Chapter 9
Kenshin found an empty room and entered it. He needed somewhere to cool his head. "How could I let things get so bad?!" He yelled out loud. His hands were in fists and he pounded the table that was in the room. It was hard enough before Suiso had found out who he was. Kenshin clenched his teeth.
Kenmei was wary about entering. He had seen how mad Kenshin had been when Suiso had told him to leave. He had seen Kenshin enter this room and he wanted so badly to talk to him. Slowly he opened the door and looked inside. There stood Kenshin, fist on the table staring at Kenmei with those amber eyes. Kenmei took a hesitant step backwards.
Kenshin gave his head a shake and gathered himself. He turned and faced Kenmei with less of a glare. Kenmei gave a sigh and entered. "Kenshin," he began "are you really the Battòsai."
Kenshin wanted to roll his eyes but resisted. He sighed and began. "I used to go by that name. I no longer want it."
"That day," Kenmei continued "when I attacked you, you could have killed me easily."
"I have made a vow. A vow to never kill again. Besides; I have never enjoyed killing."
Kenmei was somewhat surprised by this information and Kenshin could see it in his eyes. "When I was little my father told me of a man who would change things. He told me that this man was going to make it so everyone would be treated equally. I wanted to be just like him." Now it was Kenshin's turn to be surprised. He was about to say something along the lines of 'killing is something you should not honor' when Kenmei continued. "So I hung around anyone who was strong. That's how I wound up working for Suiso." Kenshin noted the lack of Captain before Suiso's name. Together they stood in silence for a moment. "So now what's the plan?"
Kenshin's expression went from cold killer to goofy wanderer in half a second. "Oro?"
Kenmei gave a wide, slow smile. "To get you and Senko out of here."
Kenshin closed his eyes and let out a laugh. When he opened his eyes again they were back to lavender. "Well, we can't do much at sea."
Kenmei's face went red. "That's right."
Kenshin stopped laughing and frowned slightly. "But I have to come up with something before we land again."
"That shouldn't be too long. We didn't have anytime to pick up supplies at our last stops." Kenmei's brow wrinkled as he thought. "Next time we go we could meet up and I could sneak on board and get Senko. Suiso would get suspicious if you got back on the ship. Then you two could get away."
Kenshin gave a 'humph.' "That might work as long as Suiso thinks we are still on uneasy terms." Kenshin smiled. "I hate to ask it but you might want to call me Newbie again." Kenshin stared hard in front of him.
"What's wrong? It's a good plan ain't it?"
"Yes, but I have underestimated Suiso too many times to do it again." He sighed. "I need more time to think."
Kenmei nodded in agreement. "Uh... may I ask?" Kenshin looked up at him. "Why did you disappear like you did?"
Kenshin gave a small, sad moan and placed a hand on his cheek. "A mistake." He said quietly.
"A mistake?" Kenmei repeated confused. Kenshin wasn't going to clarify it and he headed for the door.
The days passed and Kenshin and Kenmei went back to their old ways. Kenmei avoiding Kenshin and calling him 'New Guy' or 'Newbie.' Kenshin also went around as he had always done; wash the deck and seemed lost in a thought.
Three whole days passed and Kenshin was able to avoid Suiso. However, they were on a ship and completely avoiding someone especially the captain was no easy task. "Battòsai!" Suiso shouted as Kenshin made a retreat to another room. Suiso followed him inside and Kenshin cursed his luck that there was only one door to this room. Kenshin quickly put his rag to the wall and pretended to scrub the wall. "I know you've been avoiding me Battòsai." Suiso said calmly. "But you have no need to for I come bearing a gift." Kenshin kept scrubbing as if he hadn't heard. "Face me Battòsai!"
Kenshin gritted his teeth and sighed. "Must you call me Battòsai?"
This time it was Suiso's turn to not answer, he just snarled. Kenshin turned just in time to catch a sword that had been thrown at him. Kenshin's mouth dropped as he held it. "What's wrong Battòsai? You act as if you've never held a real sword before."
"Real?"
"Yes. That Sakabato you carry at your side is a joke." Kenshin glared at Suiso. "I want you to toss that" he said pointing to the Sakabato "in the sea and put that at your side."
"I will not do that; that I won't." Kenshin tossed the sword on the floor.
"Pick... that... up..." Suiso said losing his cool.
"I have made a vow to never kill again. I will never again hang a weapon that kills at my side." Kenshin walked past Suiso, whose face was getting redder with every passing moment.
"BATTÒSAI!" Kenshin ignored Suiso's yell and made his way to the deck. The night air felt good on his skin and it seemed to help his headache. "BATTÒSAI!" Kenshin could hear Suiso storming after him and waited for him. The crew also heard him and slowly drifted toward the deck.
Suiso's eyes were filled with wild anger unlike Kenshin's clear and calm amber eyes as they stared each other down. "You use this or I will kill that girl." Kenshin had expected him to say that.
"I will not allow you to hurt Miss Senko, but I will not wear that sword!" Kenshin remained calm as the questioning voices raised around him.
Suiso snarled at Kenshin. "If you will not take it willingly." He stopped a moment and surveyed his men. "Then I will make you take it by force!" Suiso raised his hand and Kenshin saw the black mark written on it; the Kanji for wind. Suiso closed his eyes to calm himself and began to chant. "ï¢ï¡ïªï´ï®ï®ï¡ï¨ï³ïªï ïï®ï¡ï¢ï¥ï²" To Kenshin's horror the circle that had bound him to the floor once before appeared. Suiso finished his chant and yelled. "Now!"
Kenshin braced himself to try to break the spell but his hands never burned or went against him. Instead a yell came from the crowd and Kenmei was dragged to the circle. "Kenmei!" Kenshin yelled out of concern and shock.
Suiso walked up to Kenmei and unsheathed the blade he had been trying to give to Kenshin. He glared at Kenshin and shoved the blade into the floor so close to Kenmei's check. So close that a small line of blood began to drip from his cheek. "Now Battòsai. Two lives? Or will you take the blade?" Suiso stated. He was done playing around. "I've heard you two talking, the wind hears everything on this ship. Even when you whispered her name. This Tomoe."
Kenshin unsheathed his sword. "Suiso you can force this one to wash your ship. You can cut this one's hair. You can threaten this one's life. But!" Kenshin yelled his voice rising in both volume and anger. "I will not allow you to harm another because of me and I will NOT carry any sword but this!" He said walking toward Suiso. Suiso stared into Kenshin's eyes. They were driving him nuts; he had thought he would have broken them by now. He could see the rage building up behind them. "And I will not allow you to say her name like she was nothing!" Kenshin snarled.
"YOU CANNOT BEAT THE WIND!" Suiso screamed. The wind blew but Kenshin moved closer to Suiso. Suiso screamed and the ship pitched in all directions as the wind blew harder; all of the crew fell and tried to hang on to something. Soon the only ones that remained standing were Kenshin and Suiso. "You're not human!" Suiso said amazed as Kenshin continued toward him. "If you won't have me as your captain I'll send you to the bottom of the sea!" The wind rocked the huge vessel and Kenshin stopped.
Water sprayed over the sides and the men started to run all over the place trying to get the ship back under control. The cargo slid and the noise could be heard all the way to the deck. Senko tumbled around in her room and lanterns were knocked over. Soon a steady blaze started to consume the ship. "No!" Suiso shrieked as he realized what he had done. "I can't lose this ship! This is my power!" His concentration off of Kenmei the spell disappeared and Kenmei was able to stand Kenshin ran to his side.
"Are you alright?!" Kenshin shouted over the hollowing winds.
Kenmei nodded. "We have to get to the rowboats the ship is going to sink." Kenshin looked around him; everyone was rapidly trying to free the row boats.
"I've got to get Miss Senko. You better help them." Kenmei gave another nod and with Kenshin's steady hands was helped up. Kenshin ran in the direction of Senko's room just to be stopped by Suiso.
"YOU! You did this! You knew the ship was my power! This was your plan!" Suiso yelled at him! "I may not have my spells but I shall kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!" Suiso reached for his blade but he was too slow and Kenshin gave him a swift smack to his head with the Sakabato Suiso had called a joke.
Suiso foamed at the mouth and fell limp. Kenshin picked him up gently and handed him over to one of the crew. "Help him onto the boat." The man was wide eyes with shock but nodded a yes. Kenshin headed below and found it consumed by flames.
Kenshin found an empty room and entered it. He needed somewhere to cool his head. "How could I let things get so bad?!" He yelled out loud. His hands were in fists and he pounded the table that was in the room. It was hard enough before Suiso had found out who he was. Kenshin clenched his teeth.
Kenmei was wary about entering. He had seen how mad Kenshin had been when Suiso had told him to leave. He had seen Kenshin enter this room and he wanted so badly to talk to him. Slowly he opened the door and looked inside. There stood Kenshin, fist on the table staring at Kenmei with those amber eyes. Kenmei took a hesitant step backwards.
Kenshin gave his head a shake and gathered himself. He turned and faced Kenmei with less of a glare. Kenmei gave a sigh and entered. "Kenshin," he began "are you really the Battòsai."
Kenshin wanted to roll his eyes but resisted. He sighed and began. "I used to go by that name. I no longer want it."
"That day," Kenmei continued "when I attacked you, you could have killed me easily."
"I have made a vow. A vow to never kill again. Besides; I have never enjoyed killing."
Kenmei was somewhat surprised by this information and Kenshin could see it in his eyes. "When I was little my father told me of a man who would change things. He told me that this man was going to make it so everyone would be treated equally. I wanted to be just like him." Now it was Kenshin's turn to be surprised. He was about to say something along the lines of 'killing is something you should not honor' when Kenmei continued. "So I hung around anyone who was strong. That's how I wound up working for Suiso." Kenshin noted the lack of Captain before Suiso's name. Together they stood in silence for a moment. "So now what's the plan?"
Kenshin's expression went from cold killer to goofy wanderer in half a second. "Oro?"
Kenmei gave a wide, slow smile. "To get you and Senko out of here."
Kenshin closed his eyes and let out a laugh. When he opened his eyes again they were back to lavender. "Well, we can't do much at sea."
Kenmei's face went red. "That's right."
Kenshin stopped laughing and frowned slightly. "But I have to come up with something before we land again."
"That shouldn't be too long. We didn't have anytime to pick up supplies at our last stops." Kenmei's brow wrinkled as he thought. "Next time we go we could meet up and I could sneak on board and get Senko. Suiso would get suspicious if you got back on the ship. Then you two could get away."
Kenshin gave a 'humph.' "That might work as long as Suiso thinks we are still on uneasy terms." Kenshin smiled. "I hate to ask it but you might want to call me Newbie again." Kenshin stared hard in front of him.
"What's wrong? It's a good plan ain't it?"
"Yes, but I have underestimated Suiso too many times to do it again." He sighed. "I need more time to think."
Kenmei nodded in agreement. "Uh... may I ask?" Kenshin looked up at him. "Why did you disappear like you did?"
Kenshin gave a small, sad moan and placed a hand on his cheek. "A mistake." He said quietly.
"A mistake?" Kenmei repeated confused. Kenshin wasn't going to clarify it and he headed for the door.
The days passed and Kenshin and Kenmei went back to their old ways. Kenmei avoiding Kenshin and calling him 'New Guy' or 'Newbie.' Kenshin also went around as he had always done; wash the deck and seemed lost in a thought.
Three whole days passed and Kenshin was able to avoid Suiso. However, they were on a ship and completely avoiding someone especially the captain was no easy task. "Battòsai!" Suiso shouted as Kenshin made a retreat to another room. Suiso followed him inside and Kenshin cursed his luck that there was only one door to this room. Kenshin quickly put his rag to the wall and pretended to scrub the wall. "I know you've been avoiding me Battòsai." Suiso said calmly. "But you have no need to for I come bearing a gift." Kenshin kept scrubbing as if he hadn't heard. "Face me Battòsai!"
Kenshin gritted his teeth and sighed. "Must you call me Battòsai?"
This time it was Suiso's turn to not answer, he just snarled. Kenshin turned just in time to catch a sword that had been thrown at him. Kenshin's mouth dropped as he held it. "What's wrong Battòsai? You act as if you've never held a real sword before."
"Real?"
"Yes. That Sakabato you carry at your side is a joke." Kenshin glared at Suiso. "I want you to toss that" he said pointing to the Sakabato "in the sea and put that at your side."
"I will not do that; that I won't." Kenshin tossed the sword on the floor.
"Pick... that... up..." Suiso said losing his cool.
"I have made a vow to never kill again. I will never again hang a weapon that kills at my side." Kenshin walked past Suiso, whose face was getting redder with every passing moment.
"BATTÒSAI!" Kenshin ignored Suiso's yell and made his way to the deck. The night air felt good on his skin and it seemed to help his headache. "BATTÒSAI!" Kenshin could hear Suiso storming after him and waited for him. The crew also heard him and slowly drifted toward the deck.
Suiso's eyes were filled with wild anger unlike Kenshin's clear and calm amber eyes as they stared each other down. "You use this or I will kill that girl." Kenshin had expected him to say that.
"I will not allow you to hurt Miss Senko, but I will not wear that sword!" Kenshin remained calm as the questioning voices raised around him.
Suiso snarled at Kenshin. "If you will not take it willingly." He stopped a moment and surveyed his men. "Then I will make you take it by force!" Suiso raised his hand and Kenshin saw the black mark written on it; the Kanji for wind. Suiso closed his eyes to calm himself and began to chant. "ï¢ï¡ïªï´ï®ï®ï¡ï¨ï³ïªï ïï®ï¡ï¢ï¥ï²" To Kenshin's horror the circle that had bound him to the floor once before appeared. Suiso finished his chant and yelled. "Now!"
Kenshin braced himself to try to break the spell but his hands never burned or went against him. Instead a yell came from the crowd and Kenmei was dragged to the circle. "Kenmei!" Kenshin yelled out of concern and shock.
Suiso walked up to Kenmei and unsheathed the blade he had been trying to give to Kenshin. He glared at Kenshin and shoved the blade into the floor so close to Kenmei's check. So close that a small line of blood began to drip from his cheek. "Now Battòsai. Two lives? Or will you take the blade?" Suiso stated. He was done playing around. "I've heard you two talking, the wind hears everything on this ship. Even when you whispered her name. This Tomoe."
Kenshin unsheathed his sword. "Suiso you can force this one to wash your ship. You can cut this one's hair. You can threaten this one's life. But!" Kenshin yelled his voice rising in both volume and anger. "I will not allow you to harm another because of me and I will NOT carry any sword but this!" He said walking toward Suiso. Suiso stared into Kenshin's eyes. They were driving him nuts; he had thought he would have broken them by now. He could see the rage building up behind them. "And I will not allow you to say her name like she was nothing!" Kenshin snarled.
"YOU CANNOT BEAT THE WIND!" Suiso screamed. The wind blew but Kenshin moved closer to Suiso. Suiso screamed and the ship pitched in all directions as the wind blew harder; all of the crew fell and tried to hang on to something. Soon the only ones that remained standing were Kenshin and Suiso. "You're not human!" Suiso said amazed as Kenshin continued toward him. "If you won't have me as your captain I'll send you to the bottom of the sea!" The wind rocked the huge vessel and Kenshin stopped.
Water sprayed over the sides and the men started to run all over the place trying to get the ship back under control. The cargo slid and the noise could be heard all the way to the deck. Senko tumbled around in her room and lanterns were knocked over. Soon a steady blaze started to consume the ship. "No!" Suiso shrieked as he realized what he had done. "I can't lose this ship! This is my power!" His concentration off of Kenmei the spell disappeared and Kenmei was able to stand Kenshin ran to his side.
"Are you alright?!" Kenshin shouted over the hollowing winds.
Kenmei nodded. "We have to get to the rowboats the ship is going to sink." Kenshin looked around him; everyone was rapidly trying to free the row boats.
"I've got to get Miss Senko. You better help them." Kenmei gave another nod and with Kenshin's steady hands was helped up. Kenshin ran in the direction of Senko's room just to be stopped by Suiso.
"YOU! You did this! You knew the ship was my power! This was your plan!" Suiso yelled at him! "I may not have my spells but I shall kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!" Suiso reached for his blade but he was too slow and Kenshin gave him a swift smack to his head with the Sakabato Suiso had called a joke.
Suiso foamed at the mouth and fell limp. Kenshin picked him up gently and handed him over to one of the crew. "Help him onto the boat." The man was wide eyes with shock but nodded a yes. Kenshin headed below and found it consumed by flames.