Whispering Sunshine
Chapter 14
Confessions
Sunlight filtered softly through the paper-thin walls. Tiny dust particles danced elegant ballets in the rays of light. A sleeping figure with spiky black hair that stuck out all over the place snored openly, a slight line of drool hanging from his gaping mouth. The boy swatted subconsciously as a fly dared to buzz about his nose. Yawning, Yahiko sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. Those same dark brown orbs of mischief lighted happily upon his sole companion in the room.
Sachi's blankets lay all askew as she rolled over and mumbled something in her sleep. Her eyebrows furrowed and her feet moved wildly as if she was running. Yahiko had to suppress a laugh. He sighed happily, scooting over to beside the restless girl.
"Sachi..." He called quietly into her ear. He gently grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly. "Sachi..."
Lulled suddenly out of her dream Sachi sat upright in bed, gasping for air and gathering her surroundings. Her heart stopped beating so wildly in panic when she realized that she was safe in Yahiko's room. The dark haired boy chuckled slightly.
Sachi's face twisted up into an indignant pout and she playfully shoved the youth backwards.
"Hey!" He remarked as he flopped back into his own bed.
Sachi's eyes beamed as a radiant smile lit up her face. Yahiko laughed again as he straightened up his futon.
"You seem pretty energetic..." He smiled back at her. She nodded her head.
"Hey, you guys are finally up!" A loud scoffing laugh awakened them both to reality. Without a single word of warning Sanosuke swiped Sachi up into his strong arms and smiled heartily. "The kitsune is waitin' to get ya dressed. Afterwards we need to have a little talk, neh?"
Sachi's playful eyes become downcast. "I suppose...if we must." She consented.
"Hey! You can talk?!" Yahiko leapt up. "Holy cow, how come you didn't tell me?!"
Sachi smiled. "Because you never asked!" She spoke in a soft and sweet voice.
"Hmph." Yahiko pouted.
--
Kenshin stared long and hard into his cup of tea as if the answers he were searching for would appear out of the clear, hot liquid that sloshed about in the bottom of it. He sighed, seeing as no answer was magically popping up in his tea cup he finished off the glass and poured himself another.
"Are you ready?" A girlish figure in a bright yellow kimono stood in the doorway interrupting the silence of the clear morning. Worry filled the girl's usually smiling face, and Kaoru's happy eyes were dulled with seriousness.
"Yes. Is she?" The red haired rurouni set the teacup down with tender hands and hauled himself up. A black haired head nodded.
--
"Ouch!" Sachi winced as Megumi pulled the bandage on her face off.
"We need to let the wound air a bit so it can dry some. It's healing quite nicely." Megumi chided.
Sachi rubbed the red spot on her face where the bandage had been. Her delicate fingers carefully traced the newly forming scar that went down her face.
"Now, let me see your arm." Megumi began to loosen the wrap around her upper arm where the bullet wound was.
"Good morning, Megumi, Sachi." Kaoru nodded respectfully as she slid the door open and entered the room.
"Mornin'." Megumi didn't look from her place.
"Sachi, I...we need to talk." A certain ex-warrior followed by an ex-fighter- for-hire entered the room and took seats around the room.
Sachi's brilliant blue eyes searched from one face to another. Her heart once again stopped as she gazed into the pupils of the ferocious man killer.
"No moving!" Megumi tugged gently on her outstretched arm.
"Now, Sachi. As we can certainly see that you know a little of Kenshin's past, do you care to fill us in as to your past?" Sano put his head in his hands as he sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Well..." Sachi reached into the folds of her shirt and pulled out a little blue book that she had been hiding. "I can only tell you what I remember. I was very small when my life changed so much. Anything before that I assume is written in this book." She handed the dear old book over to Kenshin who sat across the closest to her.
He stared a little puzzled at her for a moment before opening the book and blowing dust off of its yellowish pages. He concentrated hard at the words on the page before closing it and handing it to Sanosuke. "Whose book is it?" He asked of Sachi.
The blonde girl sighed. "I believe that it is the diary of my father, but I cannot read any of it. Can you?"
"No." Kenshin consented. "It is of a foreign language. Where is your father originally from?"
"I don't remember. I vaguely remember moving to Japan when I was a young girl, but as to the place of my or my father's origin, I do not know." She tilted her head sadly.
"Hmmm..." Sano stared hard at the writing in the diary. "Beats me." He gave up and passed the book on to Kaoru.
"Well, then. Please, tell us what you do remember." Kaoru placed the book respectfully by her side without even glancing at its contents.
"Well..." Sachi thought for a while.
"My father was a merchant of some kind. We lived in a large mansion. My mother died from some unknown foreign disease shortly after we arrived in Japan. If I recall, there was some war going on at the time."
"It's all such a hard thing to remember, but there is one scene I will never forget. It was a dark and stormy night. There was much lightning. That night was my birthday, and me and my father were celebrating, and I had just tried on a new blue kimono that he had bought me when suddenly, in the house, in the same room as I, right in front of me, stood a short, boyish looking assassin with cold violet eyes and a scar on his cheek. He made some excuse for taking my father's life, but I did not hear it, or understand it. Then, as the red haired killer was above my father, ready to make the final strike, my father pleaded for my life."
"Then, in a flash of lightning, it was all over. My father lay dead in a pool of his own blood, the same blood that the killer wiped off of his deadly blade. I remember his vicious eyes staring me down, deep into my soul."
"That night I hid behind the sofa and cried myself to sleep. I must have missed it when the police came to take my father's body away. The next thing I knew I was waking up to find that it was nearly dark. I stood up, only to find that there were villains looting the house. I tried to sneak off, but they discovered me."
"Well, well, look what we have here." One said."
"Hmm...a little slave girl, perhaps?" The other smiled. And they cackled evilly as the dragged me off to their boss's headquarters. Since then I was forced to work for them. I didn't mind the work or the beatings, or even missing scarce meals because of something I did wrong! But every time one of those slimy, vile, men drug me to their bedroom I wanted to fight back, or scream and run away. Several times I did. But they always caught me and brought me back. And I was always severally punished."
"Soon it became to where I believe I never made a sound. I just did as they bid with my head down. Then one day I was out in the courtyard washing clothes when I noticed that the gate was swinging wide open, and no one was outside watching me. I took my chance and bolted. I would have completely got away if some of them hadn't had seen me in town."
"And so there they were, those lazy bums chasing me, throwing rocks at me when one thunked me in the back of the head. I believe it must have knocked me senseless. The next thing I knew I opened my eyes and couldn't see a thing! I was terribly frightened. Then, I heard a comforting voice and I felt a kind hand as my rescuer helped me. And, then, you know the rest."
Sachi stared around the room as her story set in.
"So...the red-haired assassin...Kenshin?" Sano tried to fill the gaps.
Sachi closed her eyes. "Forgive me, Kenshin-kun. I do not know whether or not the man that killed my father is you, and I am not blaming you either. It's just, that when I saw your face for the first time you bared such a haunting resemblance to the murderer in my memories that I was frightened of you. I am sorry for causing so much trouble for running away..."
"No, Sachi-chan. It is I who should beg of your forgiveness." Kenshin sighed. "I am the assassin you speak of. I too, remember that night. Now that you have brought it up I recall it clearly. Your father was wanted for being a double crosser by selling weapons to both sides of the warring factions. He was a German trader, Mr. Tasche was. I am sorry for the pain and suffering I have cause you." Kenshin bowed low before the surprised girl. "If there is anything that I may do to make it up to you...your wish is my command."
Sachi sat stunned for a moment. She hadn't quite expected this! Quietly she reached over and gently picked up her father's diary. She handed it to the rurouni with tears in her eyes. "Kenshin-kun, my wish is that you first do not blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't you; it was your leaders who ordered to have my father killed. There is no way you can undo the past, so now we must live in the present. And secondly, I ask as a friend, if it's possible for you to find someone who can translate this book." She placed the foreign object in front of the forgiven murderer.
"Sachi-chan..." Kenshin's violet eyes were moist with thankfulness as he sat up and took the book in hand. "I will do everything in my power to see that your father's diary will be translated so that you may read it."
Kaoru blinked a little after the transaction had happened. Wow! Was this really happening? What a small world we live in...she thought.
"Yowch!" Sachi jumped suddenly as Megumi applied a stingy cleaner to her arm wound. "What'd you do that for?!"
The doctor looked the girl straight in the eye and spoke with a dire seriousness in her voice. "The wound is infected!"
--
a/n: I will keep this short because I have other things I must do. First off, I thank all of ye kindly for the reviews. Secondly, I'm sorry that it took so long to update but a big dosage of writers block along with chores, lack of time, and mostly, not being able to get unto the Internet lead to the delay. I am so sorry! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Plz review!
Chapter 14
Confessions
Sunlight filtered softly through the paper-thin walls. Tiny dust particles danced elegant ballets in the rays of light. A sleeping figure with spiky black hair that stuck out all over the place snored openly, a slight line of drool hanging from his gaping mouth. The boy swatted subconsciously as a fly dared to buzz about his nose. Yawning, Yahiko sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. Those same dark brown orbs of mischief lighted happily upon his sole companion in the room.
Sachi's blankets lay all askew as she rolled over and mumbled something in her sleep. Her eyebrows furrowed and her feet moved wildly as if she was running. Yahiko had to suppress a laugh. He sighed happily, scooting over to beside the restless girl.
"Sachi..." He called quietly into her ear. He gently grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly. "Sachi..."
Lulled suddenly out of her dream Sachi sat upright in bed, gasping for air and gathering her surroundings. Her heart stopped beating so wildly in panic when she realized that she was safe in Yahiko's room. The dark haired boy chuckled slightly.
Sachi's face twisted up into an indignant pout and she playfully shoved the youth backwards.
"Hey!" He remarked as he flopped back into his own bed.
Sachi's eyes beamed as a radiant smile lit up her face. Yahiko laughed again as he straightened up his futon.
"You seem pretty energetic..." He smiled back at her. She nodded her head.
"Hey, you guys are finally up!" A loud scoffing laugh awakened them both to reality. Without a single word of warning Sanosuke swiped Sachi up into his strong arms and smiled heartily. "The kitsune is waitin' to get ya dressed. Afterwards we need to have a little talk, neh?"
Sachi's playful eyes become downcast. "I suppose...if we must." She consented.
"Hey! You can talk?!" Yahiko leapt up. "Holy cow, how come you didn't tell me?!"
Sachi smiled. "Because you never asked!" She spoke in a soft and sweet voice.
"Hmph." Yahiko pouted.
--
Kenshin stared long and hard into his cup of tea as if the answers he were searching for would appear out of the clear, hot liquid that sloshed about in the bottom of it. He sighed, seeing as no answer was magically popping up in his tea cup he finished off the glass and poured himself another.
"Are you ready?" A girlish figure in a bright yellow kimono stood in the doorway interrupting the silence of the clear morning. Worry filled the girl's usually smiling face, and Kaoru's happy eyes were dulled with seriousness.
"Yes. Is she?" The red haired rurouni set the teacup down with tender hands and hauled himself up. A black haired head nodded.
--
"Ouch!" Sachi winced as Megumi pulled the bandage on her face off.
"We need to let the wound air a bit so it can dry some. It's healing quite nicely." Megumi chided.
Sachi rubbed the red spot on her face where the bandage had been. Her delicate fingers carefully traced the newly forming scar that went down her face.
"Now, let me see your arm." Megumi began to loosen the wrap around her upper arm where the bullet wound was.
"Good morning, Megumi, Sachi." Kaoru nodded respectfully as she slid the door open and entered the room.
"Mornin'." Megumi didn't look from her place.
"Sachi, I...we need to talk." A certain ex-warrior followed by an ex-fighter- for-hire entered the room and took seats around the room.
Sachi's brilliant blue eyes searched from one face to another. Her heart once again stopped as she gazed into the pupils of the ferocious man killer.
"No moving!" Megumi tugged gently on her outstretched arm.
"Now, Sachi. As we can certainly see that you know a little of Kenshin's past, do you care to fill us in as to your past?" Sano put his head in his hands as he sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Well..." Sachi reached into the folds of her shirt and pulled out a little blue book that she had been hiding. "I can only tell you what I remember. I was very small when my life changed so much. Anything before that I assume is written in this book." She handed the dear old book over to Kenshin who sat across the closest to her.
He stared a little puzzled at her for a moment before opening the book and blowing dust off of its yellowish pages. He concentrated hard at the words on the page before closing it and handing it to Sanosuke. "Whose book is it?" He asked of Sachi.
The blonde girl sighed. "I believe that it is the diary of my father, but I cannot read any of it. Can you?"
"No." Kenshin consented. "It is of a foreign language. Where is your father originally from?"
"I don't remember. I vaguely remember moving to Japan when I was a young girl, but as to the place of my or my father's origin, I do not know." She tilted her head sadly.
"Hmmm..." Sano stared hard at the writing in the diary. "Beats me." He gave up and passed the book on to Kaoru.
"Well, then. Please, tell us what you do remember." Kaoru placed the book respectfully by her side without even glancing at its contents.
"Well..." Sachi thought for a while.
"My father was a merchant of some kind. We lived in a large mansion. My mother died from some unknown foreign disease shortly after we arrived in Japan. If I recall, there was some war going on at the time."
"It's all such a hard thing to remember, but there is one scene I will never forget. It was a dark and stormy night. There was much lightning. That night was my birthday, and me and my father were celebrating, and I had just tried on a new blue kimono that he had bought me when suddenly, in the house, in the same room as I, right in front of me, stood a short, boyish looking assassin with cold violet eyes and a scar on his cheek. He made some excuse for taking my father's life, but I did not hear it, or understand it. Then, as the red haired killer was above my father, ready to make the final strike, my father pleaded for my life."
"Then, in a flash of lightning, it was all over. My father lay dead in a pool of his own blood, the same blood that the killer wiped off of his deadly blade. I remember his vicious eyes staring me down, deep into my soul."
"That night I hid behind the sofa and cried myself to sleep. I must have missed it when the police came to take my father's body away. The next thing I knew I was waking up to find that it was nearly dark. I stood up, only to find that there were villains looting the house. I tried to sneak off, but they discovered me."
"Well, well, look what we have here." One said."
"Hmm...a little slave girl, perhaps?" The other smiled. And they cackled evilly as the dragged me off to their boss's headquarters. Since then I was forced to work for them. I didn't mind the work or the beatings, or even missing scarce meals because of something I did wrong! But every time one of those slimy, vile, men drug me to their bedroom I wanted to fight back, or scream and run away. Several times I did. But they always caught me and brought me back. And I was always severally punished."
"Soon it became to where I believe I never made a sound. I just did as they bid with my head down. Then one day I was out in the courtyard washing clothes when I noticed that the gate was swinging wide open, and no one was outside watching me. I took my chance and bolted. I would have completely got away if some of them hadn't had seen me in town."
"And so there they were, those lazy bums chasing me, throwing rocks at me when one thunked me in the back of the head. I believe it must have knocked me senseless. The next thing I knew I opened my eyes and couldn't see a thing! I was terribly frightened. Then, I heard a comforting voice and I felt a kind hand as my rescuer helped me. And, then, you know the rest."
Sachi stared around the room as her story set in.
"So...the red-haired assassin...Kenshin?" Sano tried to fill the gaps.
Sachi closed her eyes. "Forgive me, Kenshin-kun. I do not know whether or not the man that killed my father is you, and I am not blaming you either. It's just, that when I saw your face for the first time you bared such a haunting resemblance to the murderer in my memories that I was frightened of you. I am sorry for causing so much trouble for running away..."
"No, Sachi-chan. It is I who should beg of your forgiveness." Kenshin sighed. "I am the assassin you speak of. I too, remember that night. Now that you have brought it up I recall it clearly. Your father was wanted for being a double crosser by selling weapons to both sides of the warring factions. He was a German trader, Mr. Tasche was. I am sorry for the pain and suffering I have cause you." Kenshin bowed low before the surprised girl. "If there is anything that I may do to make it up to you...your wish is my command."
Sachi sat stunned for a moment. She hadn't quite expected this! Quietly she reached over and gently picked up her father's diary. She handed it to the rurouni with tears in her eyes. "Kenshin-kun, my wish is that you first do not blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't you; it was your leaders who ordered to have my father killed. There is no way you can undo the past, so now we must live in the present. And secondly, I ask as a friend, if it's possible for you to find someone who can translate this book." She placed the foreign object in front of the forgiven murderer.
"Sachi-chan..." Kenshin's violet eyes were moist with thankfulness as he sat up and took the book in hand. "I will do everything in my power to see that your father's diary will be translated so that you may read it."
Kaoru blinked a little after the transaction had happened. Wow! Was this really happening? What a small world we live in...she thought.
"Yowch!" Sachi jumped suddenly as Megumi applied a stingy cleaner to her arm wound. "What'd you do that for?!"
The doctor looked the girl straight in the eye and spoke with a dire seriousness in her voice. "The wound is infected!"
--
a/n: I will keep this short because I have other things I must do. First off, I thank all of ye kindly for the reviews. Secondly, I'm sorry that it took so long to update but a big dosage of writers block along with chores, lack of time, and mostly, not being able to get unto the Internet lead to the delay. I am so sorry! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Plz review!