Chapter 8

The following morning Aneko wakes up covered by Sanosuke's white shirt. She looks around and doesn't see Sanosuke anywhere. The fire burned out, so she quickly put her clothes back on to keep herself warm. She picks up his shirt and her dagger, and climbs out of the cave and away from the waterfalls. She looks around, but she sees no one. She frowns and sits down on a rock, trying to pull herself together as she wipes a tear from her face. She then hears the sound of footsteps behind her. Coming from the forest she sees Sanosuke.

"Where did you go? I thought you left…," Aneko says.

"I wouldn't leave you… I went searching into the forest. There's a road up ahead, we should see where that takes us," he says. He looks at Aneko's face. "I'm sorry…"

"…For what?" Aneko says.

"I shouldn't have gotten emotionally or romantically involved," Sanosuke says.

Aneko looks up to Sanosuke. "Don't be sorry," she says, "I'm glad you did." She gives him his shirt and he puts it on. "Anyway, I think I know where we are. We are not too far away from the fort."

"We have to go back to the dojo. Everyone there is worried," Sanosuke says.

"Then we have a long way to go, we better eat first," she says.

After eating breakfast, Sanosuke and Aneko begin their journey back to the dojo. They make their way onto a road and head south.

-

It's not until dusk that they return to the dojo. When Kaoru sees them, she immediately runs over.

"You two are back safely! You don't know how happy I am!" Kaoru shouts.

Yahiko steps outside and runs over, "You guys are back!" Yahiko shouts, "It's about time!"

Kenshin walks over and looks to Sanosuke, "I knew you two would be all right."

"Yeah but what took you so long?" Kaoru says. "Tell us over dinner."

-

Everyone was sitting together eating dinner. Aneko had explained everything about herself and the connection with the Sanada Ninja's.

"I see," Kenshin says, "Misanagi was the one murdering innocent people. There must be a reason…"

"Could it be…," Kaoru says, "That it has something to do with the Black Knights?"

"Possibly," Kenshin says, "We'll have to find out."

"Which means we have to get inside the fort…and find her," Yahiko says.

"It won't be that easy," Aneko says, "The fort is heavily guarded, I'm sure of it."

Suddenly the sound of a large crash comes from outside.

"What was that?" Sanosuke asks.

"We have company," Kenshin says, "Sano, let's go. Yahiko, run and go find the police!"

They run outside to find Matsu and four other ninja's breaking the main entrance's gate. They barge in and immediately attack Kenshin and Sanosuke.

Without Kenshin and Sanosuke noticing, Matsu sneaks inside the dojo and looks for Aneko. Kaoru sees him and tries to hit him but Matsu quickly dodges and pushes her away. He punches Aneko's face and ties with her rope. He runs out of the dojo.

"Kenshin! Sanosuke!" Kaoru shouts. "He's getting away!"

Matsu runs around carrying Aneko tied to his back and the two of the ninja's stop fighting and run to follow. The other two get into their fighting stance.

"Orders from Matsu," One of them says, "We can't let you escape."

"You bastards!" Sanosuke shouts. "Kenshin I'll care take of this one, take care of the other."

"Right Sano," Kenshin shouts.

Sanosuke attacks the ninja by trying to punch him but the ninja evades and kicks him across his back. Sanosuke quickly regains his balance and in a split second the ninja is about to attack him but Sanosuke clenches his fist and uses the Futae No Kiwami technique. The ninja falls to the ground unconscious. Kenshin continues to defend against the ninja's attacks then slashes the ninja's side. He falls to the ground with a couple ribs smashed.

Sanosuke grabs the ninjas shirt, "Tell me!" he screams, "Are they taking her to your fort!" The ninja refuses to answer. "Tell me!" he repeats.

"Does it matter?" the ninja finally replies. "Even if you eventually make it to the fort, she'll already be dead."

"She's going to be killed!" Sanosuke shouts, "You bastards! You all have disgraced the name of the Sanada Ninja's!" He punches the ninja's face. Suddenly the police arrive.

"Arrest those two!" Kawaji Toshiyoshi, Police Chief, shouts to his men. The two ninja's are arrested and taken away.

"Good job Yahiko," Kenshin says.

"No problem," Yahiko replies.

"Excellent," Toshiyoshi says, "Now since we have official evidence, I will get a search warrant ready and investigate the Sanada Ninja's fort."

"There isn't enough time!" Sanosuke shouts, "I'm going after them!"

"Wait Sano," Kenshin says, "Where is their fort?"

"Somewhere up north, I think I know," Sanosuke replies, "We better go now!"

"Stop right there," Toshiyoshi shouts, "You will need horses to travel faster. Get there as soon as possible. I will go get a search warrant; the police force will meet you up there and aid you."

"Thank you," Kenshin says, "Everyone, to the fort!" They take three horses from the police and begin galloping north towards the Sanada Ninja's fort.