Chapter 11
Morning arrives and Sanosuke wakes up from his sleep. He looks around; he hears everyone outside but looks over to where Aneko laid. She was still at the same spot she was left. He touches her neck. "No pulse…," he mutters. He stands up and pounds the cave's wall with his fist. He walks outside to find Yahiko, Kaoru, Kenshin and Kaita eating.
"Sanosuke…," Kaoru says. "Join us."
Sanosuke just sits on the nearest rock and buries his face under his hands.
Yahiko turns to Kenshin, "We tried everything…"
"Poor Sanosuke… I thought he finally found someone…" Kaoru says.
"For centuries the ancestors of the Sanada Ninja's protected the Divine Elixir, then it was just a myth after all…," Kaita says.
"There isn't much else we can do for her… except give her a proper burial," Kenshin says.
"And stop Misanagi," Yahiko says.
"Speaking of…" Kaita says, "Look." He points to a small figure approaching them. She has brown pig tails, vicious brown eyes and black attire. "Misanagi…"
"I finally found you," Misanagi says. "Kaita, you will pay for your treason."
"Whoa, look how much she and Aneko resemble," Yahiko says, "No wonder Aneko was mistaken…"
Sanosuke looks up, and shouts where he's standing, "What the hell do you want now!"
"It's not noon yet," Misanagi says. "I will finish it here."
"Not noon? What do you mean by that?" Yahiko shouts.
Kenshin looks up to the sun. "When it's noon, it's when the sun's rays are strongest…"
"But what happens?" Yahiko says. "So what?"
"Wait…," Kaoru says. "Look, behind Sanosuke."
The direct rays from the sun gleam through the waterfall, hitting the Divine Elixir inside the waterfall.
"What's going on!" Yahiko shouts.
A bright light from the cave expands through the water.
"It's working…" Kaita says. "Cover your eyes!"
Everyone closes their eyes and looks away. The light becomes extremely brighter then suddenly disappears. The waterfall flowing turns back into its clear color again.
"What… just happened?" Kaoru says.
In that instant, Aneko stands and walks in the middle of the pouring water, closing her eyes. The water washes the stained blood away and soaks off the wounds.
"She is revitalized…" Kaita says, "It's amazing how nature's spirit works."
"Aneko…," Sanosuke says standing near by.
"Sanosuke, the forest spirits want me here," Aneko says. She walks to Sanosuke and grabs his hands, holding them tightly. The water dripping onto his skin washes away his cuts and bruises. "In a dream they told me I wasn't ready to die yet," she says.
"Aneko...," Sanosuke whispers. He pulls Aneko closer and wraps his arms around her.
Misanagi throws a shurikan pointed at Aneko.
"Watch out!" Kaoru shouts.
The shurikan hit's Aneko right shoulder. Blood drips off her arm, as Aneko tears it out of her shoulder. "Misanagi…," she says. "The Sanada Ninja's are no more," looking at the gash across her shoulder. The tattoo wasn't visible but covered with blood. She begins walking towards Misanagi. "For centuries the Sanada Ninja's protected the Divine Elixir and what have you done? Destroyed over half of it and betrayed your ancestors."
"Shut up," Misanagi says. "Now Die!" She charges with her dagger but Aneko quickly leaps and lands behind Misanagi. Misanagi turns around and swipes Aneko but misses.
"I don't want to fight you," Aneko says.
"Shut up!" Misanagi shouts. She leaps into the air about to perform an aerial attack but Aneko dodges. She lands and Aneko quickly chops the dagger out of her hand and kick's Misanagi to the ground.
"What will killing me prove Misanagi? Tell me," Aneko says. Everybody else stands there with silence, watching the two sisters fight.
"You have disgraced the Sanada Ninja's by leaving!" Misanagi shouts.
"That is not an excuse for murdering Germans," Aneko says.
"The German's executed Schneider after returning! What justice is that?" Misanagi shouts, beginning to cry. "The Meister of the Black Knight's killed Schneider! Germans deserve to die for their cruelty!"
"What are you talking about? When Schneider returned, he turned himself into the German Embassy. The Black Knight's were then arrested from his confession. He was later freed, and he lives his life as a Lieutenant in the German Army," Aneko explains.
"What…?" Misanagi says, "He's alive…?"
"Yes," Aneko answers.
"….," Misanagi stands in shock. She shakes her head in disgust, "That still doesn't justify you leaving!" She shouts. "I idolized you! You were everything to me! But you didn't care; you just left with out saying good bye! You ruined my life! I had to take the role of leader even though I wasn't ready! I had no one!"
"You didn't have anyone? For ten years I took care of myself and lived off on my own! Do you think I wanted to leave!" Aneko shouts.
"Then why did you leave!" Misanagi shouts.
"For years I put up with your father's abuse, your parent's would rather want me dead then to see me as Leader, just because I was only half Japanese! Your father killed our grandfather because he was going to appoint me as leader. Did you know that! But I wanted to stay, because I loved you so much and I didn't want you to suffer. When the revolution began, it was Tokugawa's orders for anyone not Japanese to leave the country. Your father was going to kill you in order to make me leave. What other choice did I have Misanagi!" Aneko shouts as she cries. "I didn't have a chance to say goodbye…"
Misanagi falls to ground, crying hysterically. Aneko walks up to her and holds her. Misanagi leans her head on her sister and continues to cry onto her shoulder.
"Everything will be all right now…," Aneko whispers into her little sister's ear. "Now you can repent for your sins."
"Aneko… I want to start over again," Misanagi says, sobbing. "Please, take me to Germany with you. I want to be with Schneider and with you close to me."
Aneko glances at Sanosuke. She turns back to Misanagi and says, "I don't want to leave. I miss my homeland, and I am finally happy here."
"Not for long," a man shouts from the distance. The man quickly dashes into the waterfall and lights the plants on fire.
"The Divine Elixir!" Kaoru shouts, "That was the last of it!" Within seconds, all of what was left was burnt to ashes.
"Matsu!" Kaita shouts.
He jumps away from the waterfall. "I'm not finished with all of you yet," he shouts.
"What are you going to do!" Kaita shouts.
"What I was planning to do for the longest time," Matsu replies, "Aneko will die, Misanagi will be framed and arrested for the murders and I will create a new Sanada clan. And without the Divine Elixir, nothing can stop me."
Aneko stands up. "I won't let you do this. The Sanada Ninja's die here!"
Matsu points a shurikan at Aneko. He flings it but directs it at Misanagi. "Watch out!" Aneko screams. Aneko runs in front of Misanagi and is hit in the back. Aneko screams from the pain.
"Aneko!" Misanagi shouts.
"I knew she was going to try and protect you," Matsu says.
"Matsu you bastard!" Sanosuke shouts. He runs to Aneko and Misanagi. "Hang in there Aneko!"
"You," Misanagi says to Sanosuke, "Take her." Misanagi picks up her dagger and charges to Matsu.
"Misanagi! You'll be killed!" Kenshin shouts. He runs to Misanagi with god-like speed, grabs her and leaps into the air before Matsu can strike her.
Misanagi pushes Kenshin away, leaps over and stabs Matsu on the back but he quickly pushes her against a tree. She slides down with blood running down her face.
"I guess I'll have to fix my plan," Matsu says. He pulls out his other pistol, and fires. "You fool," he says, watching blood gush from Kaita's chest.
"Kaita!" Misanagi shouts. "Why!"
"It's… all…right…," Kaita says, collapsing to the ground.
"Matsu!" Kenshin shouts, "This will end here!"
"I'm not here to fight you," Matsu says.
"Sanosuke I have to help Misanagi!" Aneko shouts.
"No! You're hurt!" Sanosuke shouts, "Kenshin will take care of it!"
"Matsu," Kenshin says, "I won't allow you to do anything else."
"Very well," Matsu says. He charges at Kenshin, quickly pulls out his dagger with his other hand and attack's Kenshin. Kenshin defends himself and they both begin to fight.
While they are fighting, Aneko runs to take Misanagi's dagger. She's about to pick it up but Matsu sees her. He points his pistol at Aneko and fires. Aneko drops the dagger, realizing he shot her hand. Misanagi runs to Aneko and tears a piece of her skirt off; she quickly wraps the wound.
Kenshin immediately slashes the pistol into pieces and slashes Matsu's back. His dagger flies besides Kaita's body. Matsu slowly stands up, pulls out another shurikan but freezes; he looks down at a dagger going through his chest. He falls down, with a puddle of blood covering his dead body.
"Kaita!" Aneko shouts. Gathering her strength, she runs towards Kaita lying on the ground. "Kaita, you're going be ok. Hold on."
"No…I grow weaker… please let me die here. It was an honor seeing you again, I now… have no… regrets," Kaita says, falling back.
"Kaita!" Aneko shouts shaking him. "Kaita! No!"
"It's too late for him…" Kenshin says.
Aneko tries to pick Kaita up but she immediately drops him. She screams from the pain.
"You're hurt, what do you think you're doing?" Sanosuke asks.
"I want to place his body in the cave," Aneko says. "Let him rest in peace there."
Sanosuke nods and picks Kaita's body up. He takes him to the cave.
"As for Matsu," Misanagi says, "Let the crows eat him."
"My hand… I can't feel it…" Aneko says.
"Everyone has to be treated as soon as possible," Kenshin says. There are four horses, everyone get on. We should make it to the clinic by nightfall."
Kenshin, Kaoru and Misanagi mount a horse. Yahiko jumps behind Kaoru. Sanosuke returns and mounts the last horse.
"Here," Sanosuke says to Aneko, "Get on." She smiles and mounts the horse. Everyone takes one last look around the waterfall, and begin galloping away from the waterfall, never to return again.