Chapter Nineteen: More Evidence

Running, she was running through the dark. The night was completely dark yet she made her way through the streets easy enough. Her feet guiding her by the practice of running down these same streets her whole 18 years of life.

She ran faster until her lungs felt as if they were on fire with each painful breath that she took. Her knees falling underneath her as she clutched the blown out lamp street above her.

Hot burning tears rolled down her cheeks as she shook her head. It couldn't be real. None of it was real; she begged to the lords that none of it happened.

Closing her eyes, she snapped them back open when she saw red. Red. Blood. The liquid of life that had been taken away from the one that she loved the most. She kept her eyes open, she would rather greet the darkness then the red that would forever stain her.

Why me? What have I done to you? Questioned the teenager as she rocked back and forth and looked into the night sky.

A white twinkle shined out amidst the blackness that covered her very soul.

Fresh tears came to her eyes as the memory came back to her. She had seen the white pearl in the sky, had smiled at it, welcomed its presence. But then... All was lost as the deafening roar filled the sky.

*BAM*

~*~*~*~*~*~

Misao sat up in bed abruptly in a cold sweat. She began to breathe uncontrollably as she calmed herself to take in one breath at a time.

"Get a grip on yourself Misao. It's only a memory. Just a bad dream," she told herself out loud as she wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked herself back and forth.

She looked at her digital clock that flashed 2:00 A.M.. Suddenly as if someone had stabbed her with a knife, her stomach began to become tighter. Something was wrong, something was really wrong. She could feel it.

Shakily lifting her covers she walked over to her cell phone and automatically dialed in her cousin's cell phone number.

She slowly rocked herself back and forth as she waited for Megumi to answer.

There was only silence.

She must be busy. Thought Misao as she waited longer.

Her stomach began to turn as each painful ring came and wasn't answered. Suddenly Misao smiled when Megumi's voice came, but frowned when she realized that it was the voice mail message.

Something wrong. Thought Misao as she grabbed her coat and car keys before rushing out of the apartment building.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kaoru woke up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes when her alarm clock went off to tell her that it was 6:30 in the morning.

Yawning she got up and changed before getting breakfast ready.

Grabbing a box of cereal she grabbed the remote and flipped on the television that was on the table.

She flipped to the news in hopes of finding more about what happened last night, she wasn't sure what time it was when the gun shot was heard, she too lost in the moment.

Kaoru blushed as she remembered and quickly went on with her search. Finding a news channel she waited for the early morning anchor to come back on with the major events that happened in Tokyo.

"Last night at exactly 8:55 P.M. a gun shot was heard. A man named Akira Kiyosato was stabbed and had a shot to the head. Investigators have yet to tell us what happened, but doctors have confirmed that the man lost half his blood at 8:45 that night of the annual Sakura Ball. They have said that the body was found right outside in an alley," said the anchorwoman.

"I heard that the man had cotton parts in his mouth not allowing the man to scream. I do believe that whoever killed this man did a great job in trying to keep it covered," said the anchorman as he ruffled through his papers.

"What do you mean?" asked the anchorwoman, it seemed like everyone was fixated on the man now.

"Sanosuke Sagara of M.R.S. was found near Mr. Kiyosato with a dagger in hand," said the anchorman.

Kaoru glared at the television before quickly changing it.

The nerve of some people. They don't even know all the facts yet. Thought Kaoru angrily. Poor Sano.

Finding another news channel she began to eat her frosted flakes as she watched the screen that seemed to be like a recent car accident.

A women in a yellow coat was hosting the scene.

"Last night at around 1:00 A.M. a woman in her early ages was in a car accident just near the hospital. The woman has lost one quart of blood and was rushed back to the hospital again. Her cousin had come down and notified the police that the young woman was Megumi Takani. Misao Takani, the victim's cousin, had gone along with Megumi to the hospital. We have yet to find out how the cab had been hit. Witnesses are still being gathered," said the woman.

Kaoru's eyes went wide as she nearly tipped the table over when she stood up. Megumi, this can't be. Thought Kaoru as she quickly turned off the television and grabbed her coat.

Getting her keys she rushed out of her room when she bumped into something hard yet soft, looking up she blushed when she saw Kenshin who seemed pale.

"Did you see the news?" asked Kenshin in a quick breath, it seemed like he had been running.

"Yes, Megumi got into an accident," said Kaoru.

"Not that. Those bastards think that Sano did it just because he was there. I know Sano, he wouldn't do something like that. They don't even have enough evidence against him, and now they want to take him to an American style court. Takeda was interviewed on the radio and he said that the American way will make it fair so that Sano will have a harsher punishment if found guilty," said Kenshin; his blood was boiling with anger.

Kaoru froze and looked at him shock.

"I know what Takeda's planning," said Kaoru as he mind registered everything that she had learned.

Kenshin looked at her curiously for a moment.

"The American way gives Sano and Takeda a fair trial. That means that if Sano is found guilty, then that'll prove that Sano is a killer and they'll most like give him a punishment that money can't get him out of," said Kaoru. The more she thought about it, the more sense that it made. If Sano is convicted then that would give M.R.S. a bad name and it would most likely bring the corporation down and bring Takeda's up.

"There's still not enough evidence to convict him," said Kenshin trying to get his friend out of the mess.

Kaoru looked down the halls before pulling Kenshin into her room.

"We need to talk," said Kaoru before shutting the door behind her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Misao rushed beside Megumi's bed stretch as they entered the hospital. She held her hand as they rushed her to the ER to try and save her.

"Miss, you'll have to go now," said a nurse when they reached the ER's entrance.

Reluctantly Misao let go as she watched the stroller move through the two white doors.

Misao fell back as she waited in the halls for her cousin, she could feel herself at the tender age of 18 again.

~*~*~*~*~

The room was white, everything was white. Doctors in white outfits and masks rushed in and out as they raced passed her to the victim on the bed that was loosing her only connection to life.

She saw the very substance flow out of her as the doctors tried to bring her back to reality.

Salty spheres fell down her cheek as she stared at the body.

Red. That color that haunted her dropped to the floor drenching it with its evil; staining the pure white with its dark colors of crimson. It was leaking out, dropping one sphere at a time to the ground before everything stopped.

There was no sound as the doctors fell silent, only the beeping and then buzz of the monitor was heard.

Rushing over to the body that was being zipped into the black bag, the girl began to cry on the female's lifeless body. Her eyes stared at the vacant ones before shutting them with one hand.

Tears of sadness, sorrow, grief, and anger all spilled out of her eyes.

Why did you leave me? You promised you wouldn't leave me. Why did you break your promise? Why did you leave me behind? Asked the girl as the doctors pried her away from the body.

"Momma!" yelled the girl as the body was moved out of the ER..

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Misao held her arms to herself as she waited for the doctors to come out. Tears filled her eyes again. She didn't know what to do. It was like that hurtful night all over again.

What do I tell Grandpa Genzai? What about Suzume? Who's going to take care of her if Megumi leaves? No, don't think like that. Megumi is strong, she'll pull through. Scolded Misao, to herself. She had to have hope, and for right now that wasn't enough.

She wrapped her arms around herself as she looked down the white and quiet halls. A shiver went down her spine. She hated the ER, something always bad happened here.

Her eyes fell close as she remembered every incident that she was in that caused her to end up in the ER.

Suddenly the doors to the room opened. Misao quickly stood and noticed the doctor at once.

"Dr. Katsu! How's my cousin?" asked Misao.

The doctor merely took off his gloves and mask first before facing her seriously.

"She has leukemia as we both know. She's lost a lot of blood; one and one half a quart. Because of her diagnoses, she's going to be in a coma for a long time. From her state we're not sure if she'll be able to continue. I'm sorry, there's nothing more that I can do. The rest is up to her and her will to live," said Katsu with a frown before a nurse called him over.

Misao stared at him in her spot shocked, before she fell to her knees. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists as hot tears rolled down her eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean talk?" asked Kenshin once Kaoru had paced back and forth in her apartment for the fifth time since they had entered and fell in silence.

He was seated in a chair by the table as Kaoru moved around before her bed biting her thumb nail, an old habit that she had when she was thinking too hard or nervous.

"I've worked with Takeda for two years," began Kaoru as she froze and looked at Kenshin who looked at her expectantly for more information.

Taking in a deep breath, she told him, "Takeda is smarter than he looks. The man had went to Harvard as well, and had some of the top grades. He'll find a way to convict Sano, and from all that I've heard there are three ways that he can do so, and use it as evidence. Being lawyers we think alike in some odd and twisted way, we all do.

"Let's go over the facts. Sano has blood of Akira Kiyosato on his suit, that if using the correct way to lure the jury to believe Sano had gotten the blood from Akira, is one evidence," Said Kaoru.

"But the blood was only on his knees and shoes. He had been stepping in the blood from his distance and had dropped to his knees. He has witnesses," said Kenshin standing.

"You don't get it Kenshin! This is not all over witnesses, it's if you can persuade the jury that the defendant is guilty or not. Unless we have a witness that saw the action take place, there is no real witness that can notify those blood stains. It was too dark to see if the blood was there before or after the time Akira died," said Kaoru as she looked into Kenshin's burning depths.

"Are you trying to reason to me that Sano did it?" asked Kenshin looking at her suspiciously.

"No! Of course not, Sano is like a brother to me. I'm stating the facts," said Kaoru appalled that Kenshin would even think such a thing.

Nodding Kenshin sat back down.

"Another is the very fact that Sano was the only one in the alley at that time. We were one of the first ones to arrive at the scene before Tomoe and Takeda came over," said Kaoru.

Kenshin clenched his fists angrily together.

"The last piece that Kanryu can use, that I know of so far, is that Sano had a dagger in his hand at the time and everyone there saw as clear as day. No one saw if the dagger had blood on it before it dropped into the Akira's blood. So even if it didn't, there's no way to prove that Sano hadn't used it before on Akira. The jury will see the dagger and see blood of Akira Kiyosato on it. That's another point against Sano," said Kaoru as she sat down on the edge of her bed and shut her eyes.

"Then what can we use to defend Sano?" asked Kenshin as he looked to her for the answers.

Kaoru smiled weakly at that.

"There was a gun shot at 8:55 P.M., and Akira had died at 8:45 P.M. that night. Meaning that Sano, if he were the killer, had to have had a gun in his hands not a dagger. Another, is the very fact that you can't get through the security of the Sakura Ball without getting checked for weapons and Sano had indeed passed the inspection. The last evidence was that Sano was in shock, but there's no way to prove that to the jury. So we're going to have to get the last evidence from Sano so that we can at least stand a chance against Takeda," said Kaoru as she stood.

Kenshin nodded before he opened the door so they could leave.

"Wait! I want to go to the hospital first! Megumi was in a car accident," said Kaoru as she finally remembered.

Kenshin nodded before adding, "We can go to the city jail and ask Sano what happened that night."

Kaoru smiled before walking out; there was hope after all. Maybe this time it'll be different. Thought Kaoru as determination sparkled in her sapphire orbs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Her legs felt weak as she entered the white room; her breathing became deep as she heard every intake of her own breath. She slowly held the wall as she entered the room at which her cousin was placed in.

As she saw Megumi's midnight terraces neatly placed behind her head and her breathing slower than ever, she felt the burning tears return to her eyes. She forced herself to remain strong as she took a step forward. With each step she felt stronger as she managed to get off the wall for support and walk over to the unmoving body that only lifted and fell when the machine helped it to breathe.

"Megumi," whispered Misao as she touched the glass that imprisoned her cousin's body, making the person inside look like a glass doll that wasn't meant to be touched.

For a few minutes only the movements of the machines were heard as Misao stood before her childhood friend and watched her breathe, letting her know that her cousin was still alive. A smile crossed her features as she noticed that even in this state she still looked like a fox; a precious fox that was kept in display so the cruel world couldn't touch it.

"You better hang in there Megumi. What will grandpa say, huh? Suzume's started school, and she needs her older sister to help her with her school work. You've got to pull through, we all need you," said Misao; trying separately to get her to open her eyes or stir.

"Wake up Megumi! Please wake up," said Misao as tears filled her eyes as she slid to the ground in tears. "Please don't leave me," begged Misao as she pulled her knees to her chest as she began to sob. She'd never felt so alone before. She always had someone to go to, but now the one person that had shared all her pain was going to leave her.

Misao shook the thought from her head. Megumi was too strong and stubborn to die now, she wasn't going to leave. But she couldn't stop but feel the pain in her heart every time she looked at Megumi in this state.

Suddenly a pair of comforting arms encircled her small form. She looked up as the person rocked her and clung to the being that held as she sobbed in Kaoru's shoulder.

"It's all right Misao, it's going to be ok. Megumi wouldn't want to see you like this, please don't cry," said Kaoru soothingly as she rubbed Misao's back in comfort.

"I don't want her to go," sobbed Misao as she hugged Kaoru tighter as if she were her lifeline.

"Me either, but for now we must hold onto our hope," said Kaoru as she pulled her back and smiled down at her encouragingly.

Misao nodded and wiped her tears away with the back of my hand.

"You can come with us to see Sano if you want," said Kenshin from the shadows; startling the 24-year-old.

Misao looked at Megumi and nodded as Kaoru helped her to stand.

"I don't know if I can stay here without crying anymore. I need a bit of fresh air anyways, the hospital smell always makes me dizzy," said Misao as she walked on out ahead after looked back at Megumi one last time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The prison was a dark and shadowed place. Its walls were filthy, the stench foul, and the condition unbearable. Not a single place was not didn't or marked on. It was a place that one didn't like going, let alone stay at.

Kaoru and Misao stayed close as they walked along the corridors, Kenshin walking calmly ahead. You'd have thought he would have been disgusted from the way things were to his status of living. But instead he walked on as if it were the normal everyday thing for him.

They walked into a room where an officer waited with Sano on the other side of a glass frame.

The normal happy Sano looked a bit out of it, it seemed as if he had just seen a ghost. But he smiled in hope as he saw them.

"Sano," said Kaoru with a smile as she sat down on one of the seats before his glass.

"Hey Missy, Kenshin," said Sano as he nodded to his old friend who returned the gesture.

Misao looked at Sano and sat down in another chair that was apart from the group. She didn't really know him well, and she felt a bit out of place. Though she had enough on her mind to think about as the three talked.

"Can you get me out of here?" asked Sano through the little hole so that they could communicate.

"They should let you go because they have yet to call you to trial, or at least set up a date. Though we can't get you out because Takeda has already talked to the judge about you being a threat to society," said Kaoru grimly.

"What? That bastard! He just wants Akira's business money," hissed Sano angrily.

"We know, but we can't do anything about it. The judge won't give you a bail," said Kenshin, just as mad.

"The creep," said Sano furiously.

"Listen Sano, we only have so much time on this. Tell me what you did that night," said Kaoru.

"Let's see. I was with Magdaria before she left with Tae. Then I met up with Megumi who asked what time it was and I answered her that it was 8:30. After that I left to smoke, and I got two done before I heard a cry. I ran toward it and saw a man in all black over somebody's body. There was a blade on the ground and walked over suspiciously. The guy turned around and grinned under this ski mask before quickly drawing out a gun. I attacked the man first so he couldn't get me, but then while I was moving the man took out another dagger and stabbed me in the knee. He shot the body which I learned was Akira and then ran off while I was down," said Sano as he closed his eyes and tried to remember last night.

"That would mean that Akira was still alive after he was stabbed," said Kenshin as he realized it.

Kaoru suddenly smiled brightly.

"I think I there's a way to prove that you are innocent Sano," said Kaoru with a grin.

The other two listened it.

"It may be a few pieces of evidence, but it'll be enough to get you off the hook," said Kaoru smiling from ear to ear.

Sano and Kenshin quickly gathered together closely as Kaoru began to explain.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Don't you guys just love cliff hangers?