Rurouni Kenshin: Legend of the Bloody Blade
Chapter 5: Inescapable Pursuit
In the forest where Sanosuke and the ninja were fighting, there was not a sound to be heard. Complete silence fell over the two enemies as a slight wind kicked up and blew away some dead leaves from the ground. Sanosuke has one had over his wound, and the other one the zanbatou. "The bleeding isn't stopping…why?" He thought to himself. But there was no time to think as the servant disappeared again. Sano's eyes shifted around in a nervous panic. He knew there was no chance of survival if he was hit again. He struggled to stay on his feet and keep his focus. His vision blurred more and came back just as another knife came at him. This one he jumped away from, but that wasn't the real attack. Just as Sano rolled and regained balance, a swift slash from the servants katana flew down upon him. Leaving a deep gash across his chest, the ninja retreated back into the trees to prepare for another strike. Sano became incredibly afraid at that moment. The pain was shooting through him from both his shoulder and his chest, he was losing blood quick. Something had to be done. Without thinking, Sanosuke began blindly swinging his sword. But the more he did this, the dizzier he got, and the more obnoxious laughter he heard from the trees…
Kenshin and company had just reached the Takeda Mansion, and were taking their long needed rest. Everybody was breathing and sweating like never before, but Kenshin's thoughts were elsewhere. Sano was still out there, fighting whatever it was that was following them. If he was killed, Kenshin wouldn't be able to live with himself again.
With that, he rose to his feet, took a breath and told the others "I'm going out to look for Sano. He's out there fighting for us right now, and I think he may need backup. You all stay here and don't go near any windows, and don't go outside no matter what."
They were too exhausted to respond, so only a nod came from Yahiko and Kaoru.
Without waiting for any response, Kenshin charged out the door and began running back to where they had left Sano. He knew something was wrong, he could feel it in his bones, and smell a faint blood fragrance in the air. He had to hurry, before Sano was killed.
Sano dropped to his knees, and lost all sense of feeling. His whole body was numb, and he was dizzy. He didn't know how much blood he had lost, he just knew it was a lot. Determined not to die without taking that annoying nija servant with him, he stumbled to his feet and dropped the zanbatou. It was too heavy, he couldn't lift it nor feel it anymore. But his vision slightly restored and another knife came at him. He sidestepped it, and remembered last time as he jumped back and the sword flew down before his eyes. The blade struck the ground and got stuck for a second. Sano took this to his advantage unconsciously and mechanically drop kicked the ninja. The blow landed in the back if the servants neck, and he wasn't ready for it. He had become so air-headed because of the chest blow that he let his guard down too much. The blow stunned him and he dropped to his hands and knees. Just as he was recovered and ready to jump back up, an hard fist landed right into his headband, cracking both the the headband, and his skull.
The blood ran warmly down the servants face as he dropped to the ground. His head was throbbing and he became paralyzed. The last thing he remembered was looking into Sano's eyes, and seeing nothing. Not a sign of consciousness or thought at all. Then everything went black…
Kenshin legs were becoming numb from all the running, but he kept going. The smell of blood was growing and he could hear a loud scream. He was near, and he knew it. Just as he turned to his right, he knew what he saw. Sano consistently kicking the servant in the side. He could tell the servant was dead, but Sano kept kicking brutally. "Sano! STOP, he's dead! Stop kicking him!" Kenshin grabbed Sano's arms and tried holding him back, but Sano flung him into a tree and collapsed to the ground.
Kenshin crawled over and shook Sano. He noticed the massive amount of blood on the dirt and began ripping Sano's shirt up to make some makeshift bandages. After the wounds were covered, Kenshin dragged Sano over to a tree and set him upright. Several minutes later Sano's eyes opened and Kenshin let loose a sigh of relief. Sano, somehow was able to stand despite his injuries. Though as soon as he stood he stumbled but Kenshin caught him. "Come on Sano, I'll help you walk we need to get to the Take---" He was going to say Takeda Mansion but out of his peripheral vision he saw a gleam of light from a piece of steel, and a pair of eyes. He brought Sano to his feet and said "Sano, someone is here, we need to get out of here." At that they began running, toward the mansion, but just as they reached the bridge only a mile and a half away, Kenshin knew that if they kept going, they would endanger the whole group. Without thinking Kenshin stopped and looked back. Just as a strange shape was speedily approaching, Kenshin became worried. Then, without thinking he brought out his sword and flipped it around to the sharp end, and cut the bridge's support ropes, dropping them into the raging river below. The stranger stopped at the broken bridge, he looked down with an air of arrogance as two more of his kind approached. He turned calmly and ordered them "The job is done. The last threat to Master Hattori's plan is dead. Go give him word, I'll look around for the bodies.". Without replying, the two servants disappeared into the darkness of the forest once more. The ninja then looked down once more, and began hopping down to investigate…