Chapter 9- Good bye Megumi
By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Misao drew closer to the bathroom labeled 'women', and found four kunais between her slim fingers. Little by little she crept inside and checked behind the door. She could sense a ki, but it wasn't Kaoru's. She paused, no wait, it was two people! Misao held her Kunai's close to her face and kicked the first stall, then the next, then the next. Growling in frustration and anticipation, she finally came to door number four. With all her strength, she bashed the door open to find two...children?
"Kami-sama, what are you two doing here!" She panicked seeing the young boy who was cradling something. Blood marked his tan body as he glared up at Misao with frightened eyes even though he tried hard not to let it show. "Get out now! Didn't you hear the sprinkler system go off? You little..." She grabbed his arm, but he slapped her hand away. She took a look at what he was cradling; it was a girl, probably as old as him. "Who are you?"
He spoke vindictively, "I'm Yahiko, who the hell are you?" He shielded the young teenager away from Misao. "You're not taking her away! You'll have to go through me first!"
Misao almost smiled at this punk's spirit. "Listen, I'm not going to hurt you. What happened?"
"We're servants here. A man started threatening some busu, with raven hair. He saw Tsubame, my friend here, and used her as a threat to the chick. She looked frightened as he started choking Tsubame. I was coming out of the kitchen just to see this. I...I didn't want to loose her, so from behind him, I jumped up onto his back and bit him. He released Tsubame, but I got elbowed in the face. She has really bad marks around her neck and it looks bruised. She... she hasn't stopped shaking." He wrapped his arms around Tsubame tighter.
"The chick got this real angry face and picked up a metal rod yelling at us to hide in here. We heard a bunch of clanging and stuff, but it stopped just a few moments ago. I was afraid when I heard your stupid 'click click' of your shoes and hid in here. You didn't have to knock down all those doors you know! What a moron, ya' could have just called if anyone was in here!" He glared at her. "So if you're going to take her, you'll have to take me too! Just try it, you ugly weasel!"
"Moron? Weasel? Why you little punk! If I called if anyone was in here it would blow my cover! Don't tell me how to do my..." She took a deep breath and smiled...well almost anyway without biting his head off. "Listen, we don't have time for arguments. You must get out of here. I'm a good guy, my name is Makimachi. I am with that girl who saved you. Listen very closely to me, Yahiko, I want you and your friend to get out as fast as you can and call help." Yahiko bobbed his head up and down and put Tsubame onto his backside.
"Thanks." Yahiko patted Tsubame's head as the girl was having trouble breathing. "Will there be someone out there who can help her?" He asked his voice suddenly deferential and polite.
Misao felt Tsubame's head and avowed to the boy, "Yes, she will get help. There is the PCW phone number in the directory. Call it and tell them Makimachi code 01112 is calling back up and rescue. They will come with medical help for your friend, okay?"
Yahiko stared up at Misao and slapped her rump earning a squeak from the more than surprised ninja. "You're all right Miss." He secured Tsubame on his back and began running out of the bathroom, leaving Misao to wonder where Kaoru went.
"Yahiko said the noise stopped a few moments ago... so where did she go?" Suddenly, the wall to her left burst open. Misao fell back in a very unlady-like position raising her hand to shield her eyes. "Ugh!"
"Come now, my sweet, you shouldn't throw me into walls!" An extremely skinny guy with wings snickered.
"You just shut up!"
Misao's eyes immediately opened hearing that voice. "Kaoru!"
Kaoru jumped through the massive hole in the wall and looked down seing Misao holding her bokutou smiling broadly. "Oh, you scared me, Kaoru! It's not every day a wall bursts open in front of your face you know. Oh here catch!" Misao threw it, sending the wooden sword across the way. Kaoru jumped up before the winged man could take hold of her wepon. She fell gracefully next to Misao now holding a metal pole in one hand and her bokutou in the other.
The man shifted his eyes to Misao. "Ah, another pretty girl makes my job easier. Almost like killing two birds with one stone. Ohohoho."
"Not so!" At the same time, Kaoru and Misao jumped towards the man. Just as they had done in practice the day before, Kaoru aimed for his ankles, which he jumped over with ease. He began laughing at the lame move, but found the smaller girl flip over his head and throw her Kunai into his face unexpectedly. As he backed away from the pain swelling through his face, Kaoru jumped over Misao holding her weapons one in each hand.
"Kaya!" Kaoru screamed, smacking both weapons together on the man's sides. He bent over in throbbing pain and fell, a small amount of blood dripping from his side. His eyes rolled back as he became limp suddenly.
Kaoru breathed heavily quite exhausted. "He...he's not dead right...?" Misao bent towards his neck and felt a pulse. She shook her head no. "Good, I didn't want to kill him." She hugged Misao. "Just teach him not to hurt innocent children. Did you find the brat?"
"Yeah, I sent the kid and the girl out and to get help."
"Okay, now we just have to go find Megumi." Kaoru threw the metal rod away.
"What about Shishio?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Where Megumi is, that's where Shishio is." The two women began storming out of the bathroom, which now had a large hole connecting the kitchen to the far-left stall.
While running, Misao explained the progress she'd accumulated. "I sent Himura and the others ahead of me. They should be getting there soon enough."
"Why didn't you follow them?" Kaoru asked now trotting through a stream of sprinklers.
Misao winked as they stopped at the stairs leading towards the downstairs hallway Megumi and the others went. "I couldn't leave our leader here by herself." Kaoru and Misao felt the comfort from each other. They had each other's back, all of them. Kaoru was positive Megumi would have done the same thing Misao had. Now they had to go save their friend. Misao and Kaoru prayed she was well and believed Megumi would make it out. Though their friend was captured, they knew she'd stay strong. Kaoru and Misao hoped on everything they had, she was still okay, fearing the worst for their older friend.
The two girls slid down the stair railings and jumped off taking full speed down the hallway. Since the sprinklers were still on, everything was soaked, the plush red carpeting now making a squishing noise below their feet. "I hope the guys got there already." Kaoru whispered, a tone of worry etching her voice.
"Oh, sweetheart, I wouldn't count on that." From above, a woman wearing an elegant green sequence dress, holding a giant scythe behind her neck fell stylishly onto the sloppy carpeting. She put the scythe over her shoulder and placed her index and middle finger to her lips, blowing a kiss at Kaoru and Misao. "Hey there!"
Kenshin, Sano, and Aoshi weren't having much luck either. The three found the door Shishio went through, but in outburst, they ended up breaking it down. They entered silently, eyes scanning the room carefully. It had sofas and a small coffee table. A shelf of books lined one end, while on the other was a pool table. Everything looked as normal as anything.
"Oro?"
"This is no time to be saying stupid things, man!" Sano pushed Kenshin over who became swirly eyed.
"Over there, I feel a presence." Aoshi affirmed, making Sano stop choking the leader of the group. The three men watched the corner, Kenshin's amber eyes forming slits.
"Show yourself!" He said, voice dropping an octave. A low chuckle came to their ears and emerged a blind folded man who was physically built.
"It's him! That bastard from the hallway!" Sano said teeth grinding together.
"Ah, it is the idiot from before. I have a surprise for you." He roughly grabbed something from behind the drapes by the window, or rather...
...someone.
"MEGUMI!" Sano cried. He broke their line and ran towards the female who was gagged and bonded behind her back. She quivered, her head cinnamon eyes widening in fear.
"I am Usui." He stated holding a sword to Megumi's throat. "And this woman is dead." With a flick of his wrist, he slit her throat. It was not a clean kill either as it allowed her to suffer a prolonged death. Blood seeped from the wound and the woman's eyes fluttered as she hit the floor her ebony tresses covering her bloody face.
"NO!" Sano shook in fear as he watched the woman he'd come to like, maybe even love writhe in pain. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" He screamed, voice booming through out the room. Tears streamed down his angular face as he pounded the floor with his tightened fist making cracks on the floorboards. "WHAT DID SHE DO TO YOU?" He cried angrily.
"I suggest you stop thinking about what she did to me, and concentrate what I could do to you." He smiled. Sano, in rage, threw himself at the blind swordsman.
"No Sano!" Kenshin roared. Aoshi and he ran after their member trying to make him control himself.
"Sano, you can't win in utter fury." Aoshi scolded with that ever so iciness. Sano wasn't listening; all he could hear was Megumi's voice, her laughter, and her angry face when he teased her. In the short period he came to know the woman, he was under her control. She wanted to travel the world, and this guy destroys all her dreams! He thought bitterly.
He swung a blind punch but completely missed. He flew right past Usai who could sense Sano's blind emotions. He smirked knowing the failed punch left his backside unguarded. In a split second he was right behind the brunette still cursing madly.
"You missed." Usui used the hilt of his sword to hit Sano under his rib cage from behind.
"That's enough! This one is your enemy now!" Kenshin jumped into the air and came to the floor with such force it made a hole. Usui barely moved out of the hammer strike's range, but didn't go without getting hurt. He winced as his shirt's sleeve cut off revealing his nicked shoulder. The blind man jumped over to the bookshelves and tuned in to the light as feather foot steps of Aoshi coming towards him. He threw books into his path making Aoshi cut through them.
"Stop running, it's no use." His icy voice was brimming with venom low enough for only Usui to hear. Aoshi jumped onto a bookshelf and pushed off making it fall onto the older blind man. The pile fell onto his large body.
Aoshi fell to the floor awkwardly, since the bookshelves made the floors shake. Sano held his ribs, standing on Aoshi's left and Kenshin on his right, waiting to see if the opponent would get up.
After a few moments, Sano slowly made his way towards the fallen pile of books and wood. He reached out slowly, his heart beating wildly in suspense. Finally, he got a book or two off Usui to find him lying still.
After a long moment Sano wiped sweat from his brow. "Only two more to go now. That takes care of..." The swordsman abruptly shot up and held Sano's throat.
Kenshin and Aoshi flinched slightly being startled so. Sano grabbed Usui's arms trying to free his throat. Usai's bandage over his eyes was beginning to tear and his face was mared with blood on his eyebrow. Still he smirked ever so slightly. "It's too bad you didn't save her. She was too pretty to die and in a place like this, it's a shame."
"You...you shut up." Sano growled. Kenshin and Aoshi tried to step in but Sano waved them off. "This...this is my fight. Megumi must have been counting on me...but...but I let her go." Kenshin signaled Aoshi to stand off as the two watched their ally.
Usai kept all his senses on Sano struggling for air. "Squirm boy. You're nothing but just a pathetic boy. A pathetic crying boy for the one you couldn't protect." He grinned. "Shishio-sama is right, the strong live and the weak die." Usai squeezed his neck harder. "You let her die." Sano's eyes welt up. He began having a flash back of a time with his brother...
Flashback
"You're just a pathetic boy Sano, grow up."
"But Katsu, you promised not to throw mud on me!"
"It was just a joke. Sano, you can't cry about everything, it won't change what already happened in the past."
"BUT YOU THREW MUD! We're not allowed..."
"Sanosuke..."
"Ah... brother, I don't get it."
"One day you will kido. Everyone needs to grow up and fight for what's right. So are you going to throw mud at me?"
End Flashback
"One day..." Sano choked. "...is today." Usui gave him a frown when he felt Sano's ki flare. "I...won't let you...WIN!" Sano brought his hands on top of his wrists and crushed Usai's under pressure. He instantly let go feeling his fingers crushed. Sano fell to the floor gasping for air while rubbing his neck. Usai growled like a murderous wolf ready to annihilate his prey.
Sanosuke finally go to his feet speaking clearly for everyone present in the room to hear. "You took her life! Who are you to say who the hell is strong and who is weak! Is being strong the most important thing to you idiots!? She was strong to me, she was everything! Just as she was strong..." Sano cracked his knuckles, "I will be strong for her. Crying doesn't change anything, but if it's being shed for the one you love, it changes everything. It proves someone cared enough to pour their heart and soul for you. It proves we are only human! It's enough to show the flaw every man has: the weakness for some people in your life who makes a difference, the people you want to protect! It proves..." he turned to his friends, silently cheering him on. Then he turned to Megumi's collapsed body on the floor, frowning with distaste.
"...Proves I am willing to fight and give my life for my friends." Sano closed his eyes grinning. "And what do you have, Usai? Look around you; where are the people you care for? What are you fighting for, hua? No one I bet. All you have..." Sano's narrow eyes opened to show the fierce warrior building inside him. The chocolate color danced with fire, a new spirit lifting him up. This will be for Megumi. He thought.
"...All you have is no one but yourself."
Everyone needs to grow up and fight for what's right.
A/n: Hello again! Good morning/ good afternoon/ good evening/ or good night if your about to go to sleep! Thanks for all the reviews for the previous chapter! I should be doing my paper for school... but eh. Sometimes school bites.
Keruri1222- Hey darlin'! Thanks so much for the long review as always! And my intention for the whole Aoshi x Sano part wasn't shonen... just funny. Lol, but still it did sound that way! I guess it pleases lots of other people too even though it wasn't intentionally done that way. And please tell me how your trip from New York was when I see you Monday. Safe trip.
Jahiro19- Hey Jahiro. Thanks for the review. Are you really like this or are you BSing me? Just curious.
Anounymus T- I'm glad you thought the last chapter was really great! Plenty more action scenes are comming up though. Also, thank you very much for the website. I'll be sure to check it out!
Oniwabanshu- I really like Fruits Basket too! My friend Keruri introduced it to me a while ago. Who's your favorite character? Mine is Hatsuharu. But just like you, I'm more of an Aoshi x Misao fan. I've read so much fanfiction on them! Also, the yaoi scene wasn't intentional, it was just supose to be funny. But never the less I'm glad you liked it!
DBZ Goddess- Cool! I'm glad that this fanfiction made your day when you were in your 'wishy-washy' mood, as you say. And I'm really not that great of a writer, but thank you for your comment; that made my day! Lol, and I don't think I'm stupid. I'm just a cute little dork who apologizes too much. Oh, and thank you for putting me on your favorites list! I'm not worthy of such a nice reviewer.
Okay everyone, I thought I'd be nice and throw in another preview of the up comming chapter! See you next time and thanks for reading and reviewing.
"You…" she spoke very softly. "…Not…me…"
"What? Megumi don't die on me. Please, we were going to travel the world remember? You wanted to get out of here, make a life." But she stopped him shakily putting a finger to his lips.
"Not…Meg…umi…"
Sano's body ran cold.
If you'd like you can review!