HELLO! NOW THIS IS QUITE A FAST UPDATE, ISN'T IT? ANYWAY…
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN RURUONI KENSHIN (CHARACTERS AND PLACES). I ONLY OWN MATSU AND TAKA.
WILL IT HURT TO LOVE AGAIN? By Sutefani-chanCHAPTER 14
EMERGENCE
"Get the hostage."
Hostage? What hostage? Then, he suddenly remembered. Kaoru!
He heard Gohei grunt and left for Kaoru.
"What have you done to Kaoru-dono!" spat Kenshin at Matsu.
"You'll see," smirked Matsu as he gripped his katana tightly.
Both heads turned as they heard the door flung open. There, standing on the doorway was a large man staring darkly at Kaoru.
"What do you want?" stood Taka in front of Kaoru. Behind Taka's legs, she could see the malice in Gohei's eyes.
I knew you were behind this! Kaoru glared at Gohei.
But Gohei ignored both of their glares. He walked straight to him until he was face to face with Taka.
"Move," he groaned at Taka.
But Taka just stood there, glaring madly at Gohei.
"Bakeru! I said move!"
He didn't even budge.
"I won't let you harm her!"
Gohei had had enough. With his free hand, he punched Taka hard in the stomach. Taka fell, coughing and clutching his stomach.
"You're wasting my time," hissed Gohei and took Kaoru by the neck and grabbed her by the waist and left Taka.
"You'll never get away with this!" screamed Kaoru.
"Are you sure about that? You haven't actually seen how helpless 'your Kenshin' is!"
Kaoru's face went pale. Helpless? What do you mean helpless?
"Ha!" Kaoru laughed, "I think you're bluffing!"
"We'll see about that," and he led Kaoru to where the battle was.
No! I won't believe him! He's lying! Kenshin would never lose! I know it! I just know it…
Kenshin gasped for breath. Matsu had wounded him again, this time, on the wrist. This had never happened to him before, and all he had accomplished was a cut on Matsu's right cheek. Despite all the exhausting moves, Matsu seemed to keep composed and poised like nothing had happened. He has the stamina of a horse, and the thirst for blood like a wolf. Kenshin wondered where he kept all that strength.
Kenshin fell to his knees. Clutching tightly his fists, he held on to his sakabatou for support, panting. He wondered where he went wrong. Maybe today was not a good day for fighting, or that he just lacked strategy or worse… maybe his skills did weaken. It was such a long time when he last ventured into a real battle, and it was with Jin'e.
It was just like the same scenario: it always involves Kaoru's life. Seeing her suffers and tortured emotionally and physically of something she was innocent of, it enrages him more. It was like because of it, Battousai was trying to emerge from him and slaughter those who hurt her, who would want to take her away from him. And he doesn't want that to happen again, not anymore.
Matsu grinned at him, "I think you had simply just, lost your touch."
Kenshin glared at him and made his stance.
"Matte! I think you're forgetting something," mocked Matsu as he pointed his katana at a figure behind him, still facing Kenshin. There, amidst the fog surrounding them stood a trembling Kaoru. "Kaoru-dono!"
Kaoru froze upon seeing Kenshin helpless. This is not happening. So what Gohei had said was true. She caught sight of a cut on his wrist, bleeding. Her heart beat faster.
It pained her to see him in such a state such as that. Helpless and bleeding, this was one dream she wouldn't want to stay in her memory and to haunt her nights. And all of this is happening because of me.
The sight of his bleeding wounds made her feel like barging in into the scene and protect him but Matsu only threatened her by bringing the sword near her throat. One wrong move and she's dead for it.
"Kaoru-dono! MATSU DON'T YOU DARE!" raged Kenshin.
"Make me."
He made his stance, stepping his left foot backward, ready to draw out his sakabatou from its sheath.
That stance! I know that stance! It can't be…not anymore, please…Kaoru thought.
He positioned himself, ready for attack.
"I see you're trying to get serious this time. Judging by your stance, then you must be thinking of defeating me with your famous Mitsurugi Ryu. Perfect; I've always wanted to see how your Hiten Mitsurugi works, this time I'll be going to see it firsthand. Finally, I'm sensing the Battousai in you is trying to break free at last," grinned Matsu maliciously.
"No," whimpered Kaoru, "Kenshin don't!"
She was hoping he would see her pleading to him not to, but his eyes were glaring madly at Matsu.
Wait, what happened to Kenshin? She worried. He was… different. His eyes suddenly turned amber from being such violet orbs and no trace of his usual cheerfulness in his face was left. Something's wrong.
"What are you waiting for Battousai? Why won't you come and attack me now? C'mon, don't keep me waiting," hissed Matsu.
"Let her go," he said deeply.
"Not until you attack me first.
But he can't attack first. He can't attack Matsu first, knowing what will happen next. If he attacked Matsu, he might hurt Kaoru since she was near Matsu, and there might be a tendency that Matsu would eventually place Kaoru in front of him and there… history might repeat itself. And he couldn't afford to lose Kaoru, not even by his own hands.
This was harder than he thought. Obviously, it had gone too far.
"I'm going to ask you one last time; Let – her – go."
"KENSHIN! WHATEVER YOU DO, CONTAIN YOURSELF! HE'S TRYING TO LET YOU FALL INTO HIS TRAP!" cried Kaoru.
"Yurusai!" spat Matsu at Kaoru, "What are you waiting for Battousai? Attack! I've always heard frightening stories about you but I guess you're nothing but a coward.
But Kenshin wasn't listening to any of them. He just positioned himself there, making his stance ready for attack.
But the problem was, he wasn't attacking.
"I always use Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu when I fight," said Kenshin darkly.
"Iie, I want to see the Real HITEN MITSURUGI RYU."
"Then so be it, and I'll make you regret hurting my friend here. This time, it isn't a game anymore," said Kenshin, ready to draw the sakabatou out of its sheath.
"Let's do this," and he shoved Kaoru hard to his right and drew out his sword.
"You slimy git!" he said through gritted teeth as he saw him hurt Kaoru and lounged forward, drawing his sword out.
Matsu attacked right after Kenshin attacked, clashing his katana to his sakabatou. Kenshin slid to his right and strike again but Matsu dodged his attack. But Kenshin quickly positioned himself and thrust his sword on the ground and gave a heavy blow, "Doryusen!"
Matsu quickly dodged the blow but the impact of the doryusen knocked him a bit. A cut seared across his stomach.
"Humph, so that's your famous doryusen, eh? I must say, you've impressed me a bit, and I'm sensing that this match is turning into a more heated and exciting one."
Kenshin, Kaoru worried as she stared sadly at his grave face.
"You have to kill me if you want to claim the girl, Battousai," hissed Matsu.
"Kenshin would never kill anyone! He vowed never to kill anyone and you're never going to succeed in letting him break his word!" shouted Kaoru.
"Yurusai!" yelled Matsu at Kaoru.
"He will never kill anyone! He's a good man who only uses his sword to protect people instead of killing them!"
"I'll slit your neck open if you don't shut up," hissed Matsu.
"You're making this talk longer. Matsu," said Kenshin as he made his stance, "is it because you wanted to extend your last hours longer knowing that I'll put an end to your agony any time now? Get ready to say your prayers."
He gave a loud groan as he impatiently paced the grounds to and fro. He glanced at the clock, 9:00 in the evening. Seriously, they should be back here by now, he thought. He was growing more and more impatient every minute.
"Bakeru! They should be here any minute now!" he grumbled loudly which made Yahiko jump in fright.
"Bakeru yourself! You almost killed me!" yelled Yahiko.
"For Pete's sake! It's already 9:00 in the evening. What do they think this is, a date? Gee, that's nice!" said Sano sarcastically, "Are the kids asleep?"
"Hai. Megumi's with them."
"Great! For once she can be quite handy," he smirked and reached for the gate when Yahiko called out, "What are you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing, Yahiko-chan? Of course I'm going to barge in there and give that Taka punk a piece of my fists!"
"But Kenshin said we should stay here and attack only if they're not here 'til midnight!"
"What has gotten into you, Yahiko? What? You like sitting around waiting for a miracle to happen?"
Yahiko winced a bit.
Sano continued, "Well, heck not! I'm not like an ice Buddha like somebody that I know here, waiting for something to happen! So if I were you, I'll go and save Kaoru and help Kenshin fight this battle!"
Yahiko glared at him, "Hey! Who are you calling an 'ice Buddha'?"
"So are you coming or not?" said Sano as he tossed a bokken at Yahiko.
Yahiko caught it and grinned, "Let's do this!"
"I thought you'd rather be left behind. Ha! C'mon, let's go," and they both left the Kamiya dojo, hoping that they would eventually see their friends safe and sound, still in one piece, and maybe catch up some fight.
But they weren't aware of what lies ahead of them, especially of what lies ahead of Kenshin…
Poor Kaoru.
TBC...
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I KNOW, I KNOW. THIS CHAPPIE'S A SHORT ONE BUT AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, I PROMISE I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU IN CHAPTER 15. I PROMISE! LET'S GET ON WITH THE REVIEWER NOTES, SHALL WE?
KITSUNE: ARIGATO FOR READING AND REVIEWING! I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU LIKE MY STORY. DON'T WORRY; I'M GOING TO UPDATE FASTER THAN YOU THINK I WILL. BESIDES, THIS ONE'S A FAST UPDATE, ISN'T IT? I HOPE THIS MADE YOU HAPPY! ARIGATO!
PIPER: THANKS FOR READING AND REVIEWING! WELCOME ABOARD! I KNOW, TAKA'S REALLY A STUPID WIMP SOMETIMES I EVEN WONDER WHAT KAORU EVER SAW IN HIM! SOMETIMES, I EVEN WONDER WHY I EVER PUT HIM IN MY STORY! SHEESH! BY THE WAY, IT IS SPELLED AS JIN'E.
ACTUALLY, KAORU'S BEEN TRYING TO TELL TAKA THAT SHE LOVES KENSHIN MORE THAN TAKA EVER THINK SHE DOES. SOMEHOW, KAORU STILL COULDN'T TAKE KENSHIN BECOMING BATTOUSAI BUT WHAT IF HE TURNS ONE? CAN SHE STILL HANDLE IT? READ FURTHER, EI, AM I BEING TOO CHEESY? I MUST BE GOING SOFT. HEHEHE…
KENSAN-NIXME: OHAYO! YEY! YOU REVIEWED! YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN I'M HAVING A MENTAL BLOCK…ONEESAN! WEHEHEHE…ANYWAY, I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU. YOU DID IT! YOU FINALLY POSTED YOUR FIRST STORY EVAH! YEY! ARIGATO FOR READING AND REVIEWING MY STORY AGAIN! LOVE YAH!
And with that, I must leave you. Sayonara! (twirls around, leaving a trail of pixie dust)