Disclaimer: *someone blows a trumpet, announcement-style, but it drowns out Akari's message* Oh well! ^_^ *holds up a sign saying 'RK and PB aren't mine' instead*
Author's note: Well, being impatient to get to the fluff myself, and having promised you guys that I'd get there this week… ^_^
Basically, I realised it would take another chapter- d'oh!- so I then decided to write both chapters, and post them both up today, thereby getting to the fluff and giving you all a double-chapter special, courtesy of me!
I'm still feeling a little guilty about the recent late updates, you see, and I've had all week off to 'revise'. *wonders why anyone really thinks she'll do that when there's fics to write and anime to watch, but realises she must revise at some point…* Ugh…
Well, til then, enjoy your two-chapter Special Sunday! ^_^ *happy dance*
The Princess Bride: Kenshin StyleEighteen
Sanosuke leant back a little under the multiple blows being dealt by the man in black, who seemed to have appeared out of the shadows at Sano's feet, melting up out of nothing to attack.
Sano waited as the attack went on, reaction building up in him until he couldn't hold it in anymore.
Oh gods!
It bubbled up inside him and burst out. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The man in black made a sound that sounded like 'oro' before falling over. He looked up at Sano with a hurt and puzzled face.
"Why laugh? I'm killing you!" he cried.
Sanosuke just laughed again.
"Sorry, sorry, I'll be serious, only… Only… HAHAHAHAHA!"
The man in black stood up, but his head fell right down, shoulders slumped. He looked pretty upset about Sano's reaction, or at least what Sano could see of him, black-covered head and all.
After another outburst, Sanosuke's laughter seemed to have come under control. The man in black raised his face to look at his opponent, who looked like he was still trying not to laugh, a grin all over his face.
"Why were you laughing, really?" he asked tentatively, hoping it wouldn't set off another raucous outburst.
Sanosuke had himself in check now. "Only because you were trying so hard, and fighting so fiercely, but in all honesty… I barely felt it. Sorry," he said cheerfully.
The man in black looked as if he might actually pout. His amber eyes flickered a different, softer colour in the low light of the moon for a moment. "Oh. Well, I'm really at my best with a sword, so you've really got me at a disadvantage in this fight."
"I figured. I'm best at hands-on fighting myself, so it looks like I'm going to win this one." Sanosuke's smile was jovial as he spoke, but the man in black knew there was a serious intent behind his words. Time to get on with it.
"Let's go, then. And no laughing this time, please," he added with a reprimanding frown.
Sano nodded, smile melting away, leaving only the deadly serious look he'd had at the start of the fight. He meant business this time.
The man in black tried a different tactic as they plunged back into battle, leaping nimbly right over Sano's head to land behind, fists slamming into Sano's shoulders as he fell lightly to the earth.
Sano felt that hit. Not enough to do more than make him wince a little, but still. Looks like this little guy ain't so bad at this as I thought. He turned to land a punch, but the man in black had already gone. Sanosuke located him by the direction from which the next hit came, this time a kick that caught him in the back of one thigh.
Not enough to make Sano's footing falter, but he still couldn't turn in time to catch the smaller black-clad man. Damn it! He's too fast!
Sanosuke whirled again, catching a glimpse of black cloth before he was struck on his right shoulder blade. Damn it! Damn it!
Suddenly an idea came to Sano. He felt the next hit, feigned a turn towards it, then doubled back in time to catch out the man in black, who was at that moment crouched, about to spring up from the ground in front of him with the speed and grace of a cat.
Sano, however, landed his blow with the ferocity of a tiger, catching the man in black as he became airborne, the force of the hit sending him flying to the ground a few feet away. Got him!
The man in black coughed, and a dark substance flew from his mouth. Woah, drew blood with that one… thought Sanosuke. He was suddenly surprised by his own reaction to it, and shoved the thought aside, stepping forwards. Blood is what I want: I'll kill him quick; Sagara always said that was the fairest way to do it.
As Sano moved, the man in black glanced up, and there was a flash in his amber eyes that barely warned Sano before he was gone. He has a plan, I can tell. Damn, he's so fast!
Sano spun round, fist flying, only to feel the sudden warm weight of the man in black on his back, before arms slipped round to fasten securely around Sano's neck.
"Damn it! Get off!" he yelled instinctively, trying to reach round to the black limpet and failing.
"You'll kill me if I don't do something, so I'm sure this is fair," came the muffled voice of the man in black, right near Sano's ear.
Sanosuke was already struggling for breath. He had a sudden idea, and ran for a large boulder, only to turn at the last moment, slamming the man in black back against the rough stone. He heard an answering grunt of pain from the space by his ear, and his brows lowered with determination, even as his throat began to burn.
"I'll only squeeze harder!" cried the man in black, still wincing, and Sano felt the hold on his neck constrict yet more.
"DAMN YOU!" he yelled as his throat screamed with tight pain, and he tore at the arms that denied him air to no avail. The man in black was on him tight and wouldn't move.
I won't be beaten like this! I haven't been beaten in more than ten years! Not since Sagara took me with him and trained me, damn it!
Sagara… He taught me everything I know, and he's amazing, but this man in black knows what he's doin'. I'm gonna lose if I don't think of something quick!
Sagara… What do I do?
"No, not like that. You need to use the strength in your upper arms, too, not just your hands and forearms. Like this."
Sagara leapt to the tree that towered over he and the younger boy, flying into the air as his arms arced and bent at the elbow. Sagara's face was smooth and cool with concentration as he landed the blow that sent the tree shuddering from its decade-old place in the earth.
Sanosuke watched in awe. Sagara landed lightly on the ground, red bandanna tails falling through the air to rest against his back. He always looks like a hero, thought Sanosuke admiringly, staring at his uncle, who flexed his fingers with his eyes closed in concentration.
Sagara then turned to his nephew with a patient look of leadership on his handsome face.
"Did you see the difference?" he asked.
"Yes, but… I can't do that. I'm still too small, I'm not strong enough to do that," muttered Sano with a self-mocking smile, thinking back on his previous failed efforts.
"Don't be so defeatist. Size isn't everything, you know. One man can do much against many; same as a small thing can do much against a large thing. If you really want to succeed, you will. You just have to learn how first. Got it?"
Sanosuke nodded, fists clenching in front of him, determined grin back on his face. Sagara was tough to learn from, because his moves were so experienced and smooth, but Sano had never found a more patient teacher, or a better friend. He wanted to be exactly like Sagara, just as strong, both in a physical and in a mental way, able to deal with anything that came up against him.
After the way things had been with those kids in his village, he wanted to make sure he would never feel the need to back down again. He would be in such control of his own body that he would know exactly how much force he'd need for everything, so he'd always win and never hurt something that was weak. That was his ultimate goal, and Sagara would be there to see him reach it.
Sagara looked down into the warm brown eyes that radiated loyalty and love, and found himself unable to face the boy. To see so much feeling…
He ruffled Sanosuke's hair, making it even messier than it always was, and turned away to hide the moved look in his eyes. He wouldn't be able to stay with Sano forever: best not let himself get too attached.
Sagara snorted a breath, a wry smile on his face.
Always on the move, never stopping anywhere long enough to make real friends…
He knew Sanosuke's lonely situation better than the boy realised. That was why he was determined to help Sano through this, and to teach him how to live well and not back down or fail when the odds were against him. He'd do all this for nephew, and more: he'd walk away when Sano knew all Sagara had to teach.
Because once that day came, Sanosuke would have a life of his own to live, and Sagara's path lay a different way. He wouldn't isolate and ruin Sano's life for his own benefit: it wasn't in his nature, he didn't agree with that kind of thinking.
For now, he'd just make sure he always ruffled Sano's hair when he looked like that, and not hug him the way a father hugs his son, the way Sagara wanted to.
I won't fail Sagara! Sano mentally yelled the words to himself, his lungs screaming against his ribcage in an effort to get air.
Black spots began to appear at the edges of his vision, and he found himself remembering things he usually tried to forget. They say your life flashes before your eyes when you drown… I guess suffocating ain't that different…
"I'm going."
'I'm'? Why is he saying 'I'm'? "Don't you mean 'we', Sagara?"
"No."
Sagara's face was turned away, into the breeze, his hair shifting lightly against his face, shielding his eyes from Sano's intense brown gaze.
Sanosuke was completely taken aback, the shock of what was so suddenly happening scalding his senses as boiling water scalds and creates a sudden wound. There was a pause as Sano wondered if he had it right.
"What are you saying? You're leaving me and going off on your own again?" Sano's shocked hurt was vented in anger, his voice sounding irate as well as pained as he questioned his uncle accusingly.
"We both knew I would someday."
"But you don't have to!"
"We both know that's not true."
"Will you stop with this 'we knew' crap! Talking about it all like I agree, like it's in the past… Damn it, Sagara! You've been more of a father to me than the man who gave me life, and you know it!" Sano's fists clenched reflexively, his hurt growing, and his anger with it, frustration showing in every tensed muscle on his body.
"That's why I'm going. Or partly, at least."
"What?" asked Sano, his face scrunched up with lack of understanding. "I don't care what your reasons are, I'm going with you! You can't stop me!"
Sagara sighed. He won't listen to my reasons, and he won't agree with them either. There's one way to stop him, but… He sighed. Damn it. He took a breath, and forced nonchalance and calm into his voice.
"I don't want you around forever, Sanosuke. I have a life of my own." Like hell you do. "I have stuff of my own to do. I've had you along for long enough now, surely? Don't you want to see your family again?"
Sano's face had fallen in shock as the convictions and emotions of years crashed into nothingness around him. Is that really how he feels? Am I that useless? His eyes squeezed shut as tightly as they could as the pain of being suddenly thrown aside rose in his chest like fire and lead. It made him feel strangely still and empty.
"Am I that much of a burden, Sagara?" He spoke so quietly.
His uncle didn't turn, didn't move at all at Sano's agonised question. The youth's anger rose again in defiance.
"Damn it, uncle! We've spent eight years of our lives together, as travelling companions, as relatives, as friends! You're just gonna tell me I'm a weight around your neck? DAMN IT!"
Sagara stepped in then.
"Of course I care, you're my nephew. But we both have things to do. Things that don't involve us sticking together."
Sano shook his head in denial, his eyes wide and pleading with an emotion he hadn't felt in years. The words that had been stirring in his heart for so long spilled quietly, almost painfully earnestly, from his lips. The one card he had left to play, and the one that meant the most to him.
"I would follow you to the grave, Sagara."
The older man flinched inwardly. That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid, my boy. He brushed his hair back from his forehead, only for it to flop back into place over his eyes.
"Sorry," he said simply. He had to do something now… To act on the words he'd forced himself to say… The moment had come already.
It came so soon…
His foot moved, taking him forwards. He watched his body moving of its own volition as pain and isolation burst to life in his chest and began to tug at him from inside. His other foot moved then, and he was another step away from his nephew.
His feet kept moving, one in front of the other, taking him and his life away from his best friend and most trusted companion.
A few quick footsteps trailed his path with quiet thuds, and Sagara could see in his mind the vision of Sano's agonized expression, those deep, rich, chocolate-brown eyes, so full of devotion, gazing at his retreating back. He couldn't let him follow.
"No."
So small, so simple a word.
The footsteps stopped. Sagara kept walking. Leaving, abandoning, isolating.
Sagara kept walking.
It's all for the best, Sanosuke. The space that lay far from Sano swallowed his friend, his captain, the man who'd taught him everything. The grey air barely noticed his slow-stepped passage, and all Sano could do was watch. The footsteps walked away, and faded into the distance.
And that was it.
Sano watched the path his uncle had walked away from him with disbelief and pain all over his face. As his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, mimicking the aching rhythm of his throbbing heart, he felt tears fall down his face. Hot, pain-filled tears. He hadn't cried in eight years, but he cried now, not with sobs or screams, but silently, filled with agony inside until he wondered if his body could really hold so much pain.
At nineteen, he was the most powerful fighter he could ever be, strong and enduring and a formidable enemy to anyone.
At nineteen, he cried helplessly as he watched his uncle, his leader, his friend, walk out of his life and disappear into the empty streets of an unknown town.
The final 'damn you!' didn't cross Sano's lips. He hadn't any air left with which to shout the words.
He crumpled to the ground as the man in black released his hold, in the very moment that would render Sano unconscious without killing him.
He lifted himself carefully from the taller man's broad back, standing over him, small and dark in the night.
"Maybe all three of us should meet up sometime… Under better circumstances," he said quietly, remembering the master swordsman he had fought earlier that night.
"But for now… The Princess is ahead, with only one man left standing between herself and my judgement…"
The man in black sped onwards through the darkness.
Author's note: Hope you liked it- to those familiar with the PB, I favoured the parting with Sagara over a description of their travels for a couple of reasons. Partly because I wanted a scene that really meant something, also one that would convey the strength of their relationship, and one that would signify how Sanosuke changed into the fighter we now see.
Hope that makes sense! And to any who wondered… Yep, Sagara is one of my favourite RK supporting cast members. I don't know why exactly, but something about him really struck me, and I always liked him. ^_^
Anyhoo, onwards to the next chapter!
Btw, there won't be any notes to reviewers in the next one, cos they're all here. ^_^
Notes to reviewers (Proper long ones cos there aren't any in the bonus chappie ^_^):
Thank you to monkeysme (Thank you! *huge smile* *munches the bananas* ^_^), kittykoishii (Thanks!), Califpinay3001 (^_^ Thanks), TwinBakaNekos (Hey-hey! You get to find out the next bit straight away! ^_^), Staci/Nadia (Cheers! I love Sagara- he's cool. Shame there wasn't more of him in the series, really.), LilInuyashaMunky, Thunderstorm (Oooh! Goodies! *dives in* Yum, muffins! *is already on her eleventh muffin* I'm not greedy, I just appreciate good food. *wink* More fluff next chapter, you know! ^_^), Shadowfax (You know, I thought that about Mice and Men… I think that my GCSE English studies subconsciously infiltrated my writing in the form of a mild reference to that book, which I did in my exam… *considers* And I wholeheartedly bow respectfully to the power of the Shadow! ^_^), Dragonlass (*looks at chibi Dragonlass and smiles happily* So cute! *tickles behind those cute kitten ears* I want kitten ears… *pout* Anyhoo, onto important stuff… If you're the doctor, can I be a nurse? *imagines poor injured Kenshin, in need of her loving care* Mmmm…), WIERDkittyw/wingz (*watches the confetti mingle with the fluff* Pretty ^_^ As for the flashbacks: they were in the PB book, and go a long way to develop characters and give a background view on who they are, why they are the way they are, etc… I couldn't leave them out, they're a fave part with me in the book! Sorry you weren't keen on them), Renmauza (No, I haven't read it. But then, I guess there's only so many childhoods available for literature treatment… *shrugs* Is it a good book? Would you recommend it?), Mary (*bursts out laughing at the sight of Mary's enthusiasm and Sano's face* Hee hee ^_^ You know, I think Sano is secretly in love with you, Mary… *Sano looks bewildered* Oh, you just wait, Sanosuke darling! *pounces to join the fun* ^_^), Zeh Wulf (*laughs at 'silly rooster' comment* So true! ^_^ Ah, have fun at the con! You're so lucky… *sob* I have exams instead of anime conventions… *sob sob* Man, I'm just being pathetic now! *slaps self* ^_^), ponchita (Yeh, I tend to get really involved in fight scenes once they get started… ^_^), Yuki (Thank you! ^_^ Hope you like these two- and no delay this week! Yay!), Vash-chan AKA Makoto Almasy (Yeh, Hoji's just a mean guy! *glares at Hoji, slapping a trout against her hand threateningly* I'm so glad you like Souzou too! He's the BEST! *grin* You know, the uncle idea came to me kinda suddenly. I decided not to send him packing with his rents, as Fezzik did in the PB, and I thought, Wait a sec, obviously it'd be his captain who taught him everything! ^_^ I'm so glad you liked that!), incoherence (*big smile* Yeh, I think a fox cub is an ok sacrifice to the cult of character plausibility. Though my mum told me off when I mentioned it to her. *subdued* She gets all animal-rightsy, even in stories… *wry grin*), Misao-chan (Yep, Hoji is way too gay to carry Kaoru. What a wimp. *rolls eyes* Serves him right to have to face the man in black, I say! ^_^ *eats the cookie* Thank you! As for romance… I have to say, my romance writing was kinda non-existent, and then sucked, until a couple of years ago. I think it comes under the classification of 'to write well, you write what you know', as all things do. Don't worry about writing mush until you feel confident with it. Once you feel confident, give it a go! There's nothing like trying stuff out to get better at it. ^_^), genocide ex-sync*in (I must be as sadistic as you, cos I nearly giggled when I killed off that cub. *repentant* Somehow it was just amusing in some way, as well as sad. I'm too cruel for my own good. *shakes head*), Mewberries (*giggles at 'trouble with foxes' comment* Glad that someone picked up on the message behind my choice of animal *grin*), TenkunoMeiou (Aw, of course he does! *musses up his hair affectionately* Cute widdle wooster head!), Skipper (Yep, K/K fluff just ahead! *holds up warning sign* ^_^), Silver Eyes Bright (*grin* It'd work if he secretly wanted to be tied up… *grin widens* Sorry, I should behave myself. Yes, I remember that episode! I laughed so hard! ^_^), Momentum (Thanks, I'll try hard! Glad you liked the chapter!), OrE (*grin* Yeh, I bet she would! ^_^ Oh yes, K/K all the way! I agree about Sano and Kaoru- it's a kind of cross between a sibling relationship and a good friends relationship. ^_^ It's fun to develop that!), MegumiFuu (Well, I like to be melodramatic now and then… *grin* Who doesn't? Yeh, poor Sano… I felt bad for doing that, but you know, it was in the PB… Well, not exactly, but very similar! *excuses excuses* I will work hard at my exams! Thank you!), Corran Nackatori (Yeh, it does the not showing up thing to me sometimes too. *pout* I do believe I shall sleep on the fluff actually! ^_^ It's so cute and sparkly… Oh wait, that isn't til next chapter! *giggle* I'm writing these after doing both chapters, you see. ^_^ Hope you like it when it comes. And yes: dark not bad! Dark is deep! I couldn't agree more!), Kaz the Rurouni (Really? *claps hands* I didn't know! I guess cos I started looking for one just after then, so all was quiet on the Minamicon front… ^_^), EvilPrincessMelphis (*looks at figure of Yoko Kurama with interest* So this is what she does to them… *wink* You can kidnap Sano for a bit if you like- he isn't around for a bit now. *grin* My, aren't I generous? J/k! ^_^), awc (It's true, Sano! *gestures to the roaring and clapping mass that is Sano's fanclub* But… We've got you up here and safe. From them at least. ^_^), Alec Ikiiki (I don't blame my reviewers! *grin* I should use that powder again now, only I don't think I need it. My eyes keep unfocusing and I'm trying to type, dammit! *cries* Need sleep! So unfair! Oh, thanks for the good wishes for the exams, both of you! *glomp* ^_^), Faye-Faye (Thanks! ^_^ Hope you're exams haven't been too hard. Mine don't actually start til next week, but I have to revise.. Grr. Oh well. Fics are great for distraction from evil exams! ^_^ Yes, wait and see for Soujiro's revenge! *huggles cutie Sou* ^_^), Little Yahiko (Wah! I forgot to e-mail you! But what I want to do is draw a picture of him- I can be a bit of an artist when I want to be ^_^- and e-mail it to anyone who wants to see. Whadya think? Oh, sorry to be ignorant, what are beta readers? *feels uncannily stupid*), Maggie Ruth (hi! Shame about Tevrah- I hope she's okay. Say hi to her for me! And thank you for the good luck wishes! *indirectly glomps Tevrah* ^_^ Glad you like my story, anyway. And I hope you like ff.net. I have to say, my net bills went up so much since I discovered it *sweatdrop* Hope you continue to enjoy my fic! ^_^), Kitty Katana (Skipping school is bad but fun! Wait, no- *slaps own wrist for encouraging wrong behaviour in readers* I should stop abusing my pitiful amount of influence… *pout* Thank you very much, anyways! Hope you liked this chapter too- more back stuff on Sano. ^_^), pretty Luthien (They will- I love him and this is my realm! *power-trip ahead* eh heh… Yeah. ^_^), ParanoidNovice (Thank you ^_^), Bye Bye Birdie (Yes, sugar is good for the brain! It makes it work super-fast! ^_^ How did your last days of school go? Hope it was fun! I always love the last few days- everyone else gets upset and stuff, I just laugh and say 'Thank monkey that I can get out of here!' I hate school. And yes, evil adults. *joins the chorus of growling* Evil!), Lady Kino (You're the only one to pick up on that! But by the time you read this, you'll have seen the play-around I did with that idea, and that I did indeed stick to that part of the PB. ^_^ Hope you liked how I did it. *joins in singing 'freedom'* Hurrah!), Griffin (Yeh, if I didn't love Sou quite as fanatically as I do, I'd agree with you. But I do love Sou fanatically. ^_^ Thank you, anyway! And I know what you mean about Buttercup- there are few places where I found myself telling her off for not doing something, or being a bit ditzy. Tho I love her anyway. Most of the time. ^_^), ZetaBee (*grin* Thanks!), A very, very much loved Papaya! (I can beat you up? Bam? … *hugest glomp ever* Silly baka… ^_^ I don't mind! I still love you! *gives Papaya a sticker with a smiley face that says 'Akari's fave reader* Cos it's true! ^_^ And lookie, you get two chapters to read this time too, and no need to apologise as a result either! ^_^ Thanks for the note about the brushing hair off Sou's forehead thing- I have to say, you're the only one who picked up on it and it actually meant a lot to me too, that little bit. ^_^ And I love that you like the interaction between Sano and Kaoru! I love writing those parts- I had this little picture in my head of them shrugging at each other- I get those kinds of little images all the time about those two. They're like a cross between bro/sis and great friends. They're so much fun! And putting in captain Sagara was my favourite idea out of the limited ones I've actually had for this fic- I love Souzou, he's so cool! And really handsome- no one seems to notice that. *puzzled by this* And look, my reply is huge! *giggle* I guess you can't doubt that I still love you then, can you? ^_^ And thanks for the offerings *munch munch* You know my weak bribe spots, dammit! ^_^ Seeya soon m'dear! *glomp*), Elf Fanatic Lark (Thank you! I really wanted Sano to have a slightly world-weary, as you put it, feel, so thank you very much for saying that! ^_^), Wishful Thinking (*grin* It's great to know my fic can bring relief from evil finals. I hate exams! *growls at incoming exams* Grr! *calms down* Well, yes, anyway, glad you like the story! ^_^), Rachel (Really? *giggles* I couldn't read that without giggling every time the unicorn appeared, and saying 'oro' out loud to myself- I mean, I did that just reading your review about it! ^_^), Celeste Rose (*hopeful sigh* Well, after doing creative writing as a degree at uni, starting this September, hopefully I will write and make money from it. ^_^ Til then, ff.net has given me so much experience- it's amazing! And so much fun! ^_^ *eyes apple pie with a drooling look* mmm…. Give me! Please!), Jellybob15 (*giggle* Yeh, stop being so girly Sano! *giggles again at evil look from Sano, that has 'you rigged it, evil authoress!' written all over it* eh heh heh… *wink* Hope you liked the fight!), Lil summoner yuna (Thank you! I hope you have fun too- aren't you on your summer break too by now? Well, I hope you continue to enjoy the story, dark bits an' all! ^_^), Redhead Samurai (Ah, there were more flashbacks for Sano this time, but I did cut out the tournament part, for the reasons stated in my author's note. I hope that didn't bother you too much- only I didn't want to weigh this chappie down with too many flashbacks, and I really wanted the separation scene there. Hope you liked it anyway. *offers tape of 'How to do the Happy Dance* It's fun! ^_^), Cherry Delight (*huge grin* It's been great, getting such a warm response for this story- though there are many who've had more reviews. There's one by Chiki, and it's an RK fic, that has something like 2000 reviews now. It's longer than mine so far, but it's a pretty cool AU story. It's up to 30 chapters now I think. Thanks for the encouragement, anyhoo- I'll do my best!), Jessie_Rose_Berd576 (*grin* I had the image of dancing in circles… *giggle* Glad you like the fic! Hope you like the incoming fluff!), Raven Pan (Hello! Ah, no worries- I'm behind on lots of ff stories I'm reading… *sweatdrop* Glad you're still enjoying it!) and EvilBunny ('scandalously charming'- good description of Westley and Kenshin! *sighs in awe as she gazes at the two magnificent men* So lovely… ^_^)!
Wow, thank you all so much! I hope you like these two chapters- but fluff is always good, right? *wink* Leave your thoughts, make me happy! ^_^