Chapter 12
When they arrive at the clinic, they find it closed. Yahiko says, "We got here too late."
"I think it'll be all right to just go into Dr. Genzai's home," Kaoru says. "C'mon."
Everyone mounts off their horse in the back yard of Dr. Genzai's home.
"We're going to have to return those horses later," Kenshin says. They knock on Dr. Genzai's door.
"Dr. Genzai!" Kaoru shouts, "Its Kaoru! Please let us in! We have people that are injured!"
The sound of footsteps approaches the door. The door slides open, and Dr. Genzai stands looking at all the people.
"My…" Dr. Genzai says, "Well come in."
Everyone walks into the room. Megumi, who stays at the house, comes out in a robe. "What's going on?" She sees wounds on Misanagi, Aneko, Kenshin and Sanosuke. "Hold on, I'm going to go get the supplies."
An hour passes and the doctors have treated everyone but Aneko. They have cleaned and bandaged the wound on her shoulder, but only cleaned the wound on her hand from the gunshot.
Dr. Genzai looks at her hand. "Aneko," he says, "It looks like your nerves and tendons have been damaged. If they are not fixed quickly, your hand will become completely paralyzed. Unfortunately, I can not fix it. This sort of technology does not exist here in Japan."
"So what are you saying?" Yahiko asks.
"The only person I know who can fix this is Dr. Hans back in Germany…," Dr. Genzai replies.
"Then I must return to Germany," Aneko says.
Megumi begins bandaging the wound. "If you leave soon, you'll make it back in time to repair your hand."
"No…," Yahiko says, "Aneko you can't."
Megumi stands up. "Aneko come with me, I need to give you some medicine." Megumi and Aneko walk into the other room.
"She can't…" Yahiko says.
"Yahiko, she just can't let her hand become paralyzed if she still has a chance to fix it."
"She's right Yahiko," Kenshin says, "Don't be selfish."
"I wasn't trying too…," Yahiko mutters.
Sanosuke stands up and furiously walks outside.
"What's his problem?" Misanagi asks. "It's not like he was the one that heard bad news from a doctor."
"Misanagi, of all people you should know how it feels to become attached to someone and then they suddenly have to leave," Kaoru says.
"Oh… I didn't know," Misanagi says. She walks outside.
-
"Umm… Sanosuke?" Misanagi asks. She sees him leaning against the wall watching the stars.
"Hmm?" Sanosuke mutters.
"I want to go to Germany… I really do want to start over and once again become closer to my sister. Besides she needs the proper surgery on her hand. But I feel as though I am taking her away from you. Just like she and Schneider were taken away from me. I know how you feel… angry… upset… rage...," Misanagi says sympathetically. She waits for a reply but Sanosuke doesn't say anything. She continues, "But I want you to know, that one day I will let Aneko return here, to be with you… so I have a favor to ask of you…"
"What is it?" Sanosuke asks.
"Will you wait for her?" Misanagi asks.
"Will I wait for her?" Sanosuke asks.
"Yes…," Misanagi says, "I'll make sure that one day she will return here. That is my promise to you. Now, promise me you will be waiting here for her. I believed her when she said she was happier here."
"…I…I promise," Sanosuke says.
"Then it's a promise," Misanagi says, "And one more thing. I'm sorry about everything… with what I made everyone go though. From this day on, I will repent for my sins… like Kenshin."
"I respect you for that," Sanosuke says. "Thank you."
Misanagi nods and returns inside. Sanosuke leaves.
Inside, Yahiko, Kaoru and Megumi are sleeping, Kenshin is drinking tea with Dr. Genzai and Aneko sits in the corner, thinking.
"Misanagi…," Aneko says, "We will depart for Germany tomorrow evening."
"Ok," Misanagi says, "The sooner, the better for you."
"I suppose…," Aneko says.
"It's getting late; Megumi has prepared beds for you two in the next room. Get some rest," Dr. Genzai says.
Misanagi walks into the room and Aneko slowly follows. Before she walks into the other room, she stops and asks Kenshin, "Did he leave…?"
"I'm afraid so…," Kenshin says. "But please, get some sleep."
Aneko walks into the other room. Kenshin stands up. "I'll be back, Dr. Genzai," he says. He leaves the house. He walks down a path only to find Sanosuke looking at the sky over the bridge.
"Sano," Kenshin says. "She leaves tomorrow evening, why are you trying to avoid this?"
"This is how I deal with it," Sanosuke says. "After Captain Souzou and Sayo were killed in front of my eyes, I just buried myself in isolation."
"Sano, I lost someone dear to me back in the final days of the revolution. And it will forever be scarred onto me," Kenshin says touching his left cheek, "it's like a reminder, so I never forget. After the revolution I vowed never to kill anyone again for her soul. Why don't you make a vow, Sanosuke?"
"A vow?" Sanosuke asks, "To do what…?"
"To stay strong, and never to isolate yourself from this world again; you have friends here for you, that you do," Kenshin says with a smile.
"You're right Kenshin," Sanosuke says. "I can't keep worrying my friends like this."
"Well then, it's late. I'm heading back to Dr. Genzai's house. Coming?" Kenshin asks.
"No I think I'm going to take a walk. But I'll be back," Sanosuke says, beginning to walk the opposite direction.
Kenshin smiles and starts walking back to the house.