A/N: This is my plea… NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS DON'T STOP READING! I would say more but I don't want to give away anything.
Chapter 13 – Suiso Tries To Break Kenshin
Kenshin stared down at the uniform in his hand. "Kenshin is Taku okay." Kenshin looked up at Maki who was shaking.
"I don't know."
"What does this mean?!" She screamed grabbing the uniform and shaking it. "Where is my son?!" Megumi came running. "Tell me Kenshin! Where is my son?!"
"Suiso…" Kenshin began but Maki pushed past him not wanting to hear anymore. "You can't go after him." Kenshin said as she passed Megumi.
Megumi grabbed Maki's arm. "He would just kill you."
Maki shook herself free of Megumi's grasp. "Like he could do anything else to me!" She cried. "My husband is lying in his death bed. He's taken my son. He could have killed my son." She wiped a tear from her eye. "What would you do?!" Megumi stood speechless knowing she would do the same thing. "What am I suppose… to…" Maki cried he shoulders heaving.
Kenshin stared hard at the puddle that was forming on the floor. All this pain. All this suffering. Everything, everything was because of him. Even if he never killed again he was still hurting everyone he cared for. Everyone who cared for him. Everyone he loved. "I'll bring him back." He said softly and left without looking back at Maki.
Kenshin was almost to the door when Megumi snapped out of her trance and went after him. "What are you going to do Kenshin?" She yelled at him as he opened the door.
He stood in the doorway awhile not saying anything. "I don't know." With that he shut the door behind him.
Megumi threw the door open. "Kenshin wait!" She called after him but there was no stopping him. Megumi wanted to follow him but she knew she would just get in the way so she ran in the opposite direction. Toward Kyoto.
Kenshin stormed toward the dock. How could he have let this happen? He cursed himself bitterly. He had gotten so upset at Suiso as he washed the blood from his Sakabato he had never felt any hostile presence sneak up on the house. "If Taku is harmed in anyway I'll never forgive myself." He thought when he could see the ship forming in the distance.
Suiso was waiting for Kenshin as he watched him head toward the ship. He snorted when he saw that Kenshin wasn't wearing the Haori but he shrugged it off. He would get Kenshin in the uniform sooner or later. Suiso also noted that Kenshin had found his Sakabato which made Suiso a little nervous. He wanted Kenshin unarmed. Of course that is why he had another one of his crew get the boy because he guessed Kenshin would return armed.
Kenshin looked up at the ship and saw Suiso watching him. Kenshin climbed aboard and didn't waste anytime. "Where is Taku?"
Suiso smiled. "Shouldn't you have him?" Kenshin glared at Suiso. "So how's the boy's father?"
"Where is Taku?"
"Do you really want to know Battòsai?" Suiso said his smile widening. Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "He's dead." Kenshin's mouth opened slightly. Taku couldn't have been too much older then Suzume. "You seemed surprised. If you had just done as you were told that boy would be alive."
Kenshin couldn't speak even if he hadn't killed Taku with his own hands the boy was dead because of him. "You killed him?" Kenshin said not wanting to believe.
Suiso smiled this is what he wanted. "Do you want to see him? I tied him to a sack of rocks and threw him overboard." He pointed to his left. "Right over that rail." He added with a smirk.
Kenshin's body shook he felt very cold. He turned an amber eye on Suiso. "YOU!" Kenshin put his hand on his blade but was then blown back by a gust of wind. Kenshin jumped up and charged again. Suiso was surprised and just barely gathered enough to blow Kenshin back. Kenshin kept his balance and charged again at Suiso.
Suiso yelled and a swirl of air rushed around him before flying straight at Kenshin. Kenshin felt the invisible rocks pelt him but he ignored the pain and ran straight at Suiso. Suiso was speechless as Kenshin rushed toward him. Not knowing what else to do Suiso snapped his fingers.
Kenshin unsheathed his Sakabato and in a blinding light almost struck Suiso until he heard a gasp. Kenshin stopped his attack and turned around. There stood a man holding Kaoru with a sword to her throat. "Miss Kaoru!" Kenshin yelled. He wanted to run to her but his hands and feet began to burn making his attention go back to Suiso.
Suiso was speaking quickly and had his eyes shut. "??????????" Kenshin's eyes went wide as the circle appeared. "????????now!" Kenshin was dragged back and slammed into the floor.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru screamed out.
Suiso was a bit shaken, he had expected Kenshin to react when he received the news that the boy was dead but he hadn't expected this much of a reaction. Although he hadn't expected it he had prepared for it and he was thankful. He gave the man that held Kaoru a wave and the man disappeared taking Kaoru with him. Suiso walked up to Kenshin and whispered into his ear. "Think Battòsai all of this could have been avoided. I know that your friend is alive but he is on death's door. Your lover and your friend are being held against their will and now a little boy is dead. All because of you." Suiso made sure to say the last sentence slowly. "I've found out a little about you Battòsai. I know about Shishio. I know who Hiko is. I even know about that grave in Kyoto. I've been watching you very closely recently. I think I even know who lies asleep under that headstone." Kenshin's muscles tightened. "A name I said on the night I watched my ship burn. Tomoe."
"Suiso." Kenshin clenched his teeth.
"Everything is your fault. If you would just stop resisting then nobody else will be hurt. You want to protect their happiness don't you?" Suiso had no clue how deep those simple words hit Kenshin.
Kenshin stopped his struggles and just stared not seeing what he was looking at. He could hear the younger version of himself saying "I will protect your happiness." Then he remembered the words he had read in a simple journal. "On a street in Kyoto he became a man never to return." Because of him Unmei and Maki had lost their happiness.
Kenshin felt numb and cold as the thought sunk deeper and deeper into his mind. Suiso could see that something he said was eating at Kenshin. Suiso watched as Kenshin slowly blinked showing him eyes that Suiso had never seen before. They were a dark lavender instead of the bright carefree ones that Suiso had seen many times before. These eyes seemed tired, defeated. Suiso smiled.
Everything seemed blurred to Kenshin that he hardly remembered anything. The spell had been removed soon after and Kenshin had been led back to the barracks. This time he was simply placed in a cell and left alone. The darkness of the room was unbearable. In the shadows Kenshin could see ghosts dressed in bloody Shisengumi uniforms. Kenshin clasped his hands over his ears and tried to ignore their screams.
When Megumi returned so suddenly and out of breath everyone knew something was wrong. "Megumi why are you back so soon?" Sano asked looking Megumi over carefully making sure she wasn't hurt.
"I found Kenshin!" She said in-between breaths.
"You found Kenshin?" Aoshi repeated calmly entering the room.
"Lord Aoshi." Misao said breathlessly happy to see him.
Megumi nodded. "Kaoru is with him. They're in trouble." It had taken Megumi almost half a day to return to Kyoto and she hoped nothing had happened to her friends.
"Trouble!" Yahiko shouted jumping to his feet shinai in his hand.
Megumi gasped for more breath. "Yes. A man has taken Kaoru and a little boy and is using them against Kenshin. This man… he…" Megumi gasped for breath.
Everyone was edgy wanting Megumi to continue. Megumi's face was pale and her body felt weak from so much running. Sano was the only one to notice this as Megumi tried to get enough air to speak. Sano reached over and grabbed a nearby stool and placed it next to the heaving woman. "Sit down fox lady." He said as if he didn't care if she did or not.
"Sanos…" He hushed her with a finger on her lips.
"Catch your breath, then tell us what happened."
Suiso ran through his ship until he skidded to a stop in front of a door. He grabbed the handle and threw the door open. Inside was a tall, skinny man with dark, black hair playing patty cake with Taku. "What are you doing?!" Suiso yelled at the man. The man rose to his feet, his face a beet red color. Suiso gave an annoyed sigh. "Stop playing with the kid and get him out of here!"
"You want me to give him to his parents?" The man asked confused.
"NO!" Suiso screeched. He wanted the boy as far from Kenshin as soon as possible. Suiso had planned on parading the kid in front of the Battòsai at first but when he had seen Kenshin heading toward him after he had boarded the ship he had decided to tell Kenshin that the boy was dead. It had worked much better than he could have ever guessed. "Take the kid into the woods or somewhere; anywhere! I may need him later. Just get him off the ship!" Suiso said his voice rising.
The man bowed. "Yes Captain Suiso." He turned and picked up Taku who began to cry.
"Mommy! Where's mommy?!" The little boy screamed loudly.
"Shut him up!" Suiso yelled as he resisted the urge to make his lie into truth. The man put his finger to his lips and tried to shh Taku but he just cried louder. "For crying out loud man!" Suiso said as he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and shoved it into the boy's mouth making it instantly quiet. "If the Battòsai finds out this boy is alive I will personally rip your limbs from your body." The man gulped knowing his Captain wasn't lying and left carrying Taku with him.
Aoshi, Misao, Yahiko, and Sanosuke all stared wide-eyed at Megumi as she finished what she knew about Suiso. "No one can have that kind of power!" Misao yelled but the look on Megumi's face told her she wasn't lying.
Sanosuke unfolded his long legs and gave them a stretch before standing up. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go get this Suiso guy." He said indifferently as he stretched his back. Sanosuke walked out the door. Aoshi silently stood and followed him with Misao close behind him.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Yahiko yelled as he jumped to his feet and ran after him. Megumi took a deep breath, stood, and left too.
Suiso walked the deck of his ship thinking to himself as the men around him prepared to set sail. He was trying to think of what to do next. He was so close but still so far away. If he pushed the Battòsai too hard he was worried the Battòsai would snap. He couldn't just back off now either. Kenshin's spirit was definitely weakening but he wasn't where Suiso wanted him just yet. "I'm close." Suiso hissed under his breath a smile planted on his face.
Kaoru fell as the boat suddenly jerked underneath her feet. She fell back onto Senko whose eyes didn't even leave the spot she had been staring at when the weight fell on her. Kaoru picked herself off Senko and looked at her. "Senko are you okay."
"My brother may be dead… again. Because of me. Kenshin is suffering… again. Because of me." Tears began to streak down her face. "Unmei…" She whimpered.
Kaoru placed a hand on each of Senko's shoulders and forced Senko to look her in the eyes. "Yes Unmei is hurt but he may be alive. He survived last time right?" Senko nodded. "Then believe in your brother. Believe like I believe in Kenshin."
Senko stared into Kaoru's eyes, her tears stopped falling. "Yes. I have to believe in my brother. If I sit here like he is dead then I am not helping. If I don't help then he might as well be dead." She reached up and brushed away the salty water that clung to her face. "Thank-you Kaoru, let's find Kenshin and get out of here!" Senko stood up and tried to open the door it was locked. Senko gave Kaoru a mischievous smile. "Think we can break it down?"
Suiso picked Kenshin's Sakabato off the deck and looked at it. "He was the deadliest assassin ever and yet he carries this." He said out loud as he rolled it over in his palm. Suiso looked at it a little longer then walked to the edge of his ship and held the sword over the edge. "He won't be needing this anymore." Suiso said with a smile. He wanted to drop it into the water but he couldn't open his fingers. He stared hard at the long object in his hand for awhile then reluctantly handed it to the next man who passed him. "Put this in my room." Suiso told him simply. The man bowed and did as he was told.
Kenshin sat, his back pressed hard into the bars of the cell. His victims of the past had stopped screaming and had left except one. This one laid quietly on the floor. His dark figure sprawled out on the other side of the cell. His clothes, the blood he was covered in, his hair, all dark except for one red flower on his back. Kenshin shut his eyes tight. "I'm sorry!" He screamed in his head. "I'm sorry I took your happiness!" Kenshin wanted to keep his eyes closed but he couldn't help but open them to see if he was still there. He was. He would always be there, buried deep inside Kenshin's heart.
Kenshin heard the door open and light flooded into the room sending the images of the past back. A small boy whose arms and legs seemed too long for his body descended the small flight of stairs carrying a small tray of food. He looked at Kenshin who was still staring at that spot his skin so pale it looked white. Kenshin took a quick look at the boy who looked nervously back at him. He didn't seem to be much older then Yahiko.
The boy jumped back in fear when Kenshin's eye fell on him. He had heard many ghost stories about the Battòsai growing up and was very fearful of Kenshin. Fearfully the boy moved closer to Kenshin and slipped the food through the bars. "This is for you Battòsai." The boy said with a wobbling voice.
"That name." Kenshin thought bitterly. The boy was starting to back up afraid to turn his back to Kenshin. "What's your name?" Kenshin asked him not wanting to be alone in the darkness again where his memories would be waiting for him.
The boy opened his mouth but didn't say anything. "My… my name?" He stuttered. "The crew calls me Shizuka." He said as he reached the first step wanting to run up the others.
"Is that your real name?" Kenshin said quickly before the boy could run away.
Shizuka ran his hand through his short coal black hair not wanting to answer. "My real name is… is…" he paused and looked up the stairs. "My real name is Nakami!" He said as he ran up the last three stairs slamming the door behind him before Kenshin could ask another question. Darkness fell around Kenshin like a blanket.
Nakami leaned against the door and took a few deep breaths still afraid that Kenshin would cut down the bars of his cell and come after him. "Hey Shizuka!" Someone called to him. He looked up and saw Kodo. Kodo was an average size man who could break you in half without trying. He brushed back his brown bangs from his face and gave Nakami an evil smile. "Did you do it? Or did you piss your pants?" Kodo knew Nakami's fear of the Battòsai; he had been the one who told Nakami most of the stories he knew. Nakami nodded, still shaking. Kodo laughed. "You got a voice on you?" Nakami just looked up at him. "Well! Get going on your other chores!" Nakami bowed and ran off.
Nakami walked carefully fearful of spilling the food on the new tray he had. He rocked with the ship as it rolled over the waves; he still wasn't use to that. He was supposed to take this food to the two girls and then scrub the deck. He stared at his feet carefully picking out his steps.
"Ready!" Kaoru yelled as Senko and she got ready to run. Senko gave a nod. "Go!" The two girls charged and ran smack into the door. Kaoru fell and Senko's eyes watered as she leaned on the door. "Ow!" Kaoru whined as she picked herself off the floor. "Let's try again!" Senko nodded not able to speak knowing if she did she would start to cry. She followed Kaoru back to the other end of the room rubbing her tender arm. They had been at this so long that Senko had lost count of their attempts. "Ready?" Kaoru said again and received a nod from Senko. "Go!" The two charged at the door just as Nakami opened it.
The boy opened his mouth to scream but when Senko and Kaoru ran into him they knocked all the air out of him. Nakami coughed as he tried to wipe the food that had spilt on him off. "Come on Kaoru!" Senko screamed as the two girls ran down the hall with no idea where they were going.
Senko led the way; she had a little bit of an idea of where she was going. "This way!" The two of them went through a doorway and found themselves on the deck.
"Ay! They ain't suppose to be up here!" Someone called out. The girls ignored him and kept running.
"That's the door!" Kaoru yelled recognizing the door Kenshin had emerged from earlier that day. Kaoru grabbed the handle and threw the door open and the two stumbled in. Kaoru spotted Kenshin head down in the same spot Nakami had left him. "Kenshin you're okay!" Kaoru yelled happily.
Kenshin turned his head. "Miss Kaoru." He turned his head back and stared at that spot on the opposite side of his cell.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru said his name questionably he wasn't the same Kenshin she knew. His eyes chilled her marrow and made her heart heavy.
Senko felt the same feeling but she ignored it and ran up to the bars of Kenshin's cell. "Kenshin did you see him? Did you see Unmei? Is he alive?!" Senko asked without taking a breath; tears streaking down her face.
"Yes, but he is very hurt." Kenshin said to her. "And it's all my fault." He added in silence.
Senko broke down in happy sobs. "He's alive!" She hugged Kaoru. "My brother's alive!" Kaoru smiled at the news of Unmei being alive but when she looked over at Kenshin she knew there was something he wasn't telling them.
"Kenshin what's wrong?" Kenshin didn't move. "Kenshin? Kenshin what happened?"
"Taku, is dead." Kenshin closed his eyes.
Senko stopped breathing. Dead? Taku wasn't who she had to worry about it was Unmei. Dead? He couldn't be dead! Dead? He was just a little boy. Dead? She remembered the day Taku was born; how proud and scared her brother had been. "Dead?" She choked.
"Yes." Kenshin opened his eyes slowly. "It's my fault." The words echoed through his mind.
Senko fell to her knees. "Dead? Dead? He can't be dead!" Senko started to cry. Kaoru stood, everything seemed so unreal. She wanted to go to Senko and comfort her but she couldn't move her body. That little boy she had given a ball to; could he really be gone? Kaoru blinked sending silent tears down her face.
Suiso still held his men back as he listened just behind the door. They were crying now he could hear them. Suiso made a silent motion to his men for them to stay where they were and opened the door with a smile so wide it was ear to ear. "So Battòsai told you already? Why must you take away your Captain's fun Battòsai?" Senko and Kaoru turned around to face Suiso; Kenshin still couldn't take his eyes from that seemingly empty spot.
"You killed him!" Senko screeched and ran at Suiso. Suiso had suspected this and drew his sword the very tip of the point embedded in Senko's neck. Kenshin watched nervously, helplessly trapped on the other side of the bars.
"Now, now." Suiso twisted his sword a little so a small drop of blood slowly slid down Senko's neck. Senko was afraid to breathe as the cold steel danced ripping open her delicate flesh. "You see Battòsai? See the pain? See the tears? See the hurt?" He moved slowly forcing Senko to turn toward Kenshin. "Do you see it?" He hissed.
"Stop it!" Kaoru screamed and ran at Suiso. Suiso pushed a little harder into Senko's throat making her cry out. Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks. Suiso made Senko move so he could keep an eye on Kaoru.
Suiso looked Senko in the eyes but her eyes were locked on the cold steel pressing into her throat. "Look at me." Suiso thought needing her to look him in the eye. "I can't make this work if you don't look me in the eye. Carefully Suiso pushed his sword deeper into Senko's throat. She hissed and glared at him, looking into his eyes.
The four of them stood silently except for the creaking of the ship and Senko's frightened groans. None heard Suiso as he began his spell. Muffled and silenced by keeping his lips pressed tightly together it didn't even look like Suiso was whispering. Suiso felt his tongue as it pressed against the top of his mouth forming the words he was speaking. "Take the girl who looks me in the eye breath away from her."
Senko tried to inhale but no air came. Her brain sent a signal that that was bad but as she continued to look into Suiso's eyes she ignored her brain. She wanted to rip her gaze from his pupils but she couldn't. She could just look calmly into the endless black abyss of Suiso's eyes.
Suiso watched as Senko tried to force her eyes to stay open. Her head began to drop dangerously close to Suiso's unforgiving steel. "Just a little longer." Suiso told himself as he calmly waited.
Senko's vision began to blur as her body slowly seemed to be shutting down. Her body seemed so heavy and she wanted to sleep but she knew death would certainly follow if she fell asleep. She tried to stay awake but her vision now began to grow dark.
Suiso watched knowing that Senko was losing the fight to stay awake. Slowly Senko's eyes fell all the way shut and her body gave out from under her. Seeing that this was the moment he had been waiting for Suiso dragged his blade across Senko's throat.
Kenshin blinked. He couldn't believe what he just saw. He blinked again. Or was what he saw just another fantasy he wished had happened. He looked to Suiso who was smiling as Senko's body fell; face first, to the floor.
"Senko!" Kaoru yelled running to the fallen girl's side. Kaoru shook her with no response. "Senko." Kaoru said as tears began to fall from her. Kaoru looked down and saw a small trail of blood coming from Senko's throat. Kaoru started to move Senko onto her back when she felt something cold, hard, and sticky slap her back.
Suiso stood over Kaoru his sword pressed down on her kimono making her freeze in place. Slowly Suiso slid his blade down Kaoru's back wiping Senko's blood from his blade onto Kaoru. He then flipped the sword and repeated the process until all the blood was gone. "Well Battòsai only one more friend to go. Then you won't have to worry about hurting anyone ever again. Shall I end it now?" Suiso said as he placed his sword onto the back of Kaoru's neck. He looked over at Kenshin who had his mouth slightly open in surprise. "No? Alright then." Suiso took his blade off of Kaoru's neck. "Get upstairs before I kill you too." He said with a glare.
Kaoru looked nervously to Kenshin. "Go Miss Kaoru. Everything will be alright." He said trying to comfort her.
Suiso laughed. "Don't be a fool Battòsai!" Kaoru felt sick to her stomach as she rose and started up the stairs. She stopped half wayup and looked back. "Get going!" Suiso said impatiently. She glared at him and stormed up the rest of the stairs. When she was gone Suiso bent over to Senko and positioned her head so that Kenshin was unable to see the wound on her neck. He then picked her up and with one last smile left Kenshin alone.
Suiso sighed. "I did it." He said with a satisfied smile after he had handed the limp Senko to one of his men.
Chapter 13 – Suiso Tries To Break Kenshin
Kenshin stared down at the uniform in his hand. "Kenshin is Taku okay." Kenshin looked up at Maki who was shaking.
"I don't know."
"What does this mean?!" She screamed grabbing the uniform and shaking it. "Where is my son?!" Megumi came running. "Tell me Kenshin! Where is my son?!"
"Suiso…" Kenshin began but Maki pushed past him not wanting to hear anymore. "You can't go after him." Kenshin said as she passed Megumi.
Megumi grabbed Maki's arm. "He would just kill you."
Maki shook herself free of Megumi's grasp. "Like he could do anything else to me!" She cried. "My husband is lying in his death bed. He's taken my son. He could have killed my son." She wiped a tear from her eye. "What would you do?!" Megumi stood speechless knowing she would do the same thing. "What am I suppose… to…" Maki cried he shoulders heaving.
Kenshin stared hard at the puddle that was forming on the floor. All this pain. All this suffering. Everything, everything was because of him. Even if he never killed again he was still hurting everyone he cared for. Everyone who cared for him. Everyone he loved. "I'll bring him back." He said softly and left without looking back at Maki.
Kenshin was almost to the door when Megumi snapped out of her trance and went after him. "What are you going to do Kenshin?" She yelled at him as he opened the door.
He stood in the doorway awhile not saying anything. "I don't know." With that he shut the door behind him.
Megumi threw the door open. "Kenshin wait!" She called after him but there was no stopping him. Megumi wanted to follow him but she knew she would just get in the way so she ran in the opposite direction. Toward Kyoto.
Kenshin stormed toward the dock. How could he have let this happen? He cursed himself bitterly. He had gotten so upset at Suiso as he washed the blood from his Sakabato he had never felt any hostile presence sneak up on the house. "If Taku is harmed in anyway I'll never forgive myself." He thought when he could see the ship forming in the distance.
Suiso was waiting for Kenshin as he watched him head toward the ship. He snorted when he saw that Kenshin wasn't wearing the Haori but he shrugged it off. He would get Kenshin in the uniform sooner or later. Suiso also noted that Kenshin had found his Sakabato which made Suiso a little nervous. He wanted Kenshin unarmed. Of course that is why he had another one of his crew get the boy because he guessed Kenshin would return armed.
Kenshin looked up at the ship and saw Suiso watching him. Kenshin climbed aboard and didn't waste anytime. "Where is Taku?"
Suiso smiled. "Shouldn't you have him?" Kenshin glared at Suiso. "So how's the boy's father?"
"Where is Taku?"
"Do you really want to know Battòsai?" Suiso said his smile widening. Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "He's dead." Kenshin's mouth opened slightly. Taku couldn't have been too much older then Suzume. "You seemed surprised. If you had just done as you were told that boy would be alive."
Kenshin couldn't speak even if he hadn't killed Taku with his own hands the boy was dead because of him. "You killed him?" Kenshin said not wanting to believe.
Suiso smiled this is what he wanted. "Do you want to see him? I tied him to a sack of rocks and threw him overboard." He pointed to his left. "Right over that rail." He added with a smirk.
Kenshin's body shook he felt very cold. He turned an amber eye on Suiso. "YOU!" Kenshin put his hand on his blade but was then blown back by a gust of wind. Kenshin jumped up and charged again. Suiso was surprised and just barely gathered enough to blow Kenshin back. Kenshin kept his balance and charged again at Suiso.
Suiso yelled and a swirl of air rushed around him before flying straight at Kenshin. Kenshin felt the invisible rocks pelt him but he ignored the pain and ran straight at Suiso. Suiso was speechless as Kenshin rushed toward him. Not knowing what else to do Suiso snapped his fingers.
Kenshin unsheathed his Sakabato and in a blinding light almost struck Suiso until he heard a gasp. Kenshin stopped his attack and turned around. There stood a man holding Kaoru with a sword to her throat. "Miss Kaoru!" Kenshin yelled. He wanted to run to her but his hands and feet began to burn making his attention go back to Suiso.
Suiso was speaking quickly and had his eyes shut. "??????????" Kenshin's eyes went wide as the circle appeared. "????????now!" Kenshin was dragged back and slammed into the floor.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru screamed out.
Suiso was a bit shaken, he had expected Kenshin to react when he received the news that the boy was dead but he hadn't expected this much of a reaction. Although he hadn't expected it he had prepared for it and he was thankful. He gave the man that held Kaoru a wave and the man disappeared taking Kaoru with him. Suiso walked up to Kenshin and whispered into his ear. "Think Battòsai all of this could have been avoided. I know that your friend is alive but he is on death's door. Your lover and your friend are being held against their will and now a little boy is dead. All because of you." Suiso made sure to say the last sentence slowly. "I've found out a little about you Battòsai. I know about Shishio. I know who Hiko is. I even know about that grave in Kyoto. I've been watching you very closely recently. I think I even know who lies asleep under that headstone." Kenshin's muscles tightened. "A name I said on the night I watched my ship burn. Tomoe."
"Suiso." Kenshin clenched his teeth.
"Everything is your fault. If you would just stop resisting then nobody else will be hurt. You want to protect their happiness don't you?" Suiso had no clue how deep those simple words hit Kenshin.
Kenshin stopped his struggles and just stared not seeing what he was looking at. He could hear the younger version of himself saying "I will protect your happiness." Then he remembered the words he had read in a simple journal. "On a street in Kyoto he became a man never to return." Because of him Unmei and Maki had lost their happiness.
Kenshin felt numb and cold as the thought sunk deeper and deeper into his mind. Suiso could see that something he said was eating at Kenshin. Suiso watched as Kenshin slowly blinked showing him eyes that Suiso had never seen before. They were a dark lavender instead of the bright carefree ones that Suiso had seen many times before. These eyes seemed tired, defeated. Suiso smiled.
Everything seemed blurred to Kenshin that he hardly remembered anything. The spell had been removed soon after and Kenshin had been led back to the barracks. This time he was simply placed in a cell and left alone. The darkness of the room was unbearable. In the shadows Kenshin could see ghosts dressed in bloody Shisengumi uniforms. Kenshin clasped his hands over his ears and tried to ignore their screams.
When Megumi returned so suddenly and out of breath everyone knew something was wrong. "Megumi why are you back so soon?" Sano asked looking Megumi over carefully making sure she wasn't hurt.
"I found Kenshin!" She said in-between breaths.
"You found Kenshin?" Aoshi repeated calmly entering the room.
"Lord Aoshi." Misao said breathlessly happy to see him.
Megumi nodded. "Kaoru is with him. They're in trouble." It had taken Megumi almost half a day to return to Kyoto and she hoped nothing had happened to her friends.
"Trouble!" Yahiko shouted jumping to his feet shinai in his hand.
Megumi gasped for more breath. "Yes. A man has taken Kaoru and a little boy and is using them against Kenshin. This man… he…" Megumi gasped for breath.
Everyone was edgy wanting Megumi to continue. Megumi's face was pale and her body felt weak from so much running. Sano was the only one to notice this as Megumi tried to get enough air to speak. Sano reached over and grabbed a nearby stool and placed it next to the heaving woman. "Sit down fox lady." He said as if he didn't care if she did or not.
"Sanos…" He hushed her with a finger on her lips.
"Catch your breath, then tell us what happened."
Suiso ran through his ship until he skidded to a stop in front of a door. He grabbed the handle and threw the door open. Inside was a tall, skinny man with dark, black hair playing patty cake with Taku. "What are you doing?!" Suiso yelled at the man. The man rose to his feet, his face a beet red color. Suiso gave an annoyed sigh. "Stop playing with the kid and get him out of here!"
"You want me to give him to his parents?" The man asked confused.
"NO!" Suiso screeched. He wanted the boy as far from Kenshin as soon as possible. Suiso had planned on parading the kid in front of the Battòsai at first but when he had seen Kenshin heading toward him after he had boarded the ship he had decided to tell Kenshin that the boy was dead. It had worked much better than he could have ever guessed. "Take the kid into the woods or somewhere; anywhere! I may need him later. Just get him off the ship!" Suiso said his voice rising.
The man bowed. "Yes Captain Suiso." He turned and picked up Taku who began to cry.
"Mommy! Where's mommy?!" The little boy screamed loudly.
"Shut him up!" Suiso yelled as he resisted the urge to make his lie into truth. The man put his finger to his lips and tried to shh Taku but he just cried louder. "For crying out loud man!" Suiso said as he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and shoved it into the boy's mouth making it instantly quiet. "If the Battòsai finds out this boy is alive I will personally rip your limbs from your body." The man gulped knowing his Captain wasn't lying and left carrying Taku with him.
Aoshi, Misao, Yahiko, and Sanosuke all stared wide-eyed at Megumi as she finished what she knew about Suiso. "No one can have that kind of power!" Misao yelled but the look on Megumi's face told her she wasn't lying.
Sanosuke unfolded his long legs and gave them a stretch before standing up. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go get this Suiso guy." He said indifferently as he stretched his back. Sanosuke walked out the door. Aoshi silently stood and followed him with Misao close behind him.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Yahiko yelled as he jumped to his feet and ran after him. Megumi took a deep breath, stood, and left too.
Suiso walked the deck of his ship thinking to himself as the men around him prepared to set sail. He was trying to think of what to do next. He was so close but still so far away. If he pushed the Battòsai too hard he was worried the Battòsai would snap. He couldn't just back off now either. Kenshin's spirit was definitely weakening but he wasn't where Suiso wanted him just yet. "I'm close." Suiso hissed under his breath a smile planted on his face.
Kaoru fell as the boat suddenly jerked underneath her feet. She fell back onto Senko whose eyes didn't even leave the spot she had been staring at when the weight fell on her. Kaoru picked herself off Senko and looked at her. "Senko are you okay."
"My brother may be dead… again. Because of me. Kenshin is suffering… again. Because of me." Tears began to streak down her face. "Unmei…" She whimpered.
Kaoru placed a hand on each of Senko's shoulders and forced Senko to look her in the eyes. "Yes Unmei is hurt but he may be alive. He survived last time right?" Senko nodded. "Then believe in your brother. Believe like I believe in Kenshin."
Senko stared into Kaoru's eyes, her tears stopped falling. "Yes. I have to believe in my brother. If I sit here like he is dead then I am not helping. If I don't help then he might as well be dead." She reached up and brushed away the salty water that clung to her face. "Thank-you Kaoru, let's find Kenshin and get out of here!" Senko stood up and tried to open the door it was locked. Senko gave Kaoru a mischievous smile. "Think we can break it down?"
Suiso picked Kenshin's Sakabato off the deck and looked at it. "He was the deadliest assassin ever and yet he carries this." He said out loud as he rolled it over in his palm. Suiso looked at it a little longer then walked to the edge of his ship and held the sword over the edge. "He won't be needing this anymore." Suiso said with a smile. He wanted to drop it into the water but he couldn't open his fingers. He stared hard at the long object in his hand for awhile then reluctantly handed it to the next man who passed him. "Put this in my room." Suiso told him simply. The man bowed and did as he was told.
Kenshin sat, his back pressed hard into the bars of the cell. His victims of the past had stopped screaming and had left except one. This one laid quietly on the floor. His dark figure sprawled out on the other side of the cell. His clothes, the blood he was covered in, his hair, all dark except for one red flower on his back. Kenshin shut his eyes tight. "I'm sorry!" He screamed in his head. "I'm sorry I took your happiness!" Kenshin wanted to keep his eyes closed but he couldn't help but open them to see if he was still there. He was. He would always be there, buried deep inside Kenshin's heart.
Kenshin heard the door open and light flooded into the room sending the images of the past back. A small boy whose arms and legs seemed too long for his body descended the small flight of stairs carrying a small tray of food. He looked at Kenshin who was still staring at that spot his skin so pale it looked white. Kenshin took a quick look at the boy who looked nervously back at him. He didn't seem to be much older then Yahiko.
The boy jumped back in fear when Kenshin's eye fell on him. He had heard many ghost stories about the Battòsai growing up and was very fearful of Kenshin. Fearfully the boy moved closer to Kenshin and slipped the food through the bars. "This is for you Battòsai." The boy said with a wobbling voice.
"That name." Kenshin thought bitterly. The boy was starting to back up afraid to turn his back to Kenshin. "What's your name?" Kenshin asked him not wanting to be alone in the darkness again where his memories would be waiting for him.
The boy opened his mouth but didn't say anything. "My… my name?" He stuttered. "The crew calls me Shizuka." He said as he reached the first step wanting to run up the others.
"Is that your real name?" Kenshin said quickly before the boy could run away.
Shizuka ran his hand through his short coal black hair not wanting to answer. "My real name is… is…" he paused and looked up the stairs. "My real name is Nakami!" He said as he ran up the last three stairs slamming the door behind him before Kenshin could ask another question. Darkness fell around Kenshin like a blanket.
Nakami leaned against the door and took a few deep breaths still afraid that Kenshin would cut down the bars of his cell and come after him. "Hey Shizuka!" Someone called to him. He looked up and saw Kodo. Kodo was an average size man who could break you in half without trying. He brushed back his brown bangs from his face and gave Nakami an evil smile. "Did you do it? Or did you piss your pants?" Kodo knew Nakami's fear of the Battòsai; he had been the one who told Nakami most of the stories he knew. Nakami nodded, still shaking. Kodo laughed. "You got a voice on you?" Nakami just looked up at him. "Well! Get going on your other chores!" Nakami bowed and ran off.
Nakami walked carefully fearful of spilling the food on the new tray he had. He rocked with the ship as it rolled over the waves; he still wasn't use to that. He was supposed to take this food to the two girls and then scrub the deck. He stared at his feet carefully picking out his steps.
"Ready!" Kaoru yelled as Senko and she got ready to run. Senko gave a nod. "Go!" The two girls charged and ran smack into the door. Kaoru fell and Senko's eyes watered as she leaned on the door. "Ow!" Kaoru whined as she picked herself off the floor. "Let's try again!" Senko nodded not able to speak knowing if she did she would start to cry. She followed Kaoru back to the other end of the room rubbing her tender arm. They had been at this so long that Senko had lost count of their attempts. "Ready?" Kaoru said again and received a nod from Senko. "Go!" The two charged at the door just as Nakami opened it.
The boy opened his mouth to scream but when Senko and Kaoru ran into him they knocked all the air out of him. Nakami coughed as he tried to wipe the food that had spilt on him off. "Come on Kaoru!" Senko screamed as the two girls ran down the hall with no idea where they were going.
Senko led the way; she had a little bit of an idea of where she was going. "This way!" The two of them went through a doorway and found themselves on the deck.
"Ay! They ain't suppose to be up here!" Someone called out. The girls ignored him and kept running.
"That's the door!" Kaoru yelled recognizing the door Kenshin had emerged from earlier that day. Kaoru grabbed the handle and threw the door open and the two stumbled in. Kaoru spotted Kenshin head down in the same spot Nakami had left him. "Kenshin you're okay!" Kaoru yelled happily.
Kenshin turned his head. "Miss Kaoru." He turned his head back and stared at that spot on the opposite side of his cell.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru said his name questionably he wasn't the same Kenshin she knew. His eyes chilled her marrow and made her heart heavy.
Senko felt the same feeling but she ignored it and ran up to the bars of Kenshin's cell. "Kenshin did you see him? Did you see Unmei? Is he alive?!" Senko asked without taking a breath; tears streaking down her face.
"Yes, but he is very hurt." Kenshin said to her. "And it's all my fault." He added in silence.
Senko broke down in happy sobs. "He's alive!" She hugged Kaoru. "My brother's alive!" Kaoru smiled at the news of Unmei being alive but when she looked over at Kenshin she knew there was something he wasn't telling them.
"Kenshin what's wrong?" Kenshin didn't move. "Kenshin? Kenshin what happened?"
"Taku, is dead." Kenshin closed his eyes.
Senko stopped breathing. Dead? Taku wasn't who she had to worry about it was Unmei. Dead? He couldn't be dead! Dead? He was just a little boy. Dead? She remembered the day Taku was born; how proud and scared her brother had been. "Dead?" She choked.
"Yes." Kenshin opened his eyes slowly. "It's my fault." The words echoed through his mind.
Senko fell to her knees. "Dead? Dead? He can't be dead!" Senko started to cry. Kaoru stood, everything seemed so unreal. She wanted to go to Senko and comfort her but she couldn't move her body. That little boy she had given a ball to; could he really be gone? Kaoru blinked sending silent tears down her face.
Suiso still held his men back as he listened just behind the door. They were crying now he could hear them. Suiso made a silent motion to his men for them to stay where they were and opened the door with a smile so wide it was ear to ear. "So Battòsai told you already? Why must you take away your Captain's fun Battòsai?" Senko and Kaoru turned around to face Suiso; Kenshin still couldn't take his eyes from that seemingly empty spot.
"You killed him!" Senko screeched and ran at Suiso. Suiso had suspected this and drew his sword the very tip of the point embedded in Senko's neck. Kenshin watched nervously, helplessly trapped on the other side of the bars.
"Now, now." Suiso twisted his sword a little so a small drop of blood slowly slid down Senko's neck. Senko was afraid to breathe as the cold steel danced ripping open her delicate flesh. "You see Battòsai? See the pain? See the tears? See the hurt?" He moved slowly forcing Senko to turn toward Kenshin. "Do you see it?" He hissed.
"Stop it!" Kaoru screamed and ran at Suiso. Suiso pushed a little harder into Senko's throat making her cry out. Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks. Suiso made Senko move so he could keep an eye on Kaoru.
Suiso looked Senko in the eyes but her eyes were locked on the cold steel pressing into her throat. "Look at me." Suiso thought needing her to look him in the eye. "I can't make this work if you don't look me in the eye. Carefully Suiso pushed his sword deeper into Senko's throat. She hissed and glared at him, looking into his eyes.
The four of them stood silently except for the creaking of the ship and Senko's frightened groans. None heard Suiso as he began his spell. Muffled and silenced by keeping his lips pressed tightly together it didn't even look like Suiso was whispering. Suiso felt his tongue as it pressed against the top of his mouth forming the words he was speaking. "Take the girl who looks me in the eye breath away from her."
Senko tried to inhale but no air came. Her brain sent a signal that that was bad but as she continued to look into Suiso's eyes she ignored her brain. She wanted to rip her gaze from his pupils but she couldn't. She could just look calmly into the endless black abyss of Suiso's eyes.
Suiso watched as Senko tried to force her eyes to stay open. Her head began to drop dangerously close to Suiso's unforgiving steel. "Just a little longer." Suiso told himself as he calmly waited.
Senko's vision began to blur as her body slowly seemed to be shutting down. Her body seemed so heavy and she wanted to sleep but she knew death would certainly follow if she fell asleep. She tried to stay awake but her vision now began to grow dark.
Suiso watched knowing that Senko was losing the fight to stay awake. Slowly Senko's eyes fell all the way shut and her body gave out from under her. Seeing that this was the moment he had been waiting for Suiso dragged his blade across Senko's throat.
Kenshin blinked. He couldn't believe what he just saw. He blinked again. Or was what he saw just another fantasy he wished had happened. He looked to Suiso who was smiling as Senko's body fell; face first, to the floor.
"Senko!" Kaoru yelled running to the fallen girl's side. Kaoru shook her with no response. "Senko." Kaoru said as tears began to fall from her. Kaoru looked down and saw a small trail of blood coming from Senko's throat. Kaoru started to move Senko onto her back when she felt something cold, hard, and sticky slap her back.
Suiso stood over Kaoru his sword pressed down on her kimono making her freeze in place. Slowly Suiso slid his blade down Kaoru's back wiping Senko's blood from his blade onto Kaoru. He then flipped the sword and repeated the process until all the blood was gone. "Well Battòsai only one more friend to go. Then you won't have to worry about hurting anyone ever again. Shall I end it now?" Suiso said as he placed his sword onto the back of Kaoru's neck. He looked over at Kenshin who had his mouth slightly open in surprise. "No? Alright then." Suiso took his blade off of Kaoru's neck. "Get upstairs before I kill you too." He said with a glare.
Kaoru looked nervously to Kenshin. "Go Miss Kaoru. Everything will be alright." He said trying to comfort her.
Suiso laughed. "Don't be a fool Battòsai!" Kaoru felt sick to her stomach as she rose and started up the stairs. She stopped half wayup and looked back. "Get going!" Suiso said impatiently. She glared at him and stormed up the rest of the stairs. When she was gone Suiso bent over to Senko and positioned her head so that Kenshin was unable to see the wound on her neck. He then picked her up and with one last smile left Kenshin alone.
Suiso sighed. "I did it." He said with a satisfied smile after he had handed the limp Senko to one of his men.