Chapter 9 – The Dawn Of A New Day
Light was beginning to come up banishing the darkness and they still couldn't find Kenshin. Unmei wiped his brow. He had snuck on to just about every ship in the harbor and none of them looked like it was occupied by Suiso and his men. He began to wish he wasn't alone. What was he suppose to do when he found Suiso. He also wondered if Suiso was even still at the dock.
Suiso yawned, he hadn't gotten much sleep. He couldn't sleep anyway so he decided to see if any shops were open so he could get some medicine. He had wrapped his arm in a sling the night before.
Unmei saw someone in the next boat disembark. Unmei ducked behind some barrels and waited for the man to pass. It was Suiso accompanied by four men each armed with a sword. Unmei dug his fingernails into his legs to keep himself from jumping about and attacking Suiso right now. Unmei resisted knowing it would be futile if he attacked Suiso now. Unmei waited awhile after Suiso left and went to go tell the others.
Senko hung her head from exhaustion and disappointment there was still no sign of Kenshin. She watched her feet for awhile when Kaoru gave her a shake. Senko looked up and saw Suiso walking toward them. Kaoru grabbed Senko's arm and darted into an alleyway. "Did you see his arm?" Kaoru whispered to Senko.
Senko nodded. "Do you think Kenshin did it?" Kaoru didn't move as Suiso passed them. Senko looked to Kaoru after Suiso had passed and saw how mad she was. "Let's follow him." Kaoru nodded. Together they peered out from their hiding place and saw that Suiso had stopped in front of a doctor's office.
"Open up!" Suiso yelled. No answer came from inside the building. "I'm in need of Medicine." Still no answer. Suiso's smile faltered if only he had his full power he could just blow the place down. "I have a man with a cut on his head. I need to dress it!" From inside the door was opened and a young man came out.
"I'm sorry." The man said. He was dressed sloppily; he had been in a hurry when he got dressed. "Please come in and I will dress the wound." The man looked the men with Suiso over. "Which one has the head wound?"
"He's not here." Suiso said with a smile. "But you can look at my arm." Suiso pushed past the man who had been standing in the doorway and entered the building. He was followed closely by his men.
Senko and Kaoru straightened together and gave each other a determined look. "We have to tell the others." Senko said and Kaoru agreed. "You can run faster than me. You go get the others and I will follow Suiso."
Kaoru was surprised by this. "I won't let you stay here alone!"
"We have to tell the others! Kaoru go! I'll be fine!" She hissed. Kaoru didn't want to leave Senko alone but she knew there was no way to change her mind. Kaoru fled as fast as she could to get the others.
Unmei found Maki and the others fairly easy. "Suiso's still here! Dad we have to board the ship and find Kenshin." He told his family. They were amazed. "Maki go home and take Taku with you. Try to find the girls and tell them that we know where Suiso is." Maki nodded and Unmei and his father ran off to board the ship before Suiso returned.
Senko watched as Suiso came out of the building carrying a bag. He was saying something to his men. Senko couldn't hear what he was saying but she could tell that he was giving them instructions.
"We're being watched." Suiso said with a laugh. "I want you to go around and sneak up behind her. You two stick with me." Suiso smiled. Senko had saved him the trouble of finding her.
Kaoru ran as fast as her legs would go and found Maki and Taku alone. "Maki we found... where..." Was all she could get out in-between breaths.
"Kaoru where is Senko? Unmei found Suiso."
"We did too!" Kaoru took a few more breaths. "Senko is following him!"
"You left her alone!"
"We needed help!"
"Unmei and his father are trying to board Suiso's ship to look for Kenshin." Kaoru looked wide-eyed at Maki. "We have to get Senko out of there!"
"No. You go home with Taku. I'll go after Senko!" With that Kaoru ran back to where she had left Senko.
Kenshin opened his eyes. It was still dark. Daylight must have broken by now hadn't it? How long had it been? Kenshin tried to remember what day it had been but he couldn't remember. He could hear a drumming in his ear and it was driving him insane. He tried to sit up. It was a slow process and he felt his head swim as he moved. He leaned against the wall and sat still letting his head catch up with his body.
Kenshin closed his eyes. With his eyes closed he could hear something besides the pounding in his head. He could hear many voices shouting. Something was happening up above him. He opened his eyes something very big was happening.
Unmei and his father forced their way onto the ship. The crew members were so surprised by the sudden attack that some forgot that they had swords. The two strong men punched their way through the stunned crew looking for their friend. "KENSHIN!" Unmei yelled.
It was soft and faint but he heard it. Unmei had called his name. Now Unmei was putting himself at risk because of him. Kenshin pushed himself up the wall and got to his feet. Kenshin swayed. He felt like his head weighed a ton on his neck. Kenshin worked on trying to get his hands free. The rope was tight but he knew he could get out of it.
Kaoru ran back to the alleyway she had last seen Senko in. She was gone. Kaoru looked for any sign as to show which way Senko had gone. "What if." Kaoru whispered and ran toward the dock.
Suiso could hear a commotion coming from his ship. He found it hard to believe that Kenshin could be the problem but he was the Battòsai after all. Suiso turned to his men. "Hurry up!" He and two of his men broke off in a run all the men had small scraps on their faces and the other two men seemed to be carrying something heavy.
Kenshin rubbed his wrists. "I'll never get use to that." He sighed. He quickly and violently shook one of his hands until it snapped. Kenshin still felt lightheaded and his head was still bleeding but he had to get out of this room.
Kenshin heard noises coming from outside the door. "We need some help on deck!" A voice called.
"But the Captain told me to guard this guy!" Another voice said.
"That guy is out of it so get your arss up here!" Kenshin heard a set of footsteps run away. Then he heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. The door began to open and a man stuck his head into the room. He gave a shout as Kenshin's fist came sailing toward his face.
Kenshin struck the man in-between the eyes and they both fell to the ground. Not the style Kenshin was use to fighting with but he saw it had gotten the job done as he picked his tired body off the unconscious man. Kenshin reached to the man's side and took his sword from him. "This will help." He said as he stood up and went to retrieve the rope that had bound his hands. Kenshin quickly tied the sword and sheath together. He tried to pull the two apart to make sure it was secure and then headed out of the room and too the deck ignoring the pain coursing through his body.
Men scattered the floor of the deck. Unmei and his father were tiring but they stood ready to take down more men with their fists. Unmei charged, screaming, first followed by his father. Dodging swords and trying to land a hit. Unmei was about to hit a man when he heard his father yell. He turned and saw his dad on the ground with a man standing over him with a raised blade. "Father!"
The man lowered his blade and Unmei could feel his stomach flip as there was a loud clang. Kenshin stood between the attacker and Unmei's father. Kenshin gave a yell and pushed the man back. The man fell back and Kenshin offered his hand to Unmei's father. "Are you alright?"
"Kenshin! You're alive!" The man looked Kenshin over and took his hand and jumped to his feet. "Am I alright?! What the hell happened to you?!"
"I'm alright."
"Your head is bleeding!" There was a yell as more attackers charged at the two. He and Kenshin fought them off.
Unmei called out to the two of them. "Kenshin! What... what... are you okay!"
"I'm fine!" Kenshin dodged a blade that was swung at him.
"Your head is bleeding."
"I KNOW MY HEAD IS BLEEDING!" He yelled as he fought off the attacker. The man fell and so did Kenshin. He fell to a knee and he couldn't see straight. His head was spinning he wasn't sure how long he could go on. A figure loomed over him ready to strike.
Kaoru got on board and saw the brawl that Unmei and his father had started. She scanned the fighters and there, not too far from her, she saw something that was maroon. "Kenshin!" She yelled concerned seeing him on his knee and a man standing over him. She ran faster then she ever thought she could to Kenshin.
Kenshin looked up and tried to focus on the man in front of him but there seemed to be six of him. Suddenly from out of nowhere six Kaorus appeared and they all attacked the six men at the same time.
Kaoru hit the man in the throat and the man fell back. She looked to Kenshin. "Miss Kaoru." He said a little dazed. She looked into his eyes which kept circling. She knelt down next to him and held his cheeks in her hands.
"Kenshin." He looked at her and tried to keep his eyes still but they were half closed. "Are you okay?" Tears streamed down her face.
"I know my head is bleeding." He blinked and Kaoru became a steady image in front of him. He reached up his hand and touched her cheek. "Thank-you Miss Kaoru." He smiled and stood up. Kaoru smiled back at him and helped him stand.
"That's quite enough!" Suiso's voice echoed through the whole ship. His arm was in a sling and his face was scratched up but he was smiling. "So Battòsai you've gotten loose." He gave a chuckle. "Can't wait to start cleaning the deck?" His smile widened and he snapped his fingers. A man climbed aboard the ship and then turned around he held out his hands and a limp Senko was passed up to him.
"Senko!" Her friends called out in unison. Senko twitched, she was still alive.
"During these past eight years Battòsai I've been trying to come up with a way to break you. I think I've come up with a way." Suiso pulled his blade from its sheath and it glimmered in the rising sun. He put his hand on Senko's face and softly rubbed it trying to wake her up. "Time to wake up." He said to her in a singsong voice and Senko began to stir. "What I've come up with is to take away that which you hold most dear."
"Suiso don't you dare harm her!" Kenshin shouted.
Suiso looked at his blade and played with the reflection shining off it. He aimed it into Kenshin's eyes, Kenshin blinked annoyed. "I said the person you hold MOST dear Battòsai." Suiso paused and moved the light onto Kaoru's face. "I meant her." Suiso's smile became so wide that his teeth could be seen.
Kenshin moved his hand in front of Kaoru. If Suiso wanted to harm Kaoru he would have to kill him first. Suiso laughed. "Oh Battòsai! You should see the look on your face!" Senko blinked her eyes open.
Unmei was quietly making his way to his sister. Everyone's eyes locked intently on either Suiso or Kenshin making it easy for him to move closer.
"But then," Suiso continued after he had finished laughing "I thought to myself. It would be more useful to me if I kept her around." He made a motion to Kaoru. Senko started to squirm her self free from the man's grasp and he set her on her feet. "So instead I think I shall set an example." Suiso turned to Senko and grabbed her face. "I want you to know that this will happen to everyone you care about until I break you." He said calmly and straightened.
Suiso raised his blade and Kenshin understood. "Suiso!" Kenshin yelled as he charged at Suiso who had already thrust his blade at Senko. Senko didn't even have time to scream. She closed her eyes and felt something push into her side. It hurt a little then she noticed that she was being hugged and a warm, shaking breath was blowing in her face.
Senko opened her eyes and stared at her brother's face. Tears rolled down her face. "Unmei!"
Unmei cringed in pain but he smiled for his sister. "I told you I'd protect you." He said quietly. Senko shook her head unable to believe that this was happening. It was a nightmare, it had to be.
Suiso's smile had faltered the boy wasn't who he had aimed for. Then he heard Kenshin's worried shouts as he ran up from behind him. Suiso pulled his blade free and all of Unmei's weight fell on Senko.
Senko's knees buckled and she slid down under her brother's weight. Her side screamed from where Suiso's blade had gone all the way through Unmei to her but she didn't care. She hardly even noticed that both Kenshin and her father were by her side laying Unmei on his back off of her. "Set sail!" She heard Suiso's voice but she didn't think it could be real.
Kenshin pushed his hands on Unmei's wound. Blood still leaked out of it and stained Unmei's white shirt. Unmei cringed as his father took over for Kenshin. "Let me do that." He told Kenshin as he pushed him aside; eyes filled with tears. He looked at his son. "You gotta be strong."
Unmei looked up at the sky as a sudden breeze shuffled his hair. "Tell Maki I love her." He smiled. "If I can't do it."
Kenshin looked into Unmei's face as it scrunched in pain. "Why?" Kenshin asked. "Why is it everyone I get close to ends up hurt?" Kenshin looked up at Suiso who had a smug smile on his face.
Suiso caught the ex- Hitokiri's glare. "What's wrong Battòsai? The girl is still alive. Be glad." Kenshin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why don't you put the boy out of his misery?" Suiso said pointing at the sword Kenshin had 'borrowed.' Kenshin glared at him and jumped at Suiso with a yell.
Suiso was surprised by Kenshin's sudden burst of energy his smile didn't even falter as Kenshin knocked him to the ground. Senko saw Suiso fall and jumped to her feet. She ran over to Suiso and began to scratch at his face like she had done when they had attacked her earlier. "How dare you! How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed at Suiso as he put his hands up to protect his face.
Kenshin looked up and saw that the land was getting rapidly smaller. "We got to get Unmei to land!" He told Unmei's father. He nodded and picked up his son. "We'll have to swim for it!"
Suiso pushed Senko off of him. "Stop them!" He yelled as Senko threw herself back onto him and punched his jaw. Kenshin grabbed Senko's arm and the group ran to the back of the ship.
Kaoru looked to Kenshin who was breathing hard. She was afraid he wouldn't have the strength to make it to shore. The five of them reached the edge of the ship where plenty of the crew were waiting for them. "Get over the side I'll clear a path." Kenshin called out as he charged at the nearest sailor.
Kaoru, Senko, and Senko's father caring Unmei reached the edge. Kaoru watched as Unmei and his dad disappeared over the side. Soon after there was a loud splash; the girls exchanged a nervous look and were about to jump when a gust of wind blew them back. Kaoru felt pressure on her wrists as she was lifted to her feet by the man that had grabbed her. She looked back at the rail where Unmei and his dad had jumped from and saw them bobbing in the water as if waiting for the others to come. They seemed so small already. Kaoru heard a shot from Suiso that took her attention from the two in the water and she looked to her left. Kaoru's heart fell to her stomach when she saw that Kenshin had fallen limp on the ground.
Light was beginning to come up banishing the darkness and they still couldn't find Kenshin. Unmei wiped his brow. He had snuck on to just about every ship in the harbor and none of them looked like it was occupied by Suiso and his men. He began to wish he wasn't alone. What was he suppose to do when he found Suiso. He also wondered if Suiso was even still at the dock.
Suiso yawned, he hadn't gotten much sleep. He couldn't sleep anyway so he decided to see if any shops were open so he could get some medicine. He had wrapped his arm in a sling the night before.
Unmei saw someone in the next boat disembark. Unmei ducked behind some barrels and waited for the man to pass. It was Suiso accompanied by four men each armed with a sword. Unmei dug his fingernails into his legs to keep himself from jumping about and attacking Suiso right now. Unmei resisted knowing it would be futile if he attacked Suiso now. Unmei waited awhile after Suiso left and went to go tell the others.
Senko hung her head from exhaustion and disappointment there was still no sign of Kenshin. She watched her feet for awhile when Kaoru gave her a shake. Senko looked up and saw Suiso walking toward them. Kaoru grabbed Senko's arm and darted into an alleyway. "Did you see his arm?" Kaoru whispered to Senko.
Senko nodded. "Do you think Kenshin did it?" Kaoru didn't move as Suiso passed them. Senko looked to Kaoru after Suiso had passed and saw how mad she was. "Let's follow him." Kaoru nodded. Together they peered out from their hiding place and saw that Suiso had stopped in front of a doctor's office.
"Open up!" Suiso yelled. No answer came from inside the building. "I'm in need of Medicine." Still no answer. Suiso's smile faltered if only he had his full power he could just blow the place down. "I have a man with a cut on his head. I need to dress it!" From inside the door was opened and a young man came out.
"I'm sorry." The man said. He was dressed sloppily; he had been in a hurry when he got dressed. "Please come in and I will dress the wound." The man looked the men with Suiso over. "Which one has the head wound?"
"He's not here." Suiso said with a smile. "But you can look at my arm." Suiso pushed past the man who had been standing in the doorway and entered the building. He was followed closely by his men.
Senko and Kaoru straightened together and gave each other a determined look. "We have to tell the others." Senko said and Kaoru agreed. "You can run faster than me. You go get the others and I will follow Suiso."
Kaoru was surprised by this. "I won't let you stay here alone!"
"We have to tell the others! Kaoru go! I'll be fine!" She hissed. Kaoru didn't want to leave Senko alone but she knew there was no way to change her mind. Kaoru fled as fast as she could to get the others.
Unmei found Maki and the others fairly easy. "Suiso's still here! Dad we have to board the ship and find Kenshin." He told his family. They were amazed. "Maki go home and take Taku with you. Try to find the girls and tell them that we know where Suiso is." Maki nodded and Unmei and his father ran off to board the ship before Suiso returned.
Senko watched as Suiso came out of the building carrying a bag. He was saying something to his men. Senko couldn't hear what he was saying but she could tell that he was giving them instructions.
"We're being watched." Suiso said with a laugh. "I want you to go around and sneak up behind her. You two stick with me." Suiso smiled. Senko had saved him the trouble of finding her.
Kaoru ran as fast as her legs would go and found Maki and Taku alone. "Maki we found... where..." Was all she could get out in-between breaths.
"Kaoru where is Senko? Unmei found Suiso."
"We did too!" Kaoru took a few more breaths. "Senko is following him!"
"You left her alone!"
"We needed help!"
"Unmei and his father are trying to board Suiso's ship to look for Kenshin." Kaoru looked wide-eyed at Maki. "We have to get Senko out of there!"
"No. You go home with Taku. I'll go after Senko!" With that Kaoru ran back to where she had left Senko.
Kenshin opened his eyes. It was still dark. Daylight must have broken by now hadn't it? How long had it been? Kenshin tried to remember what day it had been but he couldn't remember. He could hear a drumming in his ear and it was driving him insane. He tried to sit up. It was a slow process and he felt his head swim as he moved. He leaned against the wall and sat still letting his head catch up with his body.
Kenshin closed his eyes. With his eyes closed he could hear something besides the pounding in his head. He could hear many voices shouting. Something was happening up above him. He opened his eyes something very big was happening.
Unmei and his father forced their way onto the ship. The crew members were so surprised by the sudden attack that some forgot that they had swords. The two strong men punched their way through the stunned crew looking for their friend. "KENSHIN!" Unmei yelled.
It was soft and faint but he heard it. Unmei had called his name. Now Unmei was putting himself at risk because of him. Kenshin pushed himself up the wall and got to his feet. Kenshin swayed. He felt like his head weighed a ton on his neck. Kenshin worked on trying to get his hands free. The rope was tight but he knew he could get out of it.
Kaoru ran back to the alleyway she had last seen Senko in. She was gone. Kaoru looked for any sign as to show which way Senko had gone. "What if." Kaoru whispered and ran toward the dock.
Suiso could hear a commotion coming from his ship. He found it hard to believe that Kenshin could be the problem but he was the Battòsai after all. Suiso turned to his men. "Hurry up!" He and two of his men broke off in a run all the men had small scraps on their faces and the other two men seemed to be carrying something heavy.
Kenshin rubbed his wrists. "I'll never get use to that." He sighed. He quickly and violently shook one of his hands until it snapped. Kenshin still felt lightheaded and his head was still bleeding but he had to get out of this room.
Kenshin heard noises coming from outside the door. "We need some help on deck!" A voice called.
"But the Captain told me to guard this guy!" Another voice said.
"That guy is out of it so get your arss up here!" Kenshin heard a set of footsteps run away. Then he heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. The door began to open and a man stuck his head into the room. He gave a shout as Kenshin's fist came sailing toward his face.
Kenshin struck the man in-between the eyes and they both fell to the ground. Not the style Kenshin was use to fighting with but he saw it had gotten the job done as he picked his tired body off the unconscious man. Kenshin reached to the man's side and took his sword from him. "This will help." He said as he stood up and went to retrieve the rope that had bound his hands. Kenshin quickly tied the sword and sheath together. He tried to pull the two apart to make sure it was secure and then headed out of the room and too the deck ignoring the pain coursing through his body.
Men scattered the floor of the deck. Unmei and his father were tiring but they stood ready to take down more men with their fists. Unmei charged, screaming, first followed by his father. Dodging swords and trying to land a hit. Unmei was about to hit a man when he heard his father yell. He turned and saw his dad on the ground with a man standing over him with a raised blade. "Father!"
The man lowered his blade and Unmei could feel his stomach flip as there was a loud clang. Kenshin stood between the attacker and Unmei's father. Kenshin gave a yell and pushed the man back. The man fell back and Kenshin offered his hand to Unmei's father. "Are you alright?"
"Kenshin! You're alive!" The man looked Kenshin over and took his hand and jumped to his feet. "Am I alright?! What the hell happened to you?!"
"I'm alright."
"Your head is bleeding!" There was a yell as more attackers charged at the two. He and Kenshin fought them off.
Unmei called out to the two of them. "Kenshin! What... what... are you okay!"
"I'm fine!" Kenshin dodged a blade that was swung at him.
"Your head is bleeding."
"I KNOW MY HEAD IS BLEEDING!" He yelled as he fought off the attacker. The man fell and so did Kenshin. He fell to a knee and he couldn't see straight. His head was spinning he wasn't sure how long he could go on. A figure loomed over him ready to strike.
Kaoru got on board and saw the brawl that Unmei and his father had started. She scanned the fighters and there, not too far from her, she saw something that was maroon. "Kenshin!" She yelled concerned seeing him on his knee and a man standing over him. She ran faster then she ever thought she could to Kenshin.
Kenshin looked up and tried to focus on the man in front of him but there seemed to be six of him. Suddenly from out of nowhere six Kaorus appeared and they all attacked the six men at the same time.
Kaoru hit the man in the throat and the man fell back. She looked to Kenshin. "Miss Kaoru." He said a little dazed. She looked into his eyes which kept circling. She knelt down next to him and held his cheeks in her hands.
"Kenshin." He looked at her and tried to keep his eyes still but they were half closed. "Are you okay?" Tears streamed down her face.
"I know my head is bleeding." He blinked and Kaoru became a steady image in front of him. He reached up his hand and touched her cheek. "Thank-you Miss Kaoru." He smiled and stood up. Kaoru smiled back at him and helped him stand.
"That's quite enough!" Suiso's voice echoed through the whole ship. His arm was in a sling and his face was scratched up but he was smiling. "So Battòsai you've gotten loose." He gave a chuckle. "Can't wait to start cleaning the deck?" His smile widened and he snapped his fingers. A man climbed aboard the ship and then turned around he held out his hands and a limp Senko was passed up to him.
"Senko!" Her friends called out in unison. Senko twitched, she was still alive.
"During these past eight years Battòsai I've been trying to come up with a way to break you. I think I've come up with a way." Suiso pulled his blade from its sheath and it glimmered in the rising sun. He put his hand on Senko's face and softly rubbed it trying to wake her up. "Time to wake up." He said to her in a singsong voice and Senko began to stir. "What I've come up with is to take away that which you hold most dear."
"Suiso don't you dare harm her!" Kenshin shouted.
Suiso looked at his blade and played with the reflection shining off it. He aimed it into Kenshin's eyes, Kenshin blinked annoyed. "I said the person you hold MOST dear Battòsai." Suiso paused and moved the light onto Kaoru's face. "I meant her." Suiso's smile became so wide that his teeth could be seen.
Kenshin moved his hand in front of Kaoru. If Suiso wanted to harm Kaoru he would have to kill him first. Suiso laughed. "Oh Battòsai! You should see the look on your face!" Senko blinked her eyes open.
Unmei was quietly making his way to his sister. Everyone's eyes locked intently on either Suiso or Kenshin making it easy for him to move closer.
"But then," Suiso continued after he had finished laughing "I thought to myself. It would be more useful to me if I kept her around." He made a motion to Kaoru. Senko started to squirm her self free from the man's grasp and he set her on her feet. "So instead I think I shall set an example." Suiso turned to Senko and grabbed her face. "I want you to know that this will happen to everyone you care about until I break you." He said calmly and straightened.
Suiso raised his blade and Kenshin understood. "Suiso!" Kenshin yelled as he charged at Suiso who had already thrust his blade at Senko. Senko didn't even have time to scream. She closed her eyes and felt something push into her side. It hurt a little then she noticed that she was being hugged and a warm, shaking breath was blowing in her face.
Senko opened her eyes and stared at her brother's face. Tears rolled down her face. "Unmei!"
Unmei cringed in pain but he smiled for his sister. "I told you I'd protect you." He said quietly. Senko shook her head unable to believe that this was happening. It was a nightmare, it had to be.
Suiso's smile had faltered the boy wasn't who he had aimed for. Then he heard Kenshin's worried shouts as he ran up from behind him. Suiso pulled his blade free and all of Unmei's weight fell on Senko.
Senko's knees buckled and she slid down under her brother's weight. Her side screamed from where Suiso's blade had gone all the way through Unmei to her but she didn't care. She hardly even noticed that both Kenshin and her father were by her side laying Unmei on his back off of her. "Set sail!" She heard Suiso's voice but she didn't think it could be real.
Kenshin pushed his hands on Unmei's wound. Blood still leaked out of it and stained Unmei's white shirt. Unmei cringed as his father took over for Kenshin. "Let me do that." He told Kenshin as he pushed him aside; eyes filled with tears. He looked at his son. "You gotta be strong."
Unmei looked up at the sky as a sudden breeze shuffled his hair. "Tell Maki I love her." He smiled. "If I can't do it."
Kenshin looked into Unmei's face as it scrunched in pain. "Why?" Kenshin asked. "Why is it everyone I get close to ends up hurt?" Kenshin looked up at Suiso who had a smug smile on his face.
Suiso caught the ex- Hitokiri's glare. "What's wrong Battòsai? The girl is still alive. Be glad." Kenshin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why don't you put the boy out of his misery?" Suiso said pointing at the sword Kenshin had 'borrowed.' Kenshin glared at him and jumped at Suiso with a yell.
Suiso was surprised by Kenshin's sudden burst of energy his smile didn't even falter as Kenshin knocked him to the ground. Senko saw Suiso fall and jumped to her feet. She ran over to Suiso and began to scratch at his face like she had done when they had attacked her earlier. "How dare you! How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed at Suiso as he put his hands up to protect his face.
Kenshin looked up and saw that the land was getting rapidly smaller. "We got to get Unmei to land!" He told Unmei's father. He nodded and picked up his son. "We'll have to swim for it!"
Suiso pushed Senko off of him. "Stop them!" He yelled as Senko threw herself back onto him and punched his jaw. Kenshin grabbed Senko's arm and the group ran to the back of the ship.
Kaoru looked to Kenshin who was breathing hard. She was afraid he wouldn't have the strength to make it to shore. The five of them reached the edge of the ship where plenty of the crew were waiting for them. "Get over the side I'll clear a path." Kenshin called out as he charged at the nearest sailor.
Kaoru, Senko, and Senko's father caring Unmei reached the edge. Kaoru watched as Unmei and his dad disappeared over the side. Soon after there was a loud splash; the girls exchanged a nervous look and were about to jump when a gust of wind blew them back. Kaoru felt pressure on her wrists as she was lifted to her feet by the man that had grabbed her. She looked back at the rail where Unmei and his dad had jumped from and saw them bobbing in the water as if waiting for the others to come. They seemed so small already. Kaoru heard a shot from Suiso that took her attention from the two in the water and she looked to her left. Kaoru's heart fell to her stomach when she saw that Kenshin had fallen limp on the ground.