Chapter 7 – Kenshin's Sacrifice
Kenshin was still awake, even if he hadn't; Kenshin quickly picked up Suiso's presence getting closer to the group of seven. Kenshin stood without waking a single person. Suiso was a powerful foe and he wasn't going to put the people he cared about in anymore risk. He began to leave but paused when he came to the sleeping Kaoru. She seemed so peaceful that he couldn't help but watch her sleep. "Kenshin... I." She mumbled.
"Is she dreaming about me?" He thought.
"Don't leave... alone." She continued.
Kenshin couldn't stay any longer. He could feel Suiso coming closer. "I'm sorry Miss Kaoru but we won't be going back to Tokyo together after all." He whispered softly to the sleeping Kaoru. He took one more look at Kaoru then left, disappearing into the night.
Kenshin lead Suiso away from the sleeping party. He could feel the presence of other men around the area he guessed were part of Suiso's crew. Kenshin had hoped to be able to lead the Captain away from his friends then give Suiso the slip but Suiso tracked the ex- Hitokiri like Kenshin was an Elephant stomping his way through the brush. It seemed to Kenshin that his very breath told Suiso where he was even over such a long distance.
Kenshin soon became frustrated at not being able to lose the persistent Suiso. The wind swirled around Kenshin's feet and he knew Suiso was just toying with him. Kenshin still tried to lose the Captain but to no avail. As Suiso moved in closer the wind hindered Kenshin more and more.
Soon Kenshin could hear Suiso's footsteps behind him. Kenshin tried to quicken his pace but the wind began to blow and dirt flew into Kenshin's eyes. Kenshin covered his eyes with his arm and tried to keep going but the wind was able to go under and up his arm and dirt continued to fly into his eyes. Kenshin could hear Suiso laugh behind him.
Suiso was pleased with himself; he had known that Kenshin would leave his friends if he thought their lives were in danger. Now Kenshin was alone and there was no one around who would stop him this time. "One more." He thought as he sent another gust of wind at Kenshin.
Kenshin felt a cold wind run up his spine sending chills through his entire body. Kenshin knew he couldn't go any farther and turned ready to face Suiso. "If I can knock him unconscious before he begins the chant I can stop him." Kenshin thought to himself.
"So he's ready to face me now." He motioned to the men that were with him and they advanced.
When the men appeared in front of Kenshin he let out a disappointed sigh. He needed to find Suiso who he knew was already chanting because his hands and feet began to burn and glow. Kenshin charged at the men coming at him and unsheathed his Sakabato. He quickly made his way through the men making his way to Suiso who he found eyes closed chanting.
"Hiten Mis.." Kenshin began his attack but was stopped before he could use it. His arms and legs went against him yet again and he couldn't hold his Sakabato. It fell to the ground with a clang.
Suiso made a movement with his head and four men came forward with a large wooden circle. On the wood the circle began to form. Suiso smiled and finished the chant. "âï¯ï¦ï¡ï®ï®... NOW!" Suddenly Kenshin was dragged toward the circle and slammed into it. Kenshin let a small groan of pain escape him as the pain rushed through his body. Kenshin struggled to free himself to no avail. Suiso opened his eyes and let out a tired sigh. It was hard to call on so much power with just the single piece of ship he had. He turned to look at Kenshin. He could feel his body tingle at the thought that he had gotten another chance to make his name known.
The glint of the moon reflecting off Kenshin's dropped Sakabato caught his eye. Suiso walked over to it and held it up. "He's still using this?" He thought. "But why." He let out a soft snort and tossed the blade aside. He could care less. He walked back to Kenshin and looked into Kenshin's amber eyes. "Why." Suiso asked. "Why did you lead me away from your friends? Why did you sacrifice yourself?"
Kenshin remained silent; worried that his answer may put his friends in danger. Suiso frowned angry that Kenshin refused to answer him. He clenched his teeth and made a motion with his right hand. His men lifted the wood which held Kenshin and carried him away. Suiso watched them go and made his way toward Kenshin's sleeping friends.
The six slept peacefully unaware of the danger that stood near them. Suiso's eyes slowly panned over the sleeping bodies looking for his target. He stopped when he spotted Senko. He silently made his way to her but stopped when he walked past Kaoru. "Kenshin... I'll wait..." She mumbled still asleep. Suiso stopped and looked down at her. He had come here to kill the one Kenshin cared for the most but which was it. Senko or Kaoru?
He knew that Kenshin had risked his life to save Senko but this new girl seemed to also care for Kenshin. Suiso smiled as an idea crossed his mind. He would have Kenshin pick which would live and which would die unknowingly. Suiso left and went back to where he had tossed Kenshin's Sakabato. He flipped the blade over and cut open his hand. He stared at his hand as the blood slowly began to flow from the wound. When the blood had seeped over his hand a bit he smeared his blood over the handle and the blade of the Sakabato.
He found where the dirt had been pushed aside from where Kenshin had been dragged and placed the sword next to it where the group would be sure to find it. Satisfied he left.
Kaoru was running, running through the streets of Kyoto. Kenshin had told her she could come if she could keep up. Kenshin seemed to be getting smaller and smaller the further he went and she couldn't keep up. "Kenshin! Kenshin please wait for me!"
"Don't slow me down." Was his gruff reply.
Kaoru ran as fast as she could but soon Kenshin was gone. "Kenshin! Where are you!" She yelled as she ran down the streets." Suddenly there was a shriek and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Kaoru seemed drawn to the sound and ran down the alley it had come from.
She ran past a building and there stood a boy in a navy blue Haori. He stood over a man whose precious liquid was flowing rapidly from his body onto the street. The boy took a rag from his pocket and wiped the blood from his blade and turned his amber eyes on Kaoru. His glare sent chills through Kaoru's body. The wind blew making the boy's blood red hair dance. Kaoru tried to speak but all that she was able to whisper was "Kenshin."
Himura's eyes narrowed. "You've seen me." He raised his blade and Kaoru gasped.
"Kenshin it's me!" She screamed.
"It doesn't matter who you are. I can't let you go." Kenshin rushed toward Kaoru who tried to scream with no sound coming from her open mouth.
She sat up just before Kenshin's cold steel sliced open her skin. She was breathing hard and sweat rolled down her face. She wiped away the sweat and tears that had begun to form from her face then looked over the sleeping group. It was dark and it was hard for her to tell who was who so she counted the breathing bodies. Six, she came up with six. She counted again, still six. Someone was missing.
Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness and she could see the faces of the people sleeping near her. She looked them over. The small body belonged to Taku. The woman next to her was Maki. The two large bodies were Unmei and Senko's father who were snoring in unison. The other slender body was Senko. Where was Kenshin. She checked again still unable to find him. She rolled over and gently shook Maki awake. "Have you seen Kenshin?" She asked urgently.
Maki shook her head. "Is he missing?"
Kaoru nodded. "Kenshin?" She called out lightly hoping he was nearby. "Kenshin?" She called a little louder waking Senko.
"What's going on?"
"We can't find Kenshin." Maki told her and then joined Kaoru in calling Kenshin's name. Senko reached out her hand and violently shook Unmei awake knowing he would sleep through just about anything.
"Unmei! Unmei! Kenshin's gone." Unmei blinked awake not fully comprehending what was going on.
"What's going on?" Her father said annoyed at being awoken.
"Kenshin's gone." She told her father.
"Gone?" He rose to his feet. "KENSHIN!" His voice echoed far and woke up Taku. There was no answer from Kenshin.
"That idiot!" Unmei jumped to his feet. "Did he go off to face Suiso alone?!" Kaoru sucked in her breath at the thought. Quickly the six broke off into two groups of three to search for Kenshin.
Kaoru, Senko, and Unmei were the ones who found Kenshin's Sakabato. The dried blood eerily hid the reflection of the moon from the blade. "I don't understand." Kaoru cried as she touched the hilt. "Why would he..." she trailed off.
"He could be hurt." Unmei stated noting the blood on the handle. He didn't mention the fact that he could be dead as well.
Senko looked down at the two long tracks in the soft dirt. "He definitely faced Suiso." She whimpered. "Oh please let him be okay."
Kenshin was still awake, even if he hadn't; Kenshin quickly picked up Suiso's presence getting closer to the group of seven. Kenshin stood without waking a single person. Suiso was a powerful foe and he wasn't going to put the people he cared about in anymore risk. He began to leave but paused when he came to the sleeping Kaoru. She seemed so peaceful that he couldn't help but watch her sleep. "Kenshin... I." She mumbled.
"Is she dreaming about me?" He thought.
"Don't leave... alone." She continued.
Kenshin couldn't stay any longer. He could feel Suiso coming closer. "I'm sorry Miss Kaoru but we won't be going back to Tokyo together after all." He whispered softly to the sleeping Kaoru. He took one more look at Kaoru then left, disappearing into the night.
Kenshin lead Suiso away from the sleeping party. He could feel the presence of other men around the area he guessed were part of Suiso's crew. Kenshin had hoped to be able to lead the Captain away from his friends then give Suiso the slip but Suiso tracked the ex- Hitokiri like Kenshin was an Elephant stomping his way through the brush. It seemed to Kenshin that his very breath told Suiso where he was even over such a long distance.
Kenshin soon became frustrated at not being able to lose the persistent Suiso. The wind swirled around Kenshin's feet and he knew Suiso was just toying with him. Kenshin still tried to lose the Captain but to no avail. As Suiso moved in closer the wind hindered Kenshin more and more.
Soon Kenshin could hear Suiso's footsteps behind him. Kenshin tried to quicken his pace but the wind began to blow and dirt flew into Kenshin's eyes. Kenshin covered his eyes with his arm and tried to keep going but the wind was able to go under and up his arm and dirt continued to fly into his eyes. Kenshin could hear Suiso laugh behind him.
Suiso was pleased with himself; he had known that Kenshin would leave his friends if he thought their lives were in danger. Now Kenshin was alone and there was no one around who would stop him this time. "One more." He thought as he sent another gust of wind at Kenshin.
Kenshin felt a cold wind run up his spine sending chills through his entire body. Kenshin knew he couldn't go any farther and turned ready to face Suiso. "If I can knock him unconscious before he begins the chant I can stop him." Kenshin thought to himself.
"So he's ready to face me now." He motioned to the men that were with him and they advanced.
When the men appeared in front of Kenshin he let out a disappointed sigh. He needed to find Suiso who he knew was already chanting because his hands and feet began to burn and glow. Kenshin charged at the men coming at him and unsheathed his Sakabato. He quickly made his way through the men making his way to Suiso who he found eyes closed chanting.
"Hiten Mis.." Kenshin began his attack but was stopped before he could use it. His arms and legs went against him yet again and he couldn't hold his Sakabato. It fell to the ground with a clang.
Suiso made a movement with his head and four men came forward with a large wooden circle. On the wood the circle began to form. Suiso smiled and finished the chant. "âï¯ï¦ï¡ï®ï®... NOW!" Suddenly Kenshin was dragged toward the circle and slammed into it. Kenshin let a small groan of pain escape him as the pain rushed through his body. Kenshin struggled to free himself to no avail. Suiso opened his eyes and let out a tired sigh. It was hard to call on so much power with just the single piece of ship he had. He turned to look at Kenshin. He could feel his body tingle at the thought that he had gotten another chance to make his name known.
The glint of the moon reflecting off Kenshin's dropped Sakabato caught his eye. Suiso walked over to it and held it up. "He's still using this?" He thought. "But why." He let out a soft snort and tossed the blade aside. He could care less. He walked back to Kenshin and looked into Kenshin's amber eyes. "Why." Suiso asked. "Why did you lead me away from your friends? Why did you sacrifice yourself?"
Kenshin remained silent; worried that his answer may put his friends in danger. Suiso frowned angry that Kenshin refused to answer him. He clenched his teeth and made a motion with his right hand. His men lifted the wood which held Kenshin and carried him away. Suiso watched them go and made his way toward Kenshin's sleeping friends.
The six slept peacefully unaware of the danger that stood near them. Suiso's eyes slowly panned over the sleeping bodies looking for his target. He stopped when he spotted Senko. He silently made his way to her but stopped when he walked past Kaoru. "Kenshin... I'll wait..." She mumbled still asleep. Suiso stopped and looked down at her. He had come here to kill the one Kenshin cared for the most but which was it. Senko or Kaoru?
He knew that Kenshin had risked his life to save Senko but this new girl seemed to also care for Kenshin. Suiso smiled as an idea crossed his mind. He would have Kenshin pick which would live and which would die unknowingly. Suiso left and went back to where he had tossed Kenshin's Sakabato. He flipped the blade over and cut open his hand. He stared at his hand as the blood slowly began to flow from the wound. When the blood had seeped over his hand a bit he smeared his blood over the handle and the blade of the Sakabato.
He found where the dirt had been pushed aside from where Kenshin had been dragged and placed the sword next to it where the group would be sure to find it. Satisfied he left.
Kaoru was running, running through the streets of Kyoto. Kenshin had told her she could come if she could keep up. Kenshin seemed to be getting smaller and smaller the further he went and she couldn't keep up. "Kenshin! Kenshin please wait for me!"
"Don't slow me down." Was his gruff reply.
Kaoru ran as fast as she could but soon Kenshin was gone. "Kenshin! Where are you!" She yelled as she ran down the streets." Suddenly there was a shriek and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Kaoru seemed drawn to the sound and ran down the alley it had come from.
She ran past a building and there stood a boy in a navy blue Haori. He stood over a man whose precious liquid was flowing rapidly from his body onto the street. The boy took a rag from his pocket and wiped the blood from his blade and turned his amber eyes on Kaoru. His glare sent chills through Kaoru's body. The wind blew making the boy's blood red hair dance. Kaoru tried to speak but all that she was able to whisper was "Kenshin."
Himura's eyes narrowed. "You've seen me." He raised his blade and Kaoru gasped.
"Kenshin it's me!" She screamed.
"It doesn't matter who you are. I can't let you go." Kenshin rushed toward Kaoru who tried to scream with no sound coming from her open mouth.
She sat up just before Kenshin's cold steel sliced open her skin. She was breathing hard and sweat rolled down her face. She wiped away the sweat and tears that had begun to form from her face then looked over the sleeping group. It was dark and it was hard for her to tell who was who so she counted the breathing bodies. Six, she came up with six. She counted again, still six. Someone was missing.
Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness and she could see the faces of the people sleeping near her. She looked them over. The small body belonged to Taku. The woman next to her was Maki. The two large bodies were Unmei and Senko's father who were snoring in unison. The other slender body was Senko. Where was Kenshin. She checked again still unable to find him. She rolled over and gently shook Maki awake. "Have you seen Kenshin?" She asked urgently.
Maki shook her head. "Is he missing?"
Kaoru nodded. "Kenshin?" She called out lightly hoping he was nearby. "Kenshin?" She called a little louder waking Senko.
"What's going on?"
"We can't find Kenshin." Maki told her and then joined Kaoru in calling Kenshin's name. Senko reached out her hand and violently shook Unmei awake knowing he would sleep through just about anything.
"Unmei! Unmei! Kenshin's gone." Unmei blinked awake not fully comprehending what was going on.
"What's going on?" Her father said annoyed at being awoken.
"Kenshin's gone." She told her father.
"Gone?" He rose to his feet. "KENSHIN!" His voice echoed far and woke up Taku. There was no answer from Kenshin.
"That idiot!" Unmei jumped to his feet. "Did he go off to face Suiso alone?!" Kaoru sucked in her breath at the thought. Quickly the six broke off into two groups of three to search for Kenshin.
Kaoru, Senko, and Unmei were the ones who found Kenshin's Sakabato. The dried blood eerily hid the reflection of the moon from the blade. "I don't understand." Kaoru cried as she touched the hilt. "Why would he..." she trailed off.
"He could be hurt." Unmei stated noting the blood on the handle. He didn't mention the fact that he could be dead as well.
Senko looked down at the two long tracks in the soft dirt. "He definitely faced Suiso." She whimpered. "Oh please let him be okay."