Chapter 16 – Too The Rescue
Kaoru had gotten news of Kenshin's rescue. She wanted to see him to make sure he was okay but Suiso had kept a careful eye on her. He visited her at different times everyday to make sure she was where she was suppose to be. "Suiso I want to see Kenshin." She told him again when he came to see her the day after Kenshin's jump.
"Why should I." Suiso was not smiling and Kaoru didn't really have a good answer for that.
"Kenshin would work harder if he saw me." She spit out trying to think of anything to get Suiso to let her see Kenshin. Suiso had only been there a few moments but started to leave. "Wait! Please Suiso."
Suiso smiled. "Call me Captain Suiso and I'll see what I can do."
Kaoru's face turned red with anger and if she had something in her hands she would have bopped Suiso on the head but then her face lighted. She would do anything to see Kenshin again. "Please Captain Suiso."
"I'll give you five minutes." Suiso turned to one of his men. "Fetch the Battòsai." The man bowed and left along with Suiso. Suiso headed to his room but first he had another stop to make. He knocked on a door and it was opened for him then he stepped inside.
"Suiso I want to see Kenshin!" Senko said sternly.
"What is it with you two and seeing Battòsai?" Senko looked down still slightly scared of Suiso. "I just came to remind you…" Suiso said with a light tone to his voice and a smile on his face. "…about our deal."
"If I keep quiet then you'll let me go the next time you dock." Senko stated.
"That's right." Suiso wanted to get rid of Senko as soon as he could before Kenshin found out she was still alive. "Well I got to go!" He said with a wave before leaving Senko with the guard that was always in the room with her.
"… I had me a little drink about an hour ago and it got right to my heeeeeeeeeeeeead!" Nakami was singing and quite merrily now that he was no longer afraid of Kenshin. He looked over at Kenshin begging him to continue.
Kenshin blushed and began to scrub the deck harder. Singing just wasn't his thing. He took one glance into Nakami's pleading eyes and sighed. "Wherever I may roam."
Nakami grinned. "Over land or sea or…!"
"Battòsai!" A new voiced chimed.
"Or Battòsai? That's not how the song goes!" Nakami joked.
The man ignored Nakami. "You can visit that girl." Kenshin was surprised. "You got five minutes." Kenshin jumped to his feet and sprinted away. "HEY! Do you even know where she is?!" The man called after him.
"Oro?" Kenshin stopped dead in his tracks. He had thought that he had five minutes to find Kaoru.
"Are you really the Battòsai?" The man asked thinking that Kenshin had just started running for no reason. "Follow me idiot." Kenshin went to the man's side and began to wonder why everyone seemed to call him an idiot.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled happy to see him. "You're alright!" She jumped into his arms.
"Ah… this one is glad to see you're okay too Miss Kaoru; that I am." He said blushing brightly.
"I heard you jumped over the side of the ship! What were you thinking!" She said backing out of his arms and shaking her finger at him.
"I'm sorry! That I am!" Kenshin yelled putting up his arms in self-defense. The two crew members that happened to be nearby laughed at seeing Kenshin being held then scolded in less then a minute.
Kenshin shut the door so that Kaoru and he could be alone together but the laughter behind the closed door could still be heard a little while after. "Kenshin… I… mean…" There were so many things Kaoru wanted to say but she didn't know where to begin.
"There is something this one needs to tell you Miss Kaoru." Kenshin began. He wanted to tell her about his suspicions over Senko's "death." Kenshin opened his mouth to continue when he noticed there was a slight breeze inside the sealed room.
"What is it Kenshin?"
"That… that… this one will protect you and make sure you get back safely; that I will." Kenshin had a feeling there was someone else besides Miss Kaoru who was listening to him. He had to choose his words carefully and make sure Kaoru didn't say anything she shouldn't.
Kaoru nodded. "I know you will." She placed her hand on his.
Suiso was a little disappointed. He had hoped to get more information out of Kenshin but the two had only made small talk. Suiso looked down at his charts again but they didn't hold his interest very long; he pushed them aside. "Now that I have him how do I start my legend?" He said out loud. He sat back in his chair thinking it over completely unaware of the small vessel heading toward his ship.
"Over there." Aoshi said calmly pointing over the side.
"I don't see anything." Tsuki said as he placed a hand over his eyes.
"Trust me; I can see the sails over in that direction."
"You hear that Sanosuke?"
"You bet!" Sano turned the wheel in the direction Aoshi had pointed out. "Here we come Suiso!"
"Show me the way to go home." Nakami had just about finished washing the deck when Kenshin returned. Nakami gave him a wave when he saw him. "How did it go?"
"Good." Kenshin looked out into the sea and was surprised by what he saw.
"What is it?" Nakami asked looking in the same direction and seeing nothing.
Kenshin shook his head. "Nothing." He bent down and picked up a rag. "They should be here tomorrow. I will have to find something to fight with tonight." Kenshin thought as Nakami began to sing.
Kenshin opened his eyes and looked around. Everyone seemed to be sleeping peacefully so he quietly rose to his feet. "It's alright Nakami." Kenshin said softly as he stretched his muscles a bit.
"Where are you going?" The shy boy asked quietly.
There was no breeze but Kenshin still picked his words carefully. "To find something that will help this one."
Nakami climbed out of his hammock. "I want to help." Kenshin nodded agreeing that Nakami could come with him. "What is going to happen tomorrow?" Nakami asked, his voice rising a little when they were away from the sleeping crewmen.
"Something. There may be a fight. You should stay below tomorrow; that you should."
Nakami's eyes widened. "You aren't going to fight Captain Suiso are you?"
Kenshin remained silent for a moment. "Only if Suiso tries to hurt this one's friends."
"Are you looking for your sword?" Kenshin stopped and looked Nakami in the eye. Nakami hung his head avoiding Kenshin's stare. "I know where it is." He whispered, his heart suddenly torn between helping his new friend and staying loyal to his Captain.
"Where?" Kenshin mouthed, he thought Suiso would have gotten rid of his Sakabato.
"In his room. Captain Suiso's room." Nakami suddenly found the wall to be fascinating he studied it thoroughly. "But he hid it in his room." Nakami knew exactly where to find it, he had accidentally discovered it yesterday.
"Do you know where it is in his room?" Nakami stared harder at the wall. "It's alright. I'll look for it myself."
Nakami let out a small sigh of relief until he saw Kenshin heading to Suiso's room. "Where are you going?"
"Oro? Why to get this one's Sakabato back of course!" Kenshin answered in an almost happy tone.
"But Captain Suiso is in there!"
"Then this one had better be quiet and not wake him up then!"
The door to Suiso's room creaked softly when Kenshin opened it. Kenshin stepped inside the room and Nakami stood breathlessly in the doorway. Suiso slept peacefully unaware of the two's presence in his room. Nakami could feel his knees buckle as Kenshin moved further into the room.
Kenshin let his eyes scan the room trying to figure out where Suiso had hidden his Sakabato. He was confident that he wouldn't wake the sleeping Suiso; he had perfected the art of sneaking around in the darkness during the Bakumatsu. Kenshin stepped toward the desk with pile of books on it. Quietly Kenshin pulled opened the draws checking for false bottoms, but none of the draws were even long enough to hide a sword in.
"Find it." Nakami's brain echoed. "Hurry and find it before Suiso wakes up."
Kenshin, having checked all the draws, moved to the only other item in the room. Suiso's bed. Kenshin leaned over and check under the small bed keeping an eye on the sleeping body. Finding nothing under the bed Kenshin rose and looked around again. He spotted Nakami in the doorway. The boy's eye was locked onto one of the charts hanging on the wall. Without a word Kenshin went to the chart, it looked like any other chart. He ran his hand over it, the wood behind it felt smooth then it bumped up just slightly. Kenshin took the chart down and took a closer look at the wall behind it.
Kenshin placed his hand back on the wall and was able to feel a small hole. He pulled back and part of the wall swung open. "A secret compartment!" Kenshin opened the door open all the way and found his Sakabato inside.
Nakami let out a sigh. He never thought Kenshin would find it. He had been cleaning up Suiso's room when he knocked the map down. He saw the 'handle' when he was trying to hang the map back up, his curiosity had gotten the best of him and he had opened it. Nakami was slightly worried that Suiso would hurt him if he ever discovered how Kenshin had found his sword but since Nakami hadn't really said anything perhaps he could get out of this guilt free. Kenshin replaced the map and walked over to Nakami. "We should go back and get some sleep; that we should." Kenshin said with a smile. Nakami gave a nod and the two walked back together.
Morning came and Suiso awoke. He got out of bed and looked around his room. Everything seemed to be in place but he couldn't help but feel something was out of place. He tapped the piece of wood that still held his power making him feel a little better but something still felt out of place. Suiso knew better then too ignore these strong feelings so he began to search his room for something. His feelings had never let him down before. He had gotten the strange feeling to go capture Senko to lure the Battòsai too him and he had listen only to discover that he didn't need to search for the Battòsai he too had paid Senko a visit. He had gotten lucky. Suiso took down his chart and opened his secret department. He clenched his jaw to keep his swear within his mouth as he discovered it was empty.
Suiso rubbed his injured arm that had been feeling better before his little 'swim' with Kenshin as he stormed to the crew's sleeping area. He found it empty, all except for a couple of men who where still dozing. He went to the Kitchen where he found most of his crew but Kenshin wasn't among them. The anger rising inside of him with each passing second Suiso made his way to the deck where he found Kenshin and Nakami scrubbing away as they always did. "Battòsai!" Suiso yelled from the other end of the ship.
"He's really mad. Do you think he knows?" Nakami said nervously as he watched Suiso walking toward them.
"Probably." Kenshin said calmly rising to his feet. "Go below." Kenshin wasn't sure what Suiso was going to do and he wanted Nakami as far away as possible. Kenshin went to met Suiso halfway and Nakami darted for the stairs.
"How?! How did you find it?" Suiso yelled at Kenshin.
"Find what?" Kenshin asked playing dumb.
"Your sword!"
"My Sakabato?" Kenshin asked. Inside his head he begged that Suiso would believe his act, he had never been a good liar.
"How did you find it?" Suiso was getting visible madder.
"I don't have it as you can see." Kenshin said motioning to his empty side. "I thought you would have gotten rid of it."
Suiso clenched his teeth. "I know you have it you little sneak. Now where is it?"
"Now, now." Kenshin said raising his hands. "Even if I did have it why would I need it? I can't take on the whole crew and I don't know anything about navigating ships."
Suiso temper was visible reduced. "That's true. He knows something. There must be some reason why he wants his sword. I have to find out why." Suiso's smile returned. "Oh, Battòsai!" He half laughed. "It's not what you would do with it. It's the fact that you came into my room and took something out of it. That's not respectful. You have to treat your Captain with respect."
"Captain." Kodo's voice intruded their argument. "Captain there is a ship over there." Suiso turned and looked at the ship that had gotten closer during the night.
"Odd." Suiso looked back to Kenshin. "Funny how first your sword goes missing now this ship." Suiso strolled to the edge of the ship and whispered something that Kenshin couldn't hear. "Let's see who is on that ship." The wind picked up a bit then died as it rushed for the nearing ship.
Sanosuke shivered a bit from the sudden breeze. "It's getting really cold." He muttered as he rubbed his arms.
"Ai." Tsuki said without emotion as he checked his charts again.
"Bah." Sanosuke was bored. This was taking too long and the company wasn't the greatest. Aoshi was too quiet and Tsuki was so worried that he wasn't any fun to be around. Sanosuke was anxious to catch up with Suiso so there would finally be some action. "So how powerful is this guy again? Really strong?" Sanosuke asked again.
"Really strong. Don't underestimate him Sanosuke."
"He fights without honor if he uses kids as shields." Aoshi added from the spot he was sitting at.
"Yeah. That coward hiding behind children. I'll make him pay!" Sano said angrily and balling his hand into a fist. "Let's hurry it up and teach that guy a lesson!"
"If only it was that easy." Tsuki sighed as the breeze died down.
Suiso pounded his hand on the rail. "Coward am I?" He turned to Kenshin. "Your friend Sanosuke called me a coward!"
Kenshin seemed surprised. "How did Sanosuke… Megumi! Megumi must have gone and told everyone back in Kyoto. Now everyone has been dragged into this." Kenshin turned his attention back to Suiso who was still ranting.
"So you think I am a coward. Let's see how you handle this!" Everyone could feel the ship began to rock violently from underneath their feet as dark clouds began to form in the sky.
Chapter 17 – Rough Waters
"What the hell!" Sanosuke yelled angrily as the ship began to pitch. A blanket of rain began to fall pelting the three men on board.
"It's Suiso!" Tsuki yelled throwing a rope at Sano. "Don't let go of this!"
Sano felt the rope tighten in his hands. "How could it be Suiso? It's just the weather!" Sano yelled over the pounding rain.
"Is this his power?" Aoshi said calmly as he began to help Tsuki take that sail down before it got ripped to shreds.
"Yes!" Tsuki grunted as he worked. "He must have spotted us and is going to capsize us."
The ship creaked as waves threatened to plow over the deck. "How do we stop him?!" Sano yelled as water swirled around his ankles.
"We can't! All we can do is hang on and hope for the best."
"Please let my luck be good today!" But Sanosuke's plea was unheard over the thunder that had begun to sound.
"Suiso stop this!" Kenshin yelled.
Suiso turned calmly to Kenshin water running down his face and over his smile. Suiso raised a finger and slowly waved it back and forth. "Now, now don't forget. It's Captain Suiso and aren't you enjoying the show Battòsai?"
"Suiso stop this or I will stop you myself; that I will."
Suiso's smirk widened. "Capta…" It had been so fast that at first Suiso didn't even realize what had happened. The slow thudding that came from his jaw told him that Kenshin had hit him. Suiso straightened himself and looked at Kenshin, even though rain pelted everyone who watched Suiso could see clearly through the darkness two piecing, amber eyes staring back at him and for a moment he was scared. His smile left leaving an open mouth behind.
"Stop this right now or you will regret it." Kenshin said calmly as he took another step toward Suiso.
Suiso took a moment to get over his fear and he gritted his teeth angrily as he realized that he still hadn't managed to break the Battòsai. "He's stubborn, but I always get what I want." Suiso thought bitterly. He cleared his voice once before speaking. "How do you plan to stop me?" He spat through the rain.
Kenshin's voice was cold. "By any means necessary." Nakami, who had been watching from a 'safe' distance, gasped from the sound of Kenshin's voice. Could that icy demeanor really belong to the goofy man that had saved him from drowning?
Suiso without realizing it took a step back. "You… you can't do anything Battòsai!" He instinctively rubbed the piece of wood hidden in his pocket while mentally adding. "Not while I have this." Kenshin took another step forward. "Men!" Suiso called out knowing Kenshin was too much for him to handle on his own, even unarmed.
Kenshin watched calmly as Suiso's men advanced. He didn't have time for this, he needed to get Suiso's attention and somehow stop him. He wasn't sure how to do that yet but he had to try something.
Meanwhile the three aboard the rocking ship hung on for dear life. They had retreated below but the ranging storm still rang in their ears. "Now what?!" Sanosuke yelled to Tsuki.
"Not much! We've done all we can!"
"Why don't we put the sail back up and use this wind to our advantage?!" Sano screamed not liking the helpless feeling that was suddenly gnawing at him.
"It would be ripped to shreds! Or worse it would capsize us!" The ship tipped dangerously to one side as if to prove a point.
"Well we don't seem to be doing much better without it!" Sano said as the ship tipped in the other direction. "I say lets throw the dice and see how our luck is! If we put up the sail we could get there faster. We sit here Suiso is just going to keep getting further away! If we did catch up again he would do the same thing wouldn't he?" The look on Tsuki face told Sano he had made a good point. "The way I see it Suiso is going to sink this boat weather we do something or not. So I say lets go get Kenshin and the missy back!"
"It's going to be hell up there." Tsuki warned.
"Then this should be a piece of cake." Sanosuke joked as Aoshi agreed with a nod. Together the three prepared to tackle the storm.
Kaoru had gotten news of Kenshin's rescue. She wanted to see him to make sure he was okay but Suiso had kept a careful eye on her. He visited her at different times everyday to make sure she was where she was suppose to be. "Suiso I want to see Kenshin." She told him again when he came to see her the day after Kenshin's jump.
"Why should I." Suiso was not smiling and Kaoru didn't really have a good answer for that.
"Kenshin would work harder if he saw me." She spit out trying to think of anything to get Suiso to let her see Kenshin. Suiso had only been there a few moments but started to leave. "Wait! Please Suiso."
Suiso smiled. "Call me Captain Suiso and I'll see what I can do."
Kaoru's face turned red with anger and if she had something in her hands she would have bopped Suiso on the head but then her face lighted. She would do anything to see Kenshin again. "Please Captain Suiso."
"I'll give you five minutes." Suiso turned to one of his men. "Fetch the Battòsai." The man bowed and left along with Suiso. Suiso headed to his room but first he had another stop to make. He knocked on a door and it was opened for him then he stepped inside.
"Suiso I want to see Kenshin!" Senko said sternly.
"What is it with you two and seeing Battòsai?" Senko looked down still slightly scared of Suiso. "I just came to remind you…" Suiso said with a light tone to his voice and a smile on his face. "…about our deal."
"If I keep quiet then you'll let me go the next time you dock." Senko stated.
"That's right." Suiso wanted to get rid of Senko as soon as he could before Kenshin found out she was still alive. "Well I got to go!" He said with a wave before leaving Senko with the guard that was always in the room with her.
"… I had me a little drink about an hour ago and it got right to my heeeeeeeeeeeeead!" Nakami was singing and quite merrily now that he was no longer afraid of Kenshin. He looked over at Kenshin begging him to continue.
Kenshin blushed and began to scrub the deck harder. Singing just wasn't his thing. He took one glance into Nakami's pleading eyes and sighed. "Wherever I may roam."
Nakami grinned. "Over land or sea or…!"
"Battòsai!" A new voiced chimed.
"Or Battòsai? That's not how the song goes!" Nakami joked.
The man ignored Nakami. "You can visit that girl." Kenshin was surprised. "You got five minutes." Kenshin jumped to his feet and sprinted away. "HEY! Do you even know where she is?!" The man called after him.
"Oro?" Kenshin stopped dead in his tracks. He had thought that he had five minutes to find Kaoru.
"Are you really the Battòsai?" The man asked thinking that Kenshin had just started running for no reason. "Follow me idiot." Kenshin went to the man's side and began to wonder why everyone seemed to call him an idiot.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled happy to see him. "You're alright!" She jumped into his arms.
"Ah… this one is glad to see you're okay too Miss Kaoru; that I am." He said blushing brightly.
"I heard you jumped over the side of the ship! What were you thinking!" She said backing out of his arms and shaking her finger at him.
"I'm sorry! That I am!" Kenshin yelled putting up his arms in self-defense. The two crew members that happened to be nearby laughed at seeing Kenshin being held then scolded in less then a minute.
Kenshin shut the door so that Kaoru and he could be alone together but the laughter behind the closed door could still be heard a little while after. "Kenshin… I… mean…" There were so many things Kaoru wanted to say but she didn't know where to begin.
"There is something this one needs to tell you Miss Kaoru." Kenshin began. He wanted to tell her about his suspicions over Senko's "death." Kenshin opened his mouth to continue when he noticed there was a slight breeze inside the sealed room.
"What is it Kenshin?"
"That… that… this one will protect you and make sure you get back safely; that I will." Kenshin had a feeling there was someone else besides Miss Kaoru who was listening to him. He had to choose his words carefully and make sure Kaoru didn't say anything she shouldn't.
Kaoru nodded. "I know you will." She placed her hand on his.
Suiso was a little disappointed. He had hoped to get more information out of Kenshin but the two had only made small talk. Suiso looked down at his charts again but they didn't hold his interest very long; he pushed them aside. "Now that I have him how do I start my legend?" He said out loud. He sat back in his chair thinking it over completely unaware of the small vessel heading toward his ship.
"Over there." Aoshi said calmly pointing over the side.
"I don't see anything." Tsuki said as he placed a hand over his eyes.
"Trust me; I can see the sails over in that direction."
"You hear that Sanosuke?"
"You bet!" Sano turned the wheel in the direction Aoshi had pointed out. "Here we come Suiso!"
"Show me the way to go home." Nakami had just about finished washing the deck when Kenshin returned. Nakami gave him a wave when he saw him. "How did it go?"
"Good." Kenshin looked out into the sea and was surprised by what he saw.
"What is it?" Nakami asked looking in the same direction and seeing nothing.
Kenshin shook his head. "Nothing." He bent down and picked up a rag. "They should be here tomorrow. I will have to find something to fight with tonight." Kenshin thought as Nakami began to sing.
Kenshin opened his eyes and looked around. Everyone seemed to be sleeping peacefully so he quietly rose to his feet. "It's alright Nakami." Kenshin said softly as he stretched his muscles a bit.
"Where are you going?" The shy boy asked quietly.
There was no breeze but Kenshin still picked his words carefully. "To find something that will help this one."
Nakami climbed out of his hammock. "I want to help." Kenshin nodded agreeing that Nakami could come with him. "What is going to happen tomorrow?" Nakami asked, his voice rising a little when they were away from the sleeping crewmen.
"Something. There may be a fight. You should stay below tomorrow; that you should."
Nakami's eyes widened. "You aren't going to fight Captain Suiso are you?"
Kenshin remained silent for a moment. "Only if Suiso tries to hurt this one's friends."
"Are you looking for your sword?" Kenshin stopped and looked Nakami in the eye. Nakami hung his head avoiding Kenshin's stare. "I know where it is." He whispered, his heart suddenly torn between helping his new friend and staying loyal to his Captain.
"Where?" Kenshin mouthed, he thought Suiso would have gotten rid of his Sakabato.
"In his room. Captain Suiso's room." Nakami suddenly found the wall to be fascinating he studied it thoroughly. "But he hid it in his room." Nakami knew exactly where to find it, he had accidentally discovered it yesterday.
"Do you know where it is in his room?" Nakami stared harder at the wall. "It's alright. I'll look for it myself."
Nakami let out a small sigh of relief until he saw Kenshin heading to Suiso's room. "Where are you going?"
"Oro? Why to get this one's Sakabato back of course!" Kenshin answered in an almost happy tone.
"But Captain Suiso is in there!"
"Then this one had better be quiet and not wake him up then!"
The door to Suiso's room creaked softly when Kenshin opened it. Kenshin stepped inside the room and Nakami stood breathlessly in the doorway. Suiso slept peacefully unaware of the two's presence in his room. Nakami could feel his knees buckle as Kenshin moved further into the room.
Kenshin let his eyes scan the room trying to figure out where Suiso had hidden his Sakabato. He was confident that he wouldn't wake the sleeping Suiso; he had perfected the art of sneaking around in the darkness during the Bakumatsu. Kenshin stepped toward the desk with pile of books on it. Quietly Kenshin pulled opened the draws checking for false bottoms, but none of the draws were even long enough to hide a sword in.
"Find it." Nakami's brain echoed. "Hurry and find it before Suiso wakes up."
Kenshin, having checked all the draws, moved to the only other item in the room. Suiso's bed. Kenshin leaned over and check under the small bed keeping an eye on the sleeping body. Finding nothing under the bed Kenshin rose and looked around again. He spotted Nakami in the doorway. The boy's eye was locked onto one of the charts hanging on the wall. Without a word Kenshin went to the chart, it looked like any other chart. He ran his hand over it, the wood behind it felt smooth then it bumped up just slightly. Kenshin took the chart down and took a closer look at the wall behind it.
Kenshin placed his hand back on the wall and was able to feel a small hole. He pulled back and part of the wall swung open. "A secret compartment!" Kenshin opened the door open all the way and found his Sakabato inside.
Nakami let out a sigh. He never thought Kenshin would find it. He had been cleaning up Suiso's room when he knocked the map down. He saw the 'handle' when he was trying to hang the map back up, his curiosity had gotten the best of him and he had opened it. Nakami was slightly worried that Suiso would hurt him if he ever discovered how Kenshin had found his sword but since Nakami hadn't really said anything perhaps he could get out of this guilt free. Kenshin replaced the map and walked over to Nakami. "We should go back and get some sleep; that we should." Kenshin said with a smile. Nakami gave a nod and the two walked back together.
Morning came and Suiso awoke. He got out of bed and looked around his room. Everything seemed to be in place but he couldn't help but feel something was out of place. He tapped the piece of wood that still held his power making him feel a little better but something still felt out of place. Suiso knew better then too ignore these strong feelings so he began to search his room for something. His feelings had never let him down before. He had gotten the strange feeling to go capture Senko to lure the Battòsai too him and he had listen only to discover that he didn't need to search for the Battòsai he too had paid Senko a visit. He had gotten lucky. Suiso took down his chart and opened his secret department. He clenched his jaw to keep his swear within his mouth as he discovered it was empty.
Suiso rubbed his injured arm that had been feeling better before his little 'swim' with Kenshin as he stormed to the crew's sleeping area. He found it empty, all except for a couple of men who where still dozing. He went to the Kitchen where he found most of his crew but Kenshin wasn't among them. The anger rising inside of him with each passing second Suiso made his way to the deck where he found Kenshin and Nakami scrubbing away as they always did. "Battòsai!" Suiso yelled from the other end of the ship.
"He's really mad. Do you think he knows?" Nakami said nervously as he watched Suiso walking toward them.
"Probably." Kenshin said calmly rising to his feet. "Go below." Kenshin wasn't sure what Suiso was going to do and he wanted Nakami as far away as possible. Kenshin went to met Suiso halfway and Nakami darted for the stairs.
"How?! How did you find it?" Suiso yelled at Kenshin.
"Find what?" Kenshin asked playing dumb.
"Your sword!"
"My Sakabato?" Kenshin asked. Inside his head he begged that Suiso would believe his act, he had never been a good liar.
"How did you find it?" Suiso was getting visible madder.
"I don't have it as you can see." Kenshin said motioning to his empty side. "I thought you would have gotten rid of it."
Suiso clenched his teeth. "I know you have it you little sneak. Now where is it?"
"Now, now." Kenshin said raising his hands. "Even if I did have it why would I need it? I can't take on the whole crew and I don't know anything about navigating ships."
Suiso temper was visible reduced. "That's true. He knows something. There must be some reason why he wants his sword. I have to find out why." Suiso's smile returned. "Oh, Battòsai!" He half laughed. "It's not what you would do with it. It's the fact that you came into my room and took something out of it. That's not respectful. You have to treat your Captain with respect."
"Captain." Kodo's voice intruded their argument. "Captain there is a ship over there." Suiso turned and looked at the ship that had gotten closer during the night.
"Odd." Suiso looked back to Kenshin. "Funny how first your sword goes missing now this ship." Suiso strolled to the edge of the ship and whispered something that Kenshin couldn't hear. "Let's see who is on that ship." The wind picked up a bit then died as it rushed for the nearing ship.
Sanosuke shivered a bit from the sudden breeze. "It's getting really cold." He muttered as he rubbed his arms.
"Ai." Tsuki said without emotion as he checked his charts again.
"Bah." Sanosuke was bored. This was taking too long and the company wasn't the greatest. Aoshi was too quiet and Tsuki was so worried that he wasn't any fun to be around. Sanosuke was anxious to catch up with Suiso so there would finally be some action. "So how powerful is this guy again? Really strong?" Sanosuke asked again.
"Really strong. Don't underestimate him Sanosuke."
"He fights without honor if he uses kids as shields." Aoshi added from the spot he was sitting at.
"Yeah. That coward hiding behind children. I'll make him pay!" Sano said angrily and balling his hand into a fist. "Let's hurry it up and teach that guy a lesson!"
"If only it was that easy." Tsuki sighed as the breeze died down.
Suiso pounded his hand on the rail. "Coward am I?" He turned to Kenshin. "Your friend Sanosuke called me a coward!"
Kenshin seemed surprised. "How did Sanosuke… Megumi! Megumi must have gone and told everyone back in Kyoto. Now everyone has been dragged into this." Kenshin turned his attention back to Suiso who was still ranting.
"So you think I am a coward. Let's see how you handle this!" Everyone could feel the ship began to rock violently from underneath their feet as dark clouds began to form in the sky.
Chapter 17 – Rough Waters
"What the hell!" Sanosuke yelled angrily as the ship began to pitch. A blanket of rain began to fall pelting the three men on board.
"It's Suiso!" Tsuki yelled throwing a rope at Sano. "Don't let go of this!"
Sano felt the rope tighten in his hands. "How could it be Suiso? It's just the weather!" Sano yelled over the pounding rain.
"Is this his power?" Aoshi said calmly as he began to help Tsuki take that sail down before it got ripped to shreds.
"Yes!" Tsuki grunted as he worked. "He must have spotted us and is going to capsize us."
The ship creaked as waves threatened to plow over the deck. "How do we stop him?!" Sano yelled as water swirled around his ankles.
"We can't! All we can do is hang on and hope for the best."
"Please let my luck be good today!" But Sanosuke's plea was unheard over the thunder that had begun to sound.
"Suiso stop this!" Kenshin yelled.
Suiso turned calmly to Kenshin water running down his face and over his smile. Suiso raised a finger and slowly waved it back and forth. "Now, now don't forget. It's Captain Suiso and aren't you enjoying the show Battòsai?"
"Suiso stop this or I will stop you myself; that I will."
Suiso's smirk widened. "Capta…" It had been so fast that at first Suiso didn't even realize what had happened. The slow thudding that came from his jaw told him that Kenshin had hit him. Suiso straightened himself and looked at Kenshin, even though rain pelted everyone who watched Suiso could see clearly through the darkness two piecing, amber eyes staring back at him and for a moment he was scared. His smile left leaving an open mouth behind.
"Stop this right now or you will regret it." Kenshin said calmly as he took another step toward Suiso.
Suiso took a moment to get over his fear and he gritted his teeth angrily as he realized that he still hadn't managed to break the Battòsai. "He's stubborn, but I always get what I want." Suiso thought bitterly. He cleared his voice once before speaking. "How do you plan to stop me?" He spat through the rain.
Kenshin's voice was cold. "By any means necessary." Nakami, who had been watching from a 'safe' distance, gasped from the sound of Kenshin's voice. Could that icy demeanor really belong to the goofy man that had saved him from drowning?
Suiso without realizing it took a step back. "You… you can't do anything Battòsai!" He instinctively rubbed the piece of wood hidden in his pocket while mentally adding. "Not while I have this." Kenshin took another step forward. "Men!" Suiso called out knowing Kenshin was too much for him to handle on his own, even unarmed.
Kenshin watched calmly as Suiso's men advanced. He didn't have time for this, he needed to get Suiso's attention and somehow stop him. He wasn't sure how to do that yet but he had to try something.
Meanwhile the three aboard the rocking ship hung on for dear life. They had retreated below but the ranging storm still rang in their ears. "Now what?!" Sanosuke yelled to Tsuki.
"Not much! We've done all we can!"
"Why don't we put the sail back up and use this wind to our advantage?!" Sano screamed not liking the helpless feeling that was suddenly gnawing at him.
"It would be ripped to shreds! Or worse it would capsize us!" The ship tipped dangerously to one side as if to prove a point.
"Well we don't seem to be doing much better without it!" Sano said as the ship tipped in the other direction. "I say lets throw the dice and see how our luck is! If we put up the sail we could get there faster. We sit here Suiso is just going to keep getting further away! If we did catch up again he would do the same thing wouldn't he?" The look on Tsuki face told Sano he had made a good point. "The way I see it Suiso is going to sink this boat weather we do something or not. So I say lets go get Kenshin and the missy back!"
"It's going to be hell up there." Tsuki warned.
"Then this should be a piece of cake." Sanosuke joked as Aoshi agreed with a nod. Together the three prepared to tackle the storm.