OK! I'm back everyone! Between sophomore year, a convention, and
addictions to Naruto and Ragnarok Online, it's been hard to find time to
sit down a write. But enough is enough, I say! No more procrastination! So
here's a new chapter to tide you over until I write the next one.
"Kuso!"
The sharp clatter of glass hitting wood sounded throughout the small, dank bar, causing patrons to look up and stare at the angry young man, who was currently glaring at his right hand as though it had committed some terrible atrocity against him.
Still completely useless...and Fox Lady not telling me how long it'll be...
Sanosuke sighed loudly and resigned to holding the glass of sake with his left hand, still cursing his existence inwardly. As he tipped the rim of the glass against his lips, he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the taste of the fiery drink.
Fire...no, no. It was no good. Anything, everything, reminded him of Kyoto. Of the fortress. And of a tall figure, clad in blue, silhouetted against the raging flames. But did it have to end that way?
Unable to think clearly to the thick haze of alcohol, the ex street fighter closed his eyes and once again attempted to envision the scene. He'd played it over, a million times, looking for the flaw, the one spot where something could have changed.
But no matter how many times he thought it over, there was no way, not without risking Kenshin as well. Too much of the bridge had collapsed, and time had been against them. No way Saitou could have made the jump...even if he wasn't messed up like that.
But still...the old insect had said it himself...he'd been through way more than either Sano or Aoshi. He'd fought in the Bakumatsu, and he couldn't manage to clear the gap? Though this thought did not comfort him, Sano let out a rude snort.
"Sir..." came a timid voice from across the wood partition he was leaning heavily against.
"What?" snapped Sano, rather more aggressively than he intended to. He didn't feel particularly apologetic, however, and merely glared at the barmaid standing nervously across from him.
"Sir...you're disturbing the rest of the customers. If you can't keep it down, you'll have to leave..." she stammered the words, avoiding his eyes. Truly, a drunk rooster was an intimidating thing. The young woman cried out in alarm as he bent over the bar and roughly grabbed her by the arm.
"You...you don't tell me what to do, you hear! You can't...you won't..." he trailed off...the effort of forming coherent words too much for his intoxicated mind.
"This kid bothering you, Kira-san?" A strong hand seized Sano's wrist, forcing him to release the poor girl. Sluggishly, he looked up into a pair of dark and unfriendly eyes. He faintly heard the same voice say, "I think you're done for the night, buddy.", then was grabbed by the back of his jacket and heaved outside.
His body his the ground of the alleyway heavily, and he was faintly aware of laughter fading into the night. Sano clenched his fist and mumbled, "...you bastard..." before slipping into a place beyond consciousness, with not even his sake glass to keep him company.
From the shadows, feral eyes watched.
"Kuso!"
The sharp clatter of glass hitting wood sounded throughout the small, dank bar, causing patrons to look up and stare at the angry young man, who was currently glaring at his right hand as though it had committed some terrible atrocity against him.
Still completely useless...and Fox Lady not telling me how long it'll be...
Sanosuke sighed loudly and resigned to holding the glass of sake with his left hand, still cursing his existence inwardly. As he tipped the rim of the glass against his lips, he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the taste of the fiery drink.
Fire...no, no. It was no good. Anything, everything, reminded him of Kyoto. Of the fortress. And of a tall figure, clad in blue, silhouetted against the raging flames. But did it have to end that way?
Unable to think clearly to the thick haze of alcohol, the ex street fighter closed his eyes and once again attempted to envision the scene. He'd played it over, a million times, looking for the flaw, the one spot where something could have changed.
But no matter how many times he thought it over, there was no way, not without risking Kenshin as well. Too much of the bridge had collapsed, and time had been against them. No way Saitou could have made the jump...even if he wasn't messed up like that.
But still...the old insect had said it himself...he'd been through way more than either Sano or Aoshi. He'd fought in the Bakumatsu, and he couldn't manage to clear the gap? Though this thought did not comfort him, Sano let out a rude snort.
"Sir..." came a timid voice from across the wood partition he was leaning heavily against.
"What?" snapped Sano, rather more aggressively than he intended to. He didn't feel particularly apologetic, however, and merely glared at the barmaid standing nervously across from him.
"Sir...you're disturbing the rest of the customers. If you can't keep it down, you'll have to leave..." she stammered the words, avoiding his eyes. Truly, a drunk rooster was an intimidating thing. The young woman cried out in alarm as he bent over the bar and roughly grabbed her by the arm.
"You...you don't tell me what to do, you hear! You can't...you won't..." he trailed off...the effort of forming coherent words too much for his intoxicated mind.
"This kid bothering you, Kira-san?" A strong hand seized Sano's wrist, forcing him to release the poor girl. Sluggishly, he looked up into a pair of dark and unfriendly eyes. He faintly heard the same voice say, "I think you're done for the night, buddy.", then was grabbed by the back of his jacket and heaved outside.
His body his the ground of the alleyway heavily, and he was faintly aware of laughter fading into the night. Sano clenched his fist and mumbled, "...you bastard..." before slipping into a place beyond consciousness, with not even his sake glass to keep him company.
From the shadows, feral eyes watched.