Previously on Brains and Brawn...
"Now, Kaoru-dono, come on NOW cut the wire!" He studied the timer now going off in five seconds.
"Ah ah, wait I'm trying to!" She fumbled with the knife, hands shaking uncontrollably.
5…
Cut damn you!
4…
Oh, Kenshin, I won't let you die here!
3…
I won't let either of us die here!
2…
Everyone's counting on me!
1…
Just a little more…
0
Chapter 15 - Nothing But a Bad Dream
By: Ochako107
Standard disclaimer applies
"Courage is being scared to death—and saddling up anyway." -John Wayne
Kaoru felt the wire go with a small 'snap!' as she shut her eyes tightly. And everyone was counting on me...I'm so sorry...
"Kaoru-dono?"
She shook her head, tears streaming down her bloody face, "Oh, I killed Kenshin; he's in the afterworld with me!" She sobbed. "Look what I did!!!!" Tears poured out down her visage as she released the knife, a ringing echoing through the bare room.
"Kaoru-dono?" He shook her shoulder, as Kaoru's eyes flew open grabbing him by the collar.
"Not now Kenshin! Can't you see we're ...dead?" She looked down at the bomb sitting quietly in her lap. She turned it over and read they had twenty milliseconds before the bomb would go off. She gasped as a huge smile flew on her features. "WE'RE ALIVE!" She hugged Kenshin tightly, practically smashing him into her breast.
"ORO!"
"The bomb is set off temporarily so we've gotta get out fast. I don't know how much time we have left. Come on, Kenshin, we've gotta get outta here." Kaoru stood up feebly, but Kenshin grabbed her hand to help her up. "Ke...Kenshin?"
"You fought well, Kaoru-dono. You've used too much energy so this one will assist you." She looked up and saw his eyes changed back into its normal violet.
"Um...okay then. Thank you, Kenshin." She wrapped an arm around his neck as he stood up. Suddenly, from the ceiling on the second level in the room a door slid open.
The automatically recognized the deep voice. "I told you it was over here."
And of course Sano's voice too. "Shut up, Shinomori! The mote goes in a freakin' circle! THERE IS NO CORNER!"
Kenshin looked up at his two comrades. "Hey! Down here!" Misao, Sano and Aoshi slipped through the hole and saw the two leaders; pale and bloody spots marring their bodies. Megumi stayed on the top of the trap door waving down at Kaoru. She was alive! Megumi wanted to scream out in ecstasy but decided to compose herself and hold the celebration for later.
"Oi, Kenshin! You're alive man!" Megumi turned her attention to the brunette and smiled.
Flashback
"Is everyone still okay?" Megumi called over her shoulder. The group was running around the building looking for the second trap door. It was harder to find it since the night had come upon them. Their only source of light was the crecent moon that was partially covered by clouds.
"Yeah, doing fine back here." Aoshi called to her. Sano ran with Megumi as Aoshi ran behind the group. "I think the door is over in that direction." He pointed out. Megumi pushed her legs to their limit as she felt the burn surging through her body. She wouldn't give up though, not yet. Kenshin and Kaoru were depending on them. If they wouldn't give up, neither would she. She couldn't. She was practically her sister... what would she do without Kaoru? What would she do...?
...If she died?
"AH!" Megumi was so lost in her thoughts she tripped over. She felt weak. So so weak... The mission was turning into a disaster and chaos. The fallen group was trying to piece them back together, but how could they if they were shards of the broken glass themselves? Each one slowly shattering into nothingness...each one giving out like a candle in a winter storm. Megumi felt cold and dirty. She was scared. A chill ran down her spine as her world felt like a million knifes pinning her down. So scared... She wanted to fix everything... but how could she do it if she couldn't even fix her own problems? He must hate her... really hate her. She did. She hated herself. In more ways than one, she really was an emotionless person. Behind her cocky smirks, there was a sad woman in need of comfort. Behind the confident doctor was a broken dream. Though Kaoru was her superior at work, Megumi was like her guardian angel.
The wanted to prove they had strength. Beyond all their burdens they could rise above it all. Misao could prove she was not some prostitute off the streets. Kaoru could show the world she was not just another pretty face. And Megumi? She wanted to prove she could overcome her nightmares. All those years of torture... the same dream of killing her first love. What they wanted... to have their wings. The wings that are so close, but always just out of reach. Those wings...of a sweet dream. Almost like a sugar coat that would paint the dark past and cover all the bitterness. None of them would admit it but without the other, Misao, Kaoru, and Megumi would not be a whole. Just shards of a broken dream.
She would not loose another person she wanted to protect. She began crying as she placed her hands over her face. She began to get angry with herself. When did I become so weak? I don't cry! I...I... She began to choke on her sobs as she pulled her hair.
"Kitsune?" Her head snapped up at the silky voice. "Hey, are you okay?" She deputized her dress, using it to dry her face. When she vision sharpened she saw Misao and Aoshi's feet rush past her. "Get up."
"Wh...what?"
"I said get up!" Sano pulled Megumi up by the arms and held her up against him. "You can't just... just drop down now! There are two people in there waiting for us, okay?! What would jou-chan say if she just saw you crying?" Megumi choked on her sobs some more. Sano loosened his grip on her arms and lowered his tone of voice. "Just... don't cry. Not till you know the truth." Sano's mind flashed into his fight with Usai and his tears that fell in vain. "Don't think you are the only one suffering, Megumi. We are all in pain; we all have out hearts wretched at one time or another. I know I did..." Megumi looked up into his clouded expression. "Never mind, let's just go."
"Sano..." He stopped without turning around. "Thanks..."
"Don't thank me. Thank Katsu." He sped off after the two ninjas as Megumi watched his figure run from her. A ghost of a smile etched her rosy lips.
"Thank you, Katsu."
End Flashback
She would defiantly have to face the music after this. Sano deserved to hear her story... If anything, this would be the end of her nightmare.
Kenshin waved to the group. "A little help, please?" Kenshin asked. Aoshi checked Shishio to make sure he was knocked out and Misao ran to Kaoru embracing the girl tightly while mumbling incoherent words. She then helped Kaoru onto Sano's back.
"You two okay?" Misao asked Kenshin.
"Yes, just very...worn out, that we are. We've got to get out of here quickly if we'd all like to live though." Kenshin said rubbing his injured shoulder. "Is Kaoru-dono okay?"
Sano checked over his shoulder at the young woman snuggling into his warmth as she slept instantly. "Yeah, Jou-chan is fine, Kenshin." Aoshi found that Kenshin was barely able to stand up himself.
Without a word he slung one of Kenshin's arms around his shoulder and helped him up the trap door. "Misao, get Shishio."
"Aye, aye captain!" She laughed through her pain. She rolled her arms as she went towards the unmoving body.
"Hey, don't take too long, itachi." Megumi hollered. The group made their way out of the secret passageway. Well, as fast as two injured men carrying two half-conscious leaders and a young doctor running in heels could.
Kenshin, Aoshi, Sano, Megumi, and Kaoru finally reached the surface, Aoshi letting Kenshin down from his shoulder as they were a few feet from the door. "Come on, the bomb could go off any second." Aoshi growled hoarsely as he was helping Sano lift Kaoru out. Aoshi also assisted Megumi as she came crawling out after.
They all ran frantically from the pit as Sano huffed, "I don't think it will..."
An enormous boom sounded and flames blew up under ground making the floor shake and everyone fly forward from the explosion. They hit the grass hard, but Aoshi was able to shield Megumi somewhat from the heat as Kenshin and Kaoru were partially protected from the flames by from Sano. They all fell over and looked up to see the back of the building blow up. "Wow... Kitsune was right; it did blow up half the estate."
Aoshi helped Megumi up when a realization hit him. "Where's Misao?"
There was dead silence as Sano, Megumi, and Aoshi turned back to the trap door.
"MISAO!" Megumi screeched. She panicked, breathing faster and faster. "NO MISAO!" She began running towards the pit as Sano grabbed her bloody wrist from the tight ropes Shishio tied on her from before.
"What are you crazy!? Stop acting stupid or you'll go get yourself killed!" He yelled at her face. "She probably escaped through a different door. Don't go throwing yourself to your doom!" She began crying praying Sano was right. She collapsed in his arms sobbing. Sano was shocked at first, but let her cry on his shoulder.
Aoshi on the other hand stood staring wide-eyed at the blazing flames emerging like monstrous crashing waves by the sea, destroying everything in the flame's path.
"Misao..."
Prior to this, Misao peaked over Shishio's unmoving body and poked him like a child curious of what this figure was. "Well, you sure are knocked out." She whispered. She brushed her wound on her side feeling the hot stickiness on her hands that were already caked with dried blood. "Eww, that's gross. Oh well, off to jail with you Mr. Toilet Paper Man. You're all washed up. Ah ha, I made a joke." She talked idly while grabbing a fist full of Shishio's shirt, dragging him towards the stairs. "Crap! How am I going to get you up the stair? Misao no Baka!" She took a deep breath feeling the wound sting her again.
"I know! I'll go through the other trap door. That's an easier way to drag this load."
She soon got to the trap door and put Shishio down. "This guy weighs a ton." She wiped her hands on her mucky dress and pushed the door open to feel the cool night air hit her drained, sore body.
Suddenly, the door was slammed shut, taking her freedom from that hell hole away. Gasping, she whirled around coming face to face with a wide awake, glinting man with many parts of his body shaking furiously. He began that infamous sinister chuckle almost as haunting as the evening owls hooting in the middle of an abandoned wild forest. As his body racked with spasm, his chuckling turned to maniac laughter echoing throughout the underground room.
Misao's hand went for her necklace in reflex, but remembered the chain broke. Oh no! She thought. Shishio's head snapped forward pinning Misao down with a terrifying gaze.
It was the gaze of a mad, almost savage like man.
Makimachi Misao finally knew the true feeling of sheer terror.
"If I..." Shishio started out, his words coming out brokenly. "...won't live. Ne...neither will... you." He grabbed her by the shoulders and bit into Misao's soft flesh of her neck earning a piercing shriek from the girl who fell weakened from stress and lack of blood.
Shishio let go of her, watching her fallen body collapse as his own body began reacting inside. He could feel his blood reaching new temperatures as his world began running red. He shakily brought his wristwatch up and smirked. "Thirty... minutes... my time has run low. This will be my end." He combusted finally as a figure came rushing at him, but his life was ended too soon before knowing who exactly it was.
Misao felt extremely heavy as free tears dropped one after another. She just could not get up, her spirit reaching its minimum. Her world blurred out as she coughed warm liquid. The last thing she thought of before the darkness eluded her was...
...blue eyes...
The group of five came back into the front of the building where now there was an ambulance, many of the party guests, and their fellow co-workers.
"Sir! Let me have that young lady on your back." The man said, helping Kaoru off Sano's back. "Easy now, we're going to take good care of her."
A little later, another attendant went for Kenshin, Sano, and Aoshi, checking them over and bandaging them all up. Aoshi's mind was in a blur as they put morphine into his arm to help numb the pain surging through his back.
As if snapping out a trance, he instantly thought of something. "Ano, where is Misao?" He asked pulling a woman to his level on the floor.
"Misao?"
"A short woman with very long black hair down to her bottom. You did go down and search of survivors."
"Oh...a woman...?" She got a far away look and turned back to the disheveled Aoshi. "Only three people died tonight, sir. Makato Shishio, a blind man who was working for Shishio and a young woman with her throat slit. There were no other bodies, but if you say she was left down there, not to mention the back of the building just blew up... I'm afraid she may have died."
Aoshi's heart jumped a few beats. "What?"
"I'm truly sorry; it's not my place to say." She felt his head for a temperature and walked away quickly.
Aoshi stared into blank space. She couldn't be dead, he couldn't loose another person special to him. "Misao..."
On the other end of the mob of people being treated, Sano shrugged one of the people helping wrap his fist off. "I said I was FINE!"
"But sir, your hands...!"
Sano punched the guy off of him becoming frustrated. "I DON'T NEED A DAMN DOCTOR!"
"Oh really?" A feminine voice asked. Sano turned around to see Megumi now wearing a smock over her red gown glaring down at Sano with one arched eyebrow. "Not even me?"
"Go away, fox."
Megumi helped the man who was punched from Sano up and told him to assist Kaoru. "Sano, we need to talk."
"Fine, say whatever you want."
"But I can't say anything until I've bandaged your hand up properly so it doesn't lead to infection or worse." They had a staring contest for a minute trying to see who would back down...Sano backed down.
"Fine, here." He thrust his hand into Megumi's face as she smiled softly, pulling out bandages and medicine. "So...what did you want to say?"
"Sano, I'm sorry about not telling you...that I...your brother... that I killed your brother. It's not something I'm proud of, nor is it something I wanted to happen. You see, like I told you, I was his student. He was teaching me to correctly mix powders and what goes with what. It was fascinating since I already wanted to be a doctor one day.
"Your brother used to work for our company too you know. So I'd help mix bombs for his missions, but one day I accidentally...mixed the wrong ones." Megumi carefully began wrapping the bandages after applying ointment onto Sano's raw fists. "He asked for a certain recipe and I did make them. I put them aside and began my own bomb, the one I wanted to create. The one Shishio stole to put into his own evil plot. I gathered Katsu-sensei's bombs and put them in a sack with his birthday present, a photo of him and me. The one you were looking at, Sano.
"I placed my own practice bombs in another sack to take out into the field and test out. When Katsu-sensei came back, I accidentally gave him my sack instead of his. It was a foolish mistake since my bombs were never tested out yet, and...it killed him. I cried, horrified that I killed my sensei. I kept that picture I was going to give him as a reminder of my foolishness. I didn't even know...I didn't know..." She was still holding Sano's hand which was finally all bandaged up while shaking with sobs.
"I...I understand if you hate me. I was a stupid young woman then. I should have been more careful. Oh Sano!" Megumi tossed herself into Sano's chest hot tears flowing down her face, choking in sobs. "I killed your brother! Oh God, I'm so sorry... I wish none of this ever happ...happened."
Sano didn't know what to say. It was an accident, his brother wasn't murdered. He knew he should be angry at Megumi...but it wasn't her fault. "Meg..."
"Sano, you don't have to talk to a wretch like me. I know you must really hate me. That's why I kept making bombs and perfecting my techniques. If...if it would be one thing I could give back to Katsu-sensei, it would be his gift he gave me. That's why I joined the team as soon as I was old enough to join. I wanted to continue his dream...and I wanted to continue my dream also, of being a doctor one day."
Sano lifted her chin to meet their eyes with each other's. "Megumi, it's okay. It wasn't your fault, and I think it was my brother's doing that we met each other. I can see why he loved talking about you so much." Megumi sniffed into her little laugh. "Why don't we continue Katsu's dream then, Megumi? I...I'm sorry for talkin' so rude to you earlier."
"No...it's okay... I would be mad too if I were you." Sano held onto Megumi's own hands and smiled at her. He bent down to her pressing his forehead onto hers.
"Would it be a good time to ask if I can kiss you, kitsune?" Suddenly, as if a spirit possessed her, Megumi lifted her body to kiss Sano with all the passion she could. Sano was a bit shocked but still, he smiled into their kiss hugging the woman in his arms.
Meanwhile, Kaoru and Kenshin lay down on two cots resting from lack of energy. The two leaders were barely aware of their surroundings as sleep took them. "Kaoru-dono, I don't know if I'll make it."
"Shh, don't talk that way, Kenshin. No matter what... I'll be here... for you."
"Kaoru."
"Hmm?"
"This one...I ...love you..." Kenshin turned slightly to face Kaoru who was smiling with her eyes closed. He reached out to entwine their fingers together as darkness took them into dream world.
Kaoru rubbed his hand unconsciously. "No matter what... I'll love you too..." She felt Kenshin's pulse slow down slightly as did hers.
"I'll love you too, Shinta."
"Hiko-san." Soujiro bowed before the chief of Profession crime watch. "I am eternally sorry and am in your debt for my actions."
"They hell you are!"
"I...I was confused by Shishio's words. They were always with me, but Aoshi-san and Misao-chan have talked me over it. I am so very sorry and if there is any way to make it up to you for going behind your back..."
Hiko picked up the small smiling boy by the collar at stared into his eyes. He was always smiling even in the face of danger but his eyes...they told the truth. They were sad, sorry, and full of regret. "Do you know what happened to 'Misao-chan', Soujiro? She went missing and died. I hope you are happy." He dropped the boy who fell to his knees.
"No..."
"Yes, you killed her from loss of blood and practially BLOW UP in the building. She didn't have enough energy to get out in time. I hope you are happy. Not only that, but you let Shinomori know her secret, putting her spirits down further of what it used to be. Some friend you were to her. If you want to make it up to her, I want to you to go on a trip. Find your reasons for protecting and come back to me with a hell of a good answer. Dismissed."
For the first time in Soujiro's life, he frowned. "But...I never meant to kill her!" He yelled to the tall man, who was walking away, mantle flapping behind him. Soujiro was in utter loss, never had he meant to kill the woman.
"I said dismissed, Soujiro. Put the past behind you, kid. That's what got you in this mess in the first place if I'm not mistaken. Go find your peace and come back. Then, we will see." Hiko continued towards the tent where both his baka deshi's lay.
"...Misao-chan..." Soujiro whispered still frowning slightly. He got off his knees and dragged his feet away towards the other side of the building. There he saw a woman he thought he'd never get to see again. He would never forget that friendly face even if he was working for the darker side the whole time he knew her.
"Yumi-san! You're okay!" Soujiro skidded to a halt seeing her in distress. "Yumi-san?"
The older woman huffed, "Doctor. Now."
Hiko kept walking towards the tent to find Aoshi staring into space. "Shinomori!" Hiko boomed.
Aoshi was unfazed by this, and just turned his head slightly. He was rubbing a small gold locket between his rather rough hands. "Yes."
"What's wrong with you." Instead of a question, it came out more like a command.
"Misao...she's gone." Hiko didn't say anything and let the boy's thoughts wander.
"Aoshi, don't worry about the girl. She is in a better place now."
"I never got to tell her anything. Nothing." Aoshi said voice cracking just a touch. Just then, Megumi and Sano walked over taking in Aoshi's form. Gone was the ice pop and all was left was a man wallowing in inscrutable thoughts. Thoughts of the woman he'd lost.
"Aoshi-san?" Megumi asked. Hiko eyed her telling her not to say anything.
Aoshi's face tiled slightly to his friends. "Misao is dead." Megumi covered her mouth with a soft gasp and Sano's eyes widened.
"What? She can't be dead!"
Aoshi's eyes hardened. "I TOLD YOU, WE LEFT HER, NOW SHE'S DEAD." Hiko put a hand to Aoshi's shoulder never hearing him raise his voice in his entire life. "It was my fault. I made her go get Shishio."
Hiko walked past Aoshi. "Calm down, boy. She is looking down at us right now. If it's one thing I'm positive about, it's that she wouldn't want to see you pathetic excuse for a man wallowing away." Aoshi breathed in carefully, before coming back into his passive mood. "Come, I want to see my baka deshi's."
The group of Hiko, Aoshi, Megumi and Sano walked into the tent to see the most precious sight. Kenshin and Kaoru were turned towards each other slightly, their hands entwined in the middle of the two cots. Their faces were glowing with peace they found in each other as they slept. Hiko shook his head as Megumi bit her lip, hot tears rolling down... She could cry now... she knew the truth.
"Those two... what am I going to do with them?" Hiko asked no one in particular.
"They are at peace." Aoshi commented.
Hiko turned to him mouth in a straight line. For a moment there was silence before Hiko left the tent. Megumi went on Kaoru's side of the cot and lay next to the sleeping leader as Aoshi and Sano pulled up chairs on Kenshin's side of the cot. The five people sat in silence as the night air wafted through the window of the tent.
Megumi laid her head on Kaoru's cotton sheets, a tear escaping her eye again. In the end, she didn't piece the shards together... "I want to stop crying...but I can't." The three men all on one side of the room and the two women on the other were quiet for the rest of the night. Megumi put a hand on Kaoru's shoulder for comfort for the loss of their best friend. She wouldn't know though... until she woke up.
Neither would Kenshin know until he woke up to know his tall icy friend lost Misao. Sano, Megumi and Aoshi all to an extent wished they were in a fitful sleep like their leaders. That way when they woke up, everything would seem like a simple bad dream.
Nothing...but a bad dream...
Author's Note: Kind of angsty... sorry. I didn't want Megumi to cry as you can tell from her thoughts but honestly; if you're friend was about to DIE and you couldn't stop it wouldn't you cry?! So don't think I made her weak or anything because really, I'm sure you would cry too. Well, unless you hate Kaoru and Misao or something and are glad they made Megumi cry. But then you'd be a really cruel person! Anyway, what will happen? As this story winds down, I don't know what kind of an ending will take place. Still, in real life it isn't always a happy ending... Sorry if I made you feel all depressed or sad! I'll add some humor in the next chapter.
Oh! And one more thing. If would, could you share who your favorite couple is after your review? If you don't want to, it's fine, but I am just curious. A while back, almost every story I read was a Kenshin and Kaoru one. Now though, I am seeing that a lot of people really like Sano and Megumi! Hey, what about Aoshi-sama and Misao though?! Don't they get some love too?!
Replies!
Kenshinlover2002- Thank you for thinking it's great so far! I really like this one too.
Crewel- Yeah, Sano and Megumi are always fun to write since they are more... lively? Ahaha. I think I've written one one-shot for them already, but I'm working on another project so stay tuned to that! Thanks for your review again!
Jade eyed neko- You really think this is that good? THANK YA! And see, Kenshin and Kaoru live... The idea of them becoming angels is pretty cool too!
Jeez- Um... you don't like Megumi I see. I didn't want to kill her... I didn't want to kill Misao either though! It's okay, I bet a lot of other people wanted to see Megumi dead.
Cere- Thank you for reviewing! And it's so nice to know that the action scenes make sense! I hope they don't drag out too much... but thank you for the complements very much, it means a lot!
Erica6060- Ahaha, I'm not a fan of cliff hangers because you get all mad when you REALLY wanna know what happens next. But still, it's nice to have you wait like that. OH! Not that I want you to suffer! Never, never, never! Suspense is always good though! It makes you want to read more! And, and—Oops... I'll be quiet now.
Anounymus T- Thank you for your gracious review. But to answer your question... well, I've watched the sub at a friend's house who actually owns the DVD's, but I do not and well... I can only get what I can okay!? I agree that the sub is much better, but dub is all I can get with cable TV, I'm poor! (Cries) I didn't want to disappoint you or anything, but it's true! I'm not sure why I used 'Miss Kaoru' instead of 'Kaoru-dono'. If it bothered you, sorry. I didn't think it confused anyone, I'll keep it in mind next time, okay? Thank you for your concern though!!
Beowulf31486- You like what I did with the characters? Oh, thank you! If they seem a little OOC sometimes, it couldn't be helped. That's the beauty of writing, you can do whatever you want with it. I tried to throw in twists to throw you off, but I'm glad you liked it that way! Hope to see you're next review!
DBZ Goddess- Eep! (Chokes as you hug me) You're too kind to... hug me until I can't breathe! And it's great that this story makes you happy! (Not that this chapter was anything funny though) It's so cool that you really like RK though and that Sano and Megumi is your favorite couple! They make me laugh sometimes. Though... some people don't like Megumi... I mean, at first she rubbed me the wrong way, but in the manga she is SO much cooler. Um...(blush) that's just my opinion though. She is an emotionally strong person in my eyes. And Sano is so loyal! And well, thank you for thinking this is awesome. It will be so sad when it ends! But don't worry, I'll have another story out in due time!
Sea- Hi there, don't take this personally, but don't call me a BITCH. (smiles) I DO write, but don't POST things. I have a life. Thank you for reviewing anyway and from your enthusiasm from your review, it seems you really wanted to know what happened next. Hope this satisfies!
Well! Thank you everyone for reviewing and reading! It's great to see... people care! (Smiles) Have a great day/afternoon/night!