~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer:
Yahiko: *creeping out onto stage* I can feel it... Today is going to be my lucky day!
Sano: Why's that Yahiko?
Yahiko: Because my lucky star is shining!
Sano: *looks up at sky* There are no stars out Yahiko...
Yahiko: Baka! It's a figure of speech!
Sano: Oh.... Why is it your lucky day again?
Yahiko: *sigh* Because my star is shining and I'm going to be able to do the disclaimer!
Sano: Hold on a sec... YOU are doing the disclaimer? That's not fair!
Yahiko: Why?
Sano: You're star isn't out! But my lucky fishbone is!
Yahiko: So....
Sano: *really fast* IcyPanther does not own Rurouni Kenshin characters, ideas.... But I own my lucky fishbone! ^^
Yahiko: Hey! No fair!
Sano: Sorry kid, but my fishbone was here and your star wasn't. See ya!
Yahiko: *yelling after him* BUT MY LUCKY STAR IS THERE! I'll just have to be ready next time....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru's Wish
Chapter Nine: Old Times (And for the last chapter I meant Chapter Eight, not Six! ^.~)
'...' indicates thought
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From last time:
Yahiko smiled brightly, the tears disappearing. "Okay," he said cheerfully. A few minutes later, Yahiko regretted trying to get Suzume water. He had dumped the bucket down the well and heard it splash. But when he tried to pull it up, the water made the bucket too heavy and he couldn't lift it.
He had almost gotten the barely filled bucket up over the rim of the well when suddenly a hand picked him up by the back of his gi and lifted the little Myojin off the ground.
"Well well. What do we have here?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yahiko struggled vainly in his captor's hold, kicking his feet and twisting and turning each way. "Put me down right now! Put me down!" The men paid no attention to his cries and instead just stared at the little boy.
"Uh...Boss, is that Yahiko? Cuz is sure looks a lot like him..."
The spiky black haired boy turned his head, trying to get a good look at the man who was holding him. Tall redish brown hair, long narrow face, slitted eyes, it was.... But it couldn't be....
"Oh look, it seems he remembers me," laughed the man as Yahiko's eyes widened in recognition. "Looks a little scared doesn't he? Nothing like that ten year old.."
"But Boss, how did he get so tiny? He was ten last time we saw him..."
"What does it matter? I'll kill him either way. A little street brat like him doesn't deserve to live."
"KEN-" Yahiko cried out before a hand was clapped over his mouth.
"Darn kid certainly has the same loud mouth. Come, we'd better leave before those people in the resturant realize he's gone. And someone shut him up, will you?" he's giving me a headache.
"Right away Boss. Hold still Yahiko, this won't hurt a bit.."
The last thing the boy saw was the Akabeko, where his friends were, before a blow was landed to the back of his head and everything began to go black.
~
~
~
Twenty minutes later...
"Auntie Kaoru, I'm thirsty," whined Suzume. "Where is Yahiko?"
Sano reached for another fish, his dish duty done, for the time being. "The kid probably fell down the well," he laughed before ripping off a piece of the fish.
"Sanosuke!" Kaoru scolded, "That isn't funny! I'll go get him. Kenshin, make sure Sano doesn't eat the rest of the meal, I'd still like some when I get back and I'm sure Yahiko will too."
"Hai Kaoru-Dono, Sessha will make sure Sanosuke doesn't eat it all, that he will."
A few minutes later, Kaoru ran back into the Akabeko, her eyes wild with panic. "I couldn't find him! He might have actually fallen down the well, but he didn't answer when I called him. If he drowns, then it is your fault Sano," exclaimed Kaoru, pointing at the ex-gangster.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because you let him out of the kitchen in the first place! Now come on, we have to go save him before he actually does drown." The group raced out back towards the well, tension thick in the air. Everyone knew that if something had happened to Yahiko, they were all partly to blame. Who let a four year old out by a well by himself?
Sano jumped onto the slippery edge of the well and grasped the rope tightly between his hands. Then he carefully slid down and landed with a splash in the water. "All right everyone, I'm going under!"
He dove into the dark waters that the sun didn't penetrate. His eyes were open wide, yet he couldn't see anything except utter blackness. 'How the hell am I supposed to find the kid if I can't even see my hand in front of my face?'
After a few more seconds of vain searching, Sanosuke surfaced, his air supply spent. "No luck, I can't see anything!" he called up to the people on the ground level.
"Sanosuke, dive all the way down and use your hands to feel for him. Hurry!" said Kenshin.
"Gotcha!" Once again, he dived into the water and plunged right towards the bottom, his hands and feet feeling for any other substance other than the water. Nothing.
Popping back up on the surface, Sano said, "He's not down there! Can someone pull me back up?" The group hurriedly tugged on the rope until Sano gained enough leverage above the water to haul himself up.
"Where on Earth did he go?" exclaimed Tae. "Do you think he wandered off?"
Tsubame bit her nails nervously, glancing at the worried adults. Her four year old boyfriend was probably out on the streets of Tokyo with nothing to defend himself with. He could easily be attacked or taken away by some gang.
Kenshin stepped out in front of the group, having been elected the leader although nothing had been said. "Minna, spread out and look for him. We'll all meet back at the dojo at seven." Heads nodded around the group and they started to split up.
Ayame, Sano, and Misao went east. Kaoru, Kenji, Tae and Aoshi went west. Kenshin, Tsubame, Megumi, and Suzume went south. Since the dojo was north they would check that area on their way back at seven.
"YAHIKO!" called Kaoru. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Niisan!" wailed Kenji, scanning the road with his violet eyes.
"HEY! BRAT, COME OUT!" yelled Sano. "COME ON!"
At seven, three failed groups met at the dojo steps. "Didn't any of you see any sign of him?" asked Kaoru down heartedly. "Kids don't just disappear!"
"All we can do is wait here and hope he'll come home soon," said Megumi softly. "That's all we can do...."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yahiko awoke to a pounding headache he had gained from the blow to his head. Groaning, he sat up and took in his surroundings.
He was in a room, about the size of a small closet. When he sat Indian style, both of his knees brushed the edges of the room and his head brushed the ceiling. To top it all off, it was pitch black, no light at all, not even from around the door frame.
'Where am I? I guess it's almost a good thing I'm little, otherwise I wouldn't have fit in here...' The little samurai waited patiently for someone to let him out of his cramped prison. After all, the only thing he could do was wait and banging around would just waste energy.
Several hours later, the door opened, the bright light making Yahiko shield his eyes, so used to the dark, from the glare. A man reached in and pulled Yahiko up by the back of his gi. "Let's go Kid, the Boss wants to see ya."
He was carried into a huge room, that held the man who was waiting for him, the boss of the syndicate. "You," spat Yahiko after he was roughly thrown to the ground. "How did you ever manage to become the leader of the Shuei Yakuza?"
"Easy. We all could tell that our old boss wasn't up for the job, it should go to someone younger, stronger, better than him. And what better choice then me, Gasuke the Manslayer? And speaking of slaying, I think it's time a little brat died."
He advanced towards Yahiko who scrambled to his feet and edged backwards until he was backed up against a wall with no where to run. 'Why can't I be several feet taller and have a shinai with me? I wish Kenshin and Kaoru were here....'
~
~
~
Meanwhile at the dojo...
"Where the heck is he?" Kaoru was really worried. It was one thing if he was fifteen and had his shinai with him, but he was only four, didn't have a shinai with him, and was an easy target.
"Well," said Megumi offhandly, "I hope he didn't run into any drunks, they can be pretty nasty."
"Yeah! Remember the time Jou-Chan got into a fight with a bunch of drunk Yakuza thugs? It was priceless!" Sano fell off the steps laughing as Kaoru launched herself upon him, her goal to beat him to a bloody pulp.
Kenshin's head suddenly snapped up. "I know where he is! Hurry we haven't a moment to lose!"
Surprisingly enough, Yahiko was still alive, although it was due mostly to luck and height. Being so small, he often managed to avoid the full extent of Gasuke's asault. Even though he had some cuts, several which were semi-deep he was still standing.
"Damn you!" Gasuke shouted, as his sword plunged into the wall, right where Yahiko's head had been a minute before. "Hold still for a second!"
The little boy tumbled to the ground and rolled right, just being missed by the sword again. Forcing his weary body to stand, Yahiko raised his hands in a guard postion to try to stop Gasuke. He was just too tired, his body drained, to continue running and dodging the furious blows.
Yahiko closed his eyes, preparing himself for the blow that all too soon would end his short life. He heard pounding footsteps as Gasuke ran forward, the battle cry, and then the sound of steel hitting steel. Wait, that wasn't part of dying...
He cracked one of his brown eyes open and gave a small gasp of happiness. They had found him, his friends were here to rescue him! Kenshin had just thrust Gasuke's sword back and he now held it in front of him.
"YOU!" yelled Gasuke. "YOU ALWAYS GET IN MY WAY!" He lunged forward, sword ready to pierce into the red haired man. Kenshin blocked his attack and both prepared for another assault, but this time Kenshin took the offensive.
"HITEN MITSURGUI STYLE DOU RYUU SEN!" The ground that Gasuke had been standing on suddenly started to crack down the middle and the syndicate leader went flying backwards, crashing into a wall.
Shakily, he rose to his feet, anger glinting in his eyes. "Meet your end," he hissed before breaking into a sudden run at Kenshin.
The former battousai jumped into the air and yelled, "RYUU SOU SEN!" His sword crashed into Gasuke who fell limply to the floor, completly knocked out. The other Yakuza who had witnessed the fighting fled when they saw their leader fall.
"Kenshin!" Yahiko ran up to the red haired samurai and hugged him around the legs. Kenshin smiled and ruffled the boy's hair, glad it was all over. His adopted son was now safe and.... A sticky substance was getting on Kenshin's white pants.
Kenshin looked down and saw that dark crimson stains were on Yahiko's clothes. "You need to see a doctor, that you do."
"No I don't Kenshin, it's only a few scratches."
Megumi and the others, who had just arrived, made her way over to the pair. "A few major scratches," she said. "You're coming back to the clinic."
And with that she picked the child up and marched out the door, ignoring his protests to put him down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Notes:
No cliffie, kind of a weird ending but... So it looks like Yahiko is going to be all right! ^^
Guess what! I got third place for a narrative I submitted to a lit fest! ^^ Yeah! Right now, my dad is cooking burgers on the grill and they smell awesome! yum! I'm going to go now... the burgers need me!
Be a kind reader and review, won't you? Thanx! ^^ See ya next time!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Japanese words used:
Minna - everyone
Niisan - I believe it means brother
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Reviewer's Comments:
~*~moondragon-1001~*~ Thank you, I'm feeling a ton better! ^^ Your friend broke her arm AND wrist too! Well tell her to get well soon from IcyPanther. Hope you liked the chappie! ^^
~*~HalownKougra~*~ Feeling better! ^^ Glad I can type again! Yeah keyboard! hehe...
~*~LishaChan~*~ Well, you're hunch was right! ^^ You shouldn't do that... Hope no viruses got on. See ya later!
~*~Invader Zim~*~ Thank you! Hope you review again!
~*~Lady Battousai~*~ Thanks a bunch!
~*~warhero35~*~ It looks like one of your guesses was correct. Two G's, I just realized that...
~*~coffeentoffee~*~ Yeah, Kenshin will fix it so it's all pretty again! ^^
Disclaimer:
Yahiko: *creeping out onto stage* I can feel it... Today is going to be my lucky day!
Sano: Why's that Yahiko?
Yahiko: Because my lucky star is shining!
Sano: *looks up at sky* There are no stars out Yahiko...
Yahiko: Baka! It's a figure of speech!
Sano: Oh.... Why is it your lucky day again?
Yahiko: *sigh* Because my star is shining and I'm going to be able to do the disclaimer!
Sano: Hold on a sec... YOU are doing the disclaimer? That's not fair!
Yahiko: Why?
Sano: You're star isn't out! But my lucky fishbone is!
Yahiko: So....
Sano: *really fast* IcyPanther does not own Rurouni Kenshin characters, ideas.... But I own my lucky fishbone! ^^
Yahiko: Hey! No fair!
Sano: Sorry kid, but my fishbone was here and your star wasn't. See ya!
Yahiko: *yelling after him* BUT MY LUCKY STAR IS THERE! I'll just have to be ready next time....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru's Wish
Chapter Nine: Old Times (And for the last chapter I meant Chapter Eight, not Six! ^.~)
'...' indicates thought
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From last time:
Yahiko smiled brightly, the tears disappearing. "Okay," he said cheerfully. A few minutes later, Yahiko regretted trying to get Suzume water. He had dumped the bucket down the well and heard it splash. But when he tried to pull it up, the water made the bucket too heavy and he couldn't lift it.
He had almost gotten the barely filled bucket up over the rim of the well when suddenly a hand picked him up by the back of his gi and lifted the little Myojin off the ground.
"Well well. What do we have here?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yahiko struggled vainly in his captor's hold, kicking his feet and twisting and turning each way. "Put me down right now! Put me down!" The men paid no attention to his cries and instead just stared at the little boy.
"Uh...Boss, is that Yahiko? Cuz is sure looks a lot like him..."
The spiky black haired boy turned his head, trying to get a good look at the man who was holding him. Tall redish brown hair, long narrow face, slitted eyes, it was.... But it couldn't be....
"Oh look, it seems he remembers me," laughed the man as Yahiko's eyes widened in recognition. "Looks a little scared doesn't he? Nothing like that ten year old.."
"But Boss, how did he get so tiny? He was ten last time we saw him..."
"What does it matter? I'll kill him either way. A little street brat like him doesn't deserve to live."
"KEN-" Yahiko cried out before a hand was clapped over his mouth.
"Darn kid certainly has the same loud mouth. Come, we'd better leave before those people in the resturant realize he's gone. And someone shut him up, will you?" he's giving me a headache.
"Right away Boss. Hold still Yahiko, this won't hurt a bit.."
The last thing the boy saw was the Akabeko, where his friends were, before a blow was landed to the back of his head and everything began to go black.
~
~
~
Twenty minutes later...
"Auntie Kaoru, I'm thirsty," whined Suzume. "Where is Yahiko?"
Sano reached for another fish, his dish duty done, for the time being. "The kid probably fell down the well," he laughed before ripping off a piece of the fish.
"Sanosuke!" Kaoru scolded, "That isn't funny! I'll go get him. Kenshin, make sure Sano doesn't eat the rest of the meal, I'd still like some when I get back and I'm sure Yahiko will too."
"Hai Kaoru-Dono, Sessha will make sure Sanosuke doesn't eat it all, that he will."
A few minutes later, Kaoru ran back into the Akabeko, her eyes wild with panic. "I couldn't find him! He might have actually fallen down the well, but he didn't answer when I called him. If he drowns, then it is your fault Sano," exclaimed Kaoru, pointing at the ex-gangster.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because you let him out of the kitchen in the first place! Now come on, we have to go save him before he actually does drown." The group raced out back towards the well, tension thick in the air. Everyone knew that if something had happened to Yahiko, they were all partly to blame. Who let a four year old out by a well by himself?
Sano jumped onto the slippery edge of the well and grasped the rope tightly between his hands. Then he carefully slid down and landed with a splash in the water. "All right everyone, I'm going under!"
He dove into the dark waters that the sun didn't penetrate. His eyes were open wide, yet he couldn't see anything except utter blackness. 'How the hell am I supposed to find the kid if I can't even see my hand in front of my face?'
After a few more seconds of vain searching, Sanosuke surfaced, his air supply spent. "No luck, I can't see anything!" he called up to the people on the ground level.
"Sanosuke, dive all the way down and use your hands to feel for him. Hurry!" said Kenshin.
"Gotcha!" Once again, he dived into the water and plunged right towards the bottom, his hands and feet feeling for any other substance other than the water. Nothing.
Popping back up on the surface, Sano said, "He's not down there! Can someone pull me back up?" The group hurriedly tugged on the rope until Sano gained enough leverage above the water to haul himself up.
"Where on Earth did he go?" exclaimed Tae. "Do you think he wandered off?"
Tsubame bit her nails nervously, glancing at the worried adults. Her four year old boyfriend was probably out on the streets of Tokyo with nothing to defend himself with. He could easily be attacked or taken away by some gang.
Kenshin stepped out in front of the group, having been elected the leader although nothing had been said. "Minna, spread out and look for him. We'll all meet back at the dojo at seven." Heads nodded around the group and they started to split up.
Ayame, Sano, and Misao went east. Kaoru, Kenji, Tae and Aoshi went west. Kenshin, Tsubame, Megumi, and Suzume went south. Since the dojo was north they would check that area on their way back at seven.
"YAHIKO!" called Kaoru. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Niisan!" wailed Kenji, scanning the road with his violet eyes.
"HEY! BRAT, COME OUT!" yelled Sano. "COME ON!"
At seven, three failed groups met at the dojo steps. "Didn't any of you see any sign of him?" asked Kaoru down heartedly. "Kids don't just disappear!"
"All we can do is wait here and hope he'll come home soon," said Megumi softly. "That's all we can do...."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yahiko awoke to a pounding headache he had gained from the blow to his head. Groaning, he sat up and took in his surroundings.
He was in a room, about the size of a small closet. When he sat Indian style, both of his knees brushed the edges of the room and his head brushed the ceiling. To top it all off, it was pitch black, no light at all, not even from around the door frame.
'Where am I? I guess it's almost a good thing I'm little, otherwise I wouldn't have fit in here...' The little samurai waited patiently for someone to let him out of his cramped prison. After all, the only thing he could do was wait and banging around would just waste energy.
Several hours later, the door opened, the bright light making Yahiko shield his eyes, so used to the dark, from the glare. A man reached in and pulled Yahiko up by the back of his gi. "Let's go Kid, the Boss wants to see ya."
He was carried into a huge room, that held the man who was waiting for him, the boss of the syndicate. "You," spat Yahiko after he was roughly thrown to the ground. "How did you ever manage to become the leader of the Shuei Yakuza?"
"Easy. We all could tell that our old boss wasn't up for the job, it should go to someone younger, stronger, better than him. And what better choice then me, Gasuke the Manslayer? And speaking of slaying, I think it's time a little brat died."
He advanced towards Yahiko who scrambled to his feet and edged backwards until he was backed up against a wall with no where to run. 'Why can't I be several feet taller and have a shinai with me? I wish Kenshin and Kaoru were here....'
~
~
~
Meanwhile at the dojo...
"Where the heck is he?" Kaoru was really worried. It was one thing if he was fifteen and had his shinai with him, but he was only four, didn't have a shinai with him, and was an easy target.
"Well," said Megumi offhandly, "I hope he didn't run into any drunks, they can be pretty nasty."
"Yeah! Remember the time Jou-Chan got into a fight with a bunch of drunk Yakuza thugs? It was priceless!" Sano fell off the steps laughing as Kaoru launched herself upon him, her goal to beat him to a bloody pulp.
Kenshin's head suddenly snapped up. "I know where he is! Hurry we haven't a moment to lose!"
Surprisingly enough, Yahiko was still alive, although it was due mostly to luck and height. Being so small, he often managed to avoid the full extent of Gasuke's asault. Even though he had some cuts, several which were semi-deep he was still standing.
"Damn you!" Gasuke shouted, as his sword plunged into the wall, right where Yahiko's head had been a minute before. "Hold still for a second!"
The little boy tumbled to the ground and rolled right, just being missed by the sword again. Forcing his weary body to stand, Yahiko raised his hands in a guard postion to try to stop Gasuke. He was just too tired, his body drained, to continue running and dodging the furious blows.
Yahiko closed his eyes, preparing himself for the blow that all too soon would end his short life. He heard pounding footsteps as Gasuke ran forward, the battle cry, and then the sound of steel hitting steel. Wait, that wasn't part of dying...
He cracked one of his brown eyes open and gave a small gasp of happiness. They had found him, his friends were here to rescue him! Kenshin had just thrust Gasuke's sword back and he now held it in front of him.
"YOU!" yelled Gasuke. "YOU ALWAYS GET IN MY WAY!" He lunged forward, sword ready to pierce into the red haired man. Kenshin blocked his attack and both prepared for another assault, but this time Kenshin took the offensive.
"HITEN MITSURGUI STYLE DOU RYUU SEN!" The ground that Gasuke had been standing on suddenly started to crack down the middle and the syndicate leader went flying backwards, crashing into a wall.
Shakily, he rose to his feet, anger glinting in his eyes. "Meet your end," he hissed before breaking into a sudden run at Kenshin.
The former battousai jumped into the air and yelled, "RYUU SOU SEN!" His sword crashed into Gasuke who fell limply to the floor, completly knocked out. The other Yakuza who had witnessed the fighting fled when they saw their leader fall.
"Kenshin!" Yahiko ran up to the red haired samurai and hugged him around the legs. Kenshin smiled and ruffled the boy's hair, glad it was all over. His adopted son was now safe and.... A sticky substance was getting on Kenshin's white pants.
Kenshin looked down and saw that dark crimson stains were on Yahiko's clothes. "You need to see a doctor, that you do."
"No I don't Kenshin, it's only a few scratches."
Megumi and the others, who had just arrived, made her way over to the pair. "A few major scratches," she said. "You're coming back to the clinic."
And with that she picked the child up and marched out the door, ignoring his protests to put him down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Notes:
No cliffie, kind of a weird ending but... So it looks like Yahiko is going to be all right! ^^
Guess what! I got third place for a narrative I submitted to a lit fest! ^^ Yeah! Right now, my dad is cooking burgers on the grill and they smell awesome! yum! I'm going to go now... the burgers need me!
Be a kind reader and review, won't you? Thanx! ^^ See ya next time!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Japanese words used:
Minna - everyone
Niisan - I believe it means brother
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Reviewer's Comments:
~*~moondragon-1001~*~ Thank you, I'm feeling a ton better! ^^ Your friend broke her arm AND wrist too! Well tell her to get well soon from IcyPanther. Hope you liked the chappie! ^^
~*~HalownKougra~*~ Feeling better! ^^ Glad I can type again! Yeah keyboard! hehe...
~*~LishaChan~*~ Well, you're hunch was right! ^^ You shouldn't do that... Hope no viruses got on. See ya later!
~*~Invader Zim~*~ Thank you! Hope you review again!
~*~Lady Battousai~*~ Thanks a bunch!
~*~warhero35~*~ It looks like one of your guesses was correct. Two G's, I just realized that...
~*~coffeentoffee~*~ Yeah, Kenshin will fix it so it's all pretty again! ^^