Disclaimer: See previous chapter(s)
Chapter 4.
Suzume tried to avoid Sanosuke the rest of the day. It really wasn't that hard to do since he didn't do much. She stayed in her room and practiced with her wooden sword. Hopefully, she wouldn't have a reason to use it.
A few hours later, Kenshin walked in the door. Suzume peeked her head out of her room finally to see what would happen. Sano was whispering really low and she couldn't read lips. She closed her eyes and tried to listen. All she heard was Sano asking Kenshin if he had any luck. Kenshin looked at the ground and shook his head and then Sano left.
Immediately, she ran to him. He looked her over. "Are you okay, Suzume? Sano said you were acting rather strange when he got here. You can trust me." He smiled warmly.
Suzume glanced around and said quietly, "Actually, I really do need to tell you something. I know who's trying to kill us."
Kenshin looked a little surprised, but he urged her to continue.
"It's Saitou, Aoshi, and even Sanosuke!"
Kenshin didn't understand. "That's ridiculous, Suzume! Why would they—"
Suzume tried to tell him. She explained what she had said to Misao and then told him about going to see her last night. She purposefully left out the part that she was really spying on Aoshi. Then she showed him the note from Sanosuke and how he didn't want her to tell him.
Kenshin thought about that for the longest time. He didn't believe it for a second that his friends would turn on him like that for no reason. But there was no explanation for what Suzume said.
Then he got an idea. "Come on, Suzume. I'll prove to you that it isn't them." He took her by the hand and headed out, leaving a note for everyone else.
"Where are we going?" Suzume wondered.
"There is a way to find out if Aoshi is involved. I went with Saitou today to visit an archery place and I compared the arrows with the one someone shot at us. If Aoshi was the shooter, then he'd have the exact same arrows like this."
Suzume bit her lip. "What if I'm right?"
Kenshin just smiled. "Then we can take care of the problem then and there, that we can." It finally helped Suzume to relax.
They took the fast way and rode in a horse-pulled wagon (um, I don't know what else to call them.) to their destination. Kenshin helped Suzume down and they walked up the stairs. Suzume was feeling really brave with Kenshin right in front of her.
"Himura, what are you doing here?" Aoshi asked, rather surprised at the unexpected guests. He kept looking over them as if he was waiting for someone else.
"Hello, Aoshi. We need to talk to you, so do you mind if we come in?" Kenshin asked.
With one last look, Aoshi let them in and shut the door. He had a worried expression on his face that wouldn't go away. He was dressed like he was about to leave too. "Do you want something to drink?" He started some tea before they could answer.
"Sanosuke told me he was helping you sell your bow and arrows. I was wondering if I could look at them before you got rid of them." Kenshin began. He wasn't really sure if that would work, since Sano never mentioned it.
"Sure," he said absently. He went to the door and retrieved them.
Kenshin picked up an arrow and froze. He pulled the one with him out for Aoshi to see. It was the same, with no flaws. "Aoshi, is this yours?" He demanded in a low tone. Suzume backed up.
"Looks like it. What are you doing with my arrow though?" He asked incredulously. Another knock sounded at the door. Aoshi ran for the door and threw it open. Sanosuke stood trying to read something on a sheet of paper.
"Hey, I got the price for that thing of yours. The guy wrote so sloppy though; I can't exactly make it out...."
Aoshi pulled him into the room and stood gazing outside for a few minutes. He sighed and gripped the door until his knuckles turned white.
"Hey, Kenshin, what are you doing here?" Sano wondered. He waved at Suzume, but didn't get a response. He scratched the back of his head and turned to look at Aoshi. "What's wrong with you? Did you catch whatever Misao had?"
Aoshi slammed the door. "She hasn't come home yet!"
"That's not unusual, is it?" Sano asked.
"It is when..." he looked at Kenshin and checked himself. "It is tonight. I'll take the quote, Sano. Thanks for getting it for me. Now, if you all will excuse me, I need to be going. I have things to take care of."
Suzume pulled on Kenshin's arm. "We can't let him get away like that, can we? What if they all come after us tonight or something while we're trying to sleep?"
Kenshin walked calmly out the door and waited until they were on their way home. "Something about it all doesn't make sense, so we're going to wait and just meet them at the Akabeko. We'll be prepared if anything happens, that we will."
"Misao stopped by to see me on today right after Kaoru left." Suzume said. "That's probably why she isn't home." She said it more for herself than Kenshin.
Suzume went straight to bed once she got home. She didn't know the time, but figured it was pretty early since no one had come back home yet. Kenshin stayed up waiting for them, and also guarding Suzume. Something was missing from this little puzzle, but what was it? He drifted off to sleep still thinking about it.
"Suzume, please get up!" Kenshin shook the girl.
"What is it?" Suzume yawned and stretched.
Although he didn't want to alarm her, he had to tell her. "Kaoru, Yahiko, and Tsubame never came in last night."
"They never came home? Why not? What could they be doing that would keep them away?"
"I don't know, but I need to take you someplace safe so I can go and look for them." His eyes started to turn colors.
Suzume's heart raced. "What if Aoshi or Saitou has them? Or even Sanosuke? You can't leave me with either of them! Let me go with you." She pleaded, but her puppy dog look wouldn't work this time.
"I'll have to take you to my sensei, Seijuro Hiko. You can't come with me because it's too dangerous." He stated.
Suzume didn't say anything. She had never met his sensei. She actually thought it would be a good opportunity to see what the red-haired swordsman used to be like. How exciting! "Okay, let's go."
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Okay, time for your many, many reviews! (lol) Um, in case you are wondering, this is not going to focus on Kenshin's history or whatever. I wish I could see the show again because I kinda' forgot what Hiko was like. Rats, that means he might be a lil' outta' character next chapter, but oh, well.
