Disclaimer: see previous chapters
Through the Minds of Manslayers by Cabel
Chapter 7: Uninvited Guest
That Morning...
After the initial panic over Kenshin's injuries settled, everyone had seated themselves in the dojo as Megumi was securing a bandage over Kenshin's midsection. As expected everyone had thoughtful questions...
"So what the hell happened!?!"
Unfortunately Sanosuke asked first.
"Sano, could be a little more sensitive?!" Karou yelled. "Are you sure your all right Kenshin? I'm just glad you're finally awake."
"Thank you but there's no need to worry, that there isn't," Kenshin said as he managed a smile. "You said that I was 'finally awake,' just how long was I asleep?"
"A couple hours."
"Odd, it felt like only a few minutes."
"I suppose that's how dreams work," Megumi added.
Karou continued. "You seemed okay most of the time up until about forty minutes ago. You started to breathe more rapidly and that's when we started trying to wake you up."
"So you set me on fire???" Kenshin asked showing a look of confusion.
"Actually they set you on fire." Karou said, pointing at Sanosuke and Yahiko, who were holding matches and an extinguished torch, which they were quick to discard.
"Sorry, but we got desperate." Sanosuke said in defense.
"We did everything possible." Yahiko added.
"We shook you; we yelled in your ear, we made loud noises..."
"Karou knocked you upside the head with her bokken."
'That would explain this migraine,' Kenshin thought as rubbed the back of his head. Karou hummed a tune as she hid her bokken behind her back, trying to look innocent. "We even made Karou sing, but she stopped when the dogs started howling." Yahiko said, only to be hit with the broadside of Karou's bokken.
"Although your methods were somewhat extreme, you had very good timing, that you did." Kenshin said, forcing a smile.
"Which brings me back to my original point...what the hell happened?" Sano said before being answered by a trio of fists.
"Krueger...happened." Kenshin let out with a sigh. "I met with our sudpected sleepstalker, he goes by the name Freddy Krueger."
"Ha, what kind of a name is that?" Yahiko said with a chuckle.
"The real question is not what his name is, but more what he is?"
"Then what is he?"
"I'm not sure; his appearance was human...loosely. But there was something more about him; I could see it in his eyes. Never before have I sensed a purer form of...evil, that is the only way I can describe him, that it is."
"He's really that bad"
"Yes, by some means he manipulates the dreams of others and uses them to his will."
"We already had that part figured out" BONK "OW!" Yahiko replied after Sanosuke gave him a quick tap on the head.
"What else were you able to find out?"
"Aside from his name, I'm afraid I couldn't find anything useful." Kenshin answered with a sigh.
"So once we're asleep there's no way to stop him" Karou said.
"It would seem that way, that it does. However, we do have one defense" Kenshin said.
"And what would that be."
"To stay awake." Keshin said with a small smile. The others didn't to share his enthusiasm.
"Brilliant, just stay awake or suffer a horrible death at the hands of a dream demon. Why didn't I think of that?" Yahiko said, making his sarcasm blatantly obvious.
"You don't really expect us to stay awake forever?" Sano said, suspecting that Kenshin finally took one bump too many to the head.
"No, but as long as there is someone there to insure that we stay awake." Kenshin said.
"Strength in numbers?" Megumi said, catching on to what Kenshin was planning.
"In a sense, at least until we can figure out a proper way to deal with Krueger. It seems that it's me he wants. However he has shown that he's willing to go through all of you in order to do so, that he has. So we should also have Dr. Gensai, Ayame, and Suzume come over so that we can watch over them as well, that we should."
"Yeah! We could make it into a party!!" Sano declared with a fist raised triumphantly.
"Even in impending danger, Sanosuke will jump at the chance for a free meal." Karou said, rolling her eyes.
"I suppose some things are universal." Megumi added, mimicking Karou's expression.
"Hey I'm just trying to turn a negative into a positive."
"As in you have more food while I have less money."
"Who said anything about you paying?!"
"I knew what you were implying you free-loader!"
"Personally I don't care who pays as long as Karou doesn't cook."
"If you don't care so much then WHY DON'T YOU GO OUT AND PAY FOR IT!!!" The last they saw of Yahiko that morning was his shape flying over the wall and off into the distance.
Later that night...
The party was underway, and everyone was making sure to have a good time. Everyone enjoyed there share of the food and drinks that were available. However, the true purpose of the party was to keep everyone awake, and it was taking its toll one the two youngest of the group, it was getting past their bedtime.
"But Uncle Ken we're tired," "Yeah Uncle Ken we're tired." Ayame and Suzume said before they let out a yawn.
"I know you are, but remember that we're all playing a game." Kenshin said in a sympathetic voice. "We're all going to see how long we can stay up."
"I know Uncle Ken but..." Ayame cut herself off as another yawn escaped.
"I know your sleepy, but guess what, whoever stays up the longest gets a prize."
"Really!" the girls said in unison as their faces lit up.
"Really, now why don't you two go play with your grandpa."
"Okay!!" the girls said before they walked off to join Dr. Gensai.
'That should keep them up a little longer' Kenshin thought, feeling relieved. Only to feel Megumi's arms get a firm grasp around his neck.
"Sir Ken, there's no need to play with the children all night. Not when you could have fun with a big girl like me." Megumi said in a flirtatious voice, making Kenshin blush several shades of red.
"I, I was only making sure that the children were safe, that I was." Kenshin quickly responded, tripping over his own words.
Everybody else in the room quickly took notice of the vein popping in Karous forehead, giving them the sudden urge to take a step back.
"Why Sir Ken, you're starting to look a little red, perhaps I should check your bandadge."
"There's really no need for that Ms. Megumi, I feel quite fine, that I do."
"There's no need to worry, after all, I am a doctor." Megumi chuckled as she started to tug on Kenshin's gi. However, she was quick to step aside to avoid the onslaught of an oncoming water bucket. Kenshin unfortunately wasn't able to avoid the bucket before it nailed him on the forehead.
"KENSHIN YOU JERK!!!"
"Oro, why me?" Kenshin mumbled; the bucket fitted like a hat on his head.
Megumi just stood there with a fake look of innocence on her face.
"Oh dear, such a barbaric girl. Not only does she attack an injured man, but she also wastes the water I was going to use to boil some more rice."
Fire now blazing in her eyes, Karou simply walked up to Kenshin, grabbed the bucket off his head, and threw it to Sanosuke.
"Go get some water from the well!"
"Why do I have to do it?"
"The party was your idea! The least you can do is contribute something!"
"Fine, whatever missy."
Sanosuke kept an irritated expression on his till he got to the door. When he slid it shut behind him, he allowed a smirk to appear on his face.
'Yeah the party was my idea, but she didn't mention that it was an idea that worked.' Sano thought to himself in a moment of self-admiration. Megumis flirting, Kenshins clumsiness, Karous outbursts, this is all stuff that would occur on any given day. No one would ever suspect that they were being threatened by a dream-stalking demon.
Sano sat down on the edge of the well. As he lowered the bucket in to refill it, he looked up at the night sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight, allowing any fortunate stargazer a chance to see the moon and the stars in all their beauty.
"It's a nice night." Sano thought out loud. He opened his mouth to let out a yawn but quickly cut himself off.
'Gotta stay awake, gotta stay awake' he thought as he gave himself a quick smack on the forehead. He retrieved the bucket and headed back to the door. He prepared himself to duck whatever projectile Karou might launch when he slid it open. However, instead of seeing the dojos residents enjoying the party (which was his idea,) he was blinded by an enormous cloud of steam that poured out the door as he opened it.
When the steam started to clear, the only thing that was visible to Sanosuke was red, as if the entire room had covered with the color of blood. As the image became clearer, Sano realized that it wasn't the dojo at all. Everywhere he looked, he saw pipes tracing along the walls and floor, connecting odd-looking metallic boxes, steam hissing out of the cracks like a snake. He looked among the rusted machinery, but he couldn't find any windows, and when he looked up he couldn't find the ceiling. There were multiple levels to the building; otherwise the walls seem to go on forever.
'I didn't fall asleep; I just took a wrong turn.' Sano convinced himself as he turned around, expecting to walk back out the door and to the well. Instead he turned and walked face first into a concrete wall.
"Dammit!"
Realizing that he had no other option, a frustrated Sanosuke started walking down the corridor that was ahead of him, hoping that he could find another way out. However, when he reached the end, he had to choose to go left or right. What proceeded was an annoying cycle of walk down the corridor, choose a direction to turn, which would lead to more intersections and an occasional dead end. It didn't take for Sano to realize that he wasn't getting anywhere at this rate.
"Shit! It's like a maze in here." Sano said to no one in particular.
Out of no where a high-pitched sound echoed throughout the building, causing Sano to turn around defensively. The sound rang out again, only it sounded closer this time.
"Who's there?"
This time the noise was closer still, and it was more understandable.
'Is that...laughter?'
No sooner than Sano thought that, a small ball rolled out from behind a corner, followed by two very recognizable little girls in white kimonos.
"Ayame? Suzume? What are you two doing here?"
"He brought us here." Ayame said, holding the ball.
"He?" Sano questioned.
"He plays with us..."
"He loves children..."
"Especially little girls." The girls responded before running back behind the corner from whence they came.
"Hey, wait up!" Sano yelled out as he went after them. He didn't go far as he was greeted by the sight of the girls, along with three other little girls with blonde hair. Ayame and Suzume were casually passing the ball back and Forth while the other three were jumping rope, singing some kind of nursery rhyme.
One, Two, Freddy's coming for you...
Three, Four, better lock your door...
Five, Six, grab your crucifix...
Seven, Eight, gonna stay up late... Nine, Ten, never sleep again.
As Sano's attention was focused on the children in front of them, he could feel heat starting to rise around his right hand. It became too much for Sano to endure, he looked down and realized the water in the bucket (yes, he's been holding the bucket the whole time) was boiling, making him drop the bucket with its contents spilling across the floor. A cloud of steam rose from the ground, making the children vanish into its vapors, with their song dying out with them.
There was a moment of silence before Sano's ears started ringing from the screeching sound of metal against metal. Out of the shadows Sano could see a form stepping towards him, dragging four claws against the surrounding machinery. The man pulled back his blades, keeping a short distance from Sanosuke, chuckling as he did so.
Sano stood there, watching Krueger wearily as he paced back and forth in front of him. After a few moments Sano finally spoke.
"Freddy Krueger, I presume."
Krueger gave a bow in response.
Sano let out a light laugh.
"I didn't think it was possible. I thought Kenshin was only exaggerating. But someone really can be that ugly."
Krueger was still smiling. "I'm glad to have lived up to your expectations, Sanosuke Sagara. Unfortunately, you on the other hand, are nothing but a disappointment."
"Is that so?"
Freddy was only allowed a second to respond before he saw an empty water bucket flying towards his face. By reflex he managed to catch it inches away from his face, just what Sano wanted. Splinters flew all over the place as a fist exploded through the bucket and made contact with the bridge of Kruegers nose. He stumbled back, and was nailed with a left hook. Freddy tried to retaliate, swinging his clawed hand forward, but was dodged as Sano delivered another blow to the midsection, follow by a straight right.
The punch sent Freddy sent flying back several feet, slamming straight into a wall. Sano slowly stalked his opponent, his face showing confidence. Krueger showed no movement.
"Aside from your head, that wasn't very hard at all. Do you really expect people to be afraid of you when you can't even put up a decent fight?" Sano said as he lifted Freddy up be the collar. Sano's victory was cut short as a hand shot up and grabbed him by the throat.
"You will be."
Meanwhile, at the party...
"KENSHIN YOU JERK!!!"
"Oro?"
...everything was just fine.
Karou was in the middle of another tantrum as Megumi mocked from a distance with her arms around Kenshin.
"How can you just sit there and let her flirt with you like that?!"
"I am only a victim, that I am."
"Oh come on Sir Ken, you know I'm better than that violent girl."
"What was that?!"
"You heard me."
"Aren't you going to say something Kenshin?!"
"Why me?"
"I swear, you're as bad as Sanosuke."
"Speaking of which, hasn't he been gone a while?" Yahiko interjected.
"You're right; he has been gone a long time."
"You don't think..." That was all that needed to be said as the four rushed quickly to the outside door, hoping that their friend was safe. But once they got there, they fought the urge to scream at the sight before them.
Sano was lying on the deck, his clothes torn to shreds, various cuts and gashes covering his entire body, a pool of blood slowly forming around him.
"He's still alive! Get him inside, quick!" Megumi yelled as her instincts kicked in. The four prepared to carry Sano's body into the dojo. But before they could lift him, Sano's hand reached out and grabbed Kenshin by the wrist. Kenshin watched as the Sano turned to face him, and spoke in a voice that wasn't his own.
"You want him and get him, bitch!" was all that escaped his mouth before four gashes appeared across his face, as if cut by invisible blades. Everyone jumped back in shock as Sano's body now lay before them, unconscious and barely alive.
Finally, I'm back!!
After a long, long, looong, delay, this story is finally underway again.
My most sincere apologies, it's been one thing after another here. First, I had finals, then my brother moved out, add that to forty hours a week at work, along with me being lazy to begin with. Not only that, but apparently I went to the wrong site, next thing I knew, I had spyware and the coolsearch virus on my computer. Fortunately, I was able to take care of it.
I originally had a more detailed fight scene planned out between Freddy and Sano, but in my rush to finish this chapter, I figured it would be better to leave it to the imagination. It may also be another long time before my next update; I leave for Europe tomorrow night and won't be back till the end of the month. But please be patient, I hope to have this finished by the end of the year with maybe fifteen chapters at least.
Till next time, this is Cabel