We should take the Battousai's body and give him a proper burial, wouldn't you agree?" Chuichi walked over to Kenshin's body and gently closed its eyes. Chuichi slung the body over his shoulder and gestured to the ninjas, who dragged Tokio and Eiji down the road and back toward the house.
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A/N: Please don't kill me for this chapter. I'm sure Kenshin fans will REALLY hate me... * whimper *. Don't worry, everything will turn out all right in the end!! Thanks to everyone who read, and even more to everyone who reviewed!! I'll try to update ASAP!!!
REVIEW REPONSES:
Kairi7: Sleep? What time was it? Oh well, hope you liked this chapter... um... sorry if you like Kenshin or anything... uh... yeah.
Joselyn_Greenleaf: Okay... right... sure... ^___^ Sounds like an interesting show... And you complimented me!! YAY!! Thanks!!
MissBehavin: Reunion should be... next chapter sort of. I know you were cheering for Battousai, but... I just had to stick a twist in there! I just had to! Sorry. Yeah... things are taking a turn for the worst but they WILL get better. Just stick around and see! Thanks for reading!!