Author's note:
I'm really sorry guys. It's been a year or so since I last updated…I'm really sorry, I shall resume writing right away! I kinda lost hope when I got lost in the art contest, but that's over right? Here I am again, writing! It's all that matters now!
Welcome once again, everyone. :D I hope I'm not yet rusted….
Standard disclaimers apply
Midnight 1868, Moonlight 1878 –by hagaki ozuno
" The Sekihoutai, a group of mere farmers, trained as soldiers and served as pawns for the government. They never had the pride they could call their own. They were worse than ants, they could be stepped at. And if ever their species die, the government would regard it as a mere accident and won't do anything about it." The man went inside our house and smiled maniacally, stroking his short beard and moustache. " You sure know that, right, Sagara Sanosuke?"
He started to get on my nerves. I stood up and rolled my fist into a ball.
" Hey buddy. I don't know who you are, but I do know what you're talking about. Get out of here before I—"
" The Hitokiri's.." he resumed, as if he heard nothing from me. " ..were the government's dogs, you see. And they killed your comrades one….after another…"
" Stop it! Get outta here!"
" …mercilessly, slowly, and painfully. Not even heeding the cries of your comrades…" he added as he took a step closer.
" I said stop! Stop it!" I closed my eyes and pretended not to hear the words that were coming out of his mouth.
He had that big grin again on his face. " and now, you're working with one of them."
My eyes fluttered open. Yes, he was right. I am working with one of them. I knew it all along but I denied that fact, and I don't want to think about it…Kenshin…he's different. He's not that ruthless killer who killed everything in his path…that was ten years ago. Now he fights for good, he fights for the people who can't protect themselves. He fights for what is right, not just for money or fame…
" Kenshin's different!" I exclaimed confidently. " I know he is, so don't you try that trick on me."
" Oh, but once a man's a killer, he would forever be a killer. Nothing could change that." He took another step forward.
" That is battousai, Sagara. He was once a lamb, a mere child. But he has tasted blood, and he had turned into a wolf. He can never go back to his flock."
That was it. I flung my fist onto his face, but he blocked it with his umbrella. He grabbed my hand and twisted it so painfully; I had to cry out loud.
" W..what do you want?"
His demonic eyes widened, and I could clearly see how evil his intentions were.
" I want battousai dead."
And that was the last word I heard before he knocked me out to unconsciousness.
…
It had been a full week since I last saw Sano. And I felt, something was terribly wrong.
Ever since he ran from us that day, when he said he'll be back. But I never saw him again. Yasuharu didn't, either. All he saw when he came home was a big pile of mess. The sake bottles were everywhere, the dust from the fire where scattered, the floor was ripped, and one column of the house collapsed. He said it must be one of Sano's handiwork, and even joked about it. But Sano didn't come home that night. And that lead to the conclusion that Sano is indeed…
…in big trouble.
We searched for him everywhere, but there was no sign of him. Then, we went to the other town to ask, and all we saw was the cloth he always had on his head. No one knew of Sano, and that really made us worry a lot. Where is Sano? Is he lost? Had someone kidnapped him? Or worse…is he…dead?
Megumi came here the morning he was confirmed lost. She was crying bitterly, blaming us that it was our fault that Sano's lost. He ran away because of us; because he was confused in what to believe in. We couldn't blame her though. She had a point as Sano's childhood friend. We do not know Sano as much as she does. We have no right over him…
But I believe…we are still his friends..
All of these thought ran in my head as the rain poured harder, and as I stared outside of the dojo, I was wondering…Would I see Sano again? Or would I not? I pictured him making his way through the gate, mumbling about how the rain ruined his hair and everything. I laughed as I began to reminisce about my friend, and I also began to miss him dearly.
Just then, as loud as the thunder's clap, I heard Yahiko's footsteps as he ran swiftly towards me.
"Kenshin!"
I was alarmed at his voiced. I knew at that instant, it was something urgent.
" Kenshin, it's Sano! He's.."
I felt all my insides twirl violently. I" Where is he!"
Yahiko guided me as we ran to the backyard. I was expecting the worst, like Sano had been battered or something. I pictured him with lots of bruises, but I prayed to Buddha that he's still alive…oh please, guide my friend! I didn't know exactly what I felt. I was happy he's here, but…
"Sano!"
He stood in the middle of the backyard, looking as normal as ever. Except that he didn't have his cloth on his head. His head was down, and the rain poured so hard on his hair that it was down too.
I heaved a sigh of relief as I saw him there. I felt so happy that I just ran to him and attempted to hug him.
But what met me was his fist.
I quickly dodged his fist, thanks to my reflexes, but that caught me in utter shock. Why is he attacking me? Have I done something wrong? Why? I had so many questions on my mind that I paused for a while, not knowing he was already above me. He punched me yet again, but I blocked with the sheath of my sword. It seemed like a meaningless struggle fighting with force against Sano, and soon, I found myself succumbing to his strength. His punch tore through my defense, and I flew into the air and onto the ground like a helpless child.
" But…Sano…why?"
He did not speak. He raised his head to look at me fully, and I was surprised to see his eyes were full of hate and bloodlust. They were completely dark, and most of his hair was on his other eye. He looked different. Totally different. And I had to know why.
" Finally, battousai. It's time for you to be defeated by someone more powerful than you!"
I turned my head to the direction of the voice. I recognized him easily…the student of the Kamiya dojo, the man who also killed and slaughtered, and the man whom I smashed his thumb…
"Hiruma Gohei…"
" It's so nice of you to remember, battousai." He said as he stepped out of the shade of the tree.
" You…what have you done to Sano!" I just felt my blood boil at the thought of what he had done to my friend.
" I didn't do anything." He said. " Maybe YOU did something."
That caught me in utter shock. " ..w..what?"
" The Sekihoutai, once a group of valor and pride, fell, because of scums like you. Their number one enemy was the isshinshishi, the Hitokiri's! Sanosuke was not just an ordinary member, he was a survivor of that group! And he despised the likes of you ever since! I just used his absolute hate and triggered it against you."
"Sano…a Sekihoutai..?"
Be strong…
I held my head as it started to feel as if it were cracking. What's happening?
Be strong…
" Go Sanosuke! Revenge your fallen comrades! Revenge their deaths!"
Within a split second, I saw Sano once more as he was running to my direction. I had no chance to move. I felt dumbfounded by the revelations that had since been there, yet I have no clue whatsoever because I can't remember anything...
As I saw his fist, memories kept pouring in my head…memories…poured as hard as the rain…
" G-Get out of my way, you money-thirsty freak!"
" You are strong."
" But to live in this place, you must be stronger."
" What is your name?"
"I—"
" Sagara Sanosuke."
" Sanosuke."
" Be strong."
Be strong…
The moonlight kissed the ground as the rain stopped to pour. We see Kenshin's hair untied due to countless impacts, and Sanosuke's body had lots of slashes. Their fight seemed unending. Their rages seemed unlimited. No one wants to give up. The rain may have stopped, but the fight seemed far from over.
We move closer to the scene. Finally, Kenshin thought that this was more than enough. This had to end. This was just a meaningless fight caused by Gohei's evil intentions. No way could he succumb to this. This has to end.
He reversed his sword and took on a different position.
We could hear Kaoru's and Yahiko's cries, telling Kenshin not to do it, telling him that he was just under control. But we sense that Kenshin pretended not to hear.
We witness as Kenshin watches Sano as he slowly stood in sync with his sword. They both looked deep into each other's eyes, searching for explanations which mere words cannot express. And so, with one contact, the message was sent. There was no need for oral communication or such. Their eyes…have said it all.
The view quickly changes as Sanosuke first strikes Kenshin with his fist. Kenshin quickly evades this strike and slashes Sanosuke's body. The screen slowly fades to white. And then, there was silence.
Subsequently, we hear as Sanosuke mumbles Kenshin's name on his ear. We see Kenshin smile, and afterwards, we hear his reply..
" You've become strong, Sano. I'm proud of you."
We see both collapse as we move farther from the two.
Moonlit 1878, The Restoration.
The streets were bustling with noisy people, merchants and Urchins alike. Children hold on for dear life on their parent's clothes, afraid of getting lost in the crowd, while adults were having fun while throwing off second hand jokes to their comrades. Store owners screech their good's price, trying to build up a competition among their neighbors. Men, women, and children alike loved the restoration…finally, the time of peace has come. How they wish time would just stop to all these peace and quiet…
I was one of them. I was one of the people who truly wish for peace. And now, my thirst for peace has been quenched. Now, I realize that vengeance would amount to no good. We should all help one another to build this dream, build this dream of peace we yearn for so long. Not blaming one another, or trying to figure out who started the fight.
And I knew at that moment, that was what Captain Sagara was trying to tell me…ten years ago…
Captain Sagara…
He gave up his life to protect me. He pushed me onto a cliff and bathed in the rain of bullets from the soldier's guns…
I felt worthless…gutless and helpless. From that day, I started to fight, even though I was a skimpy nine-year-old kid.
I fought till I thought I was strong, till I felt like I could drive all enemies at my feet. But do I even know what strong means?
Yes, now I know what it takes to be strong. I know the meaning of being strong. It is protecting the ones you love, and fighting for what you think is right. It is the capability of controlling yourself, and not being controlled by others.
As these thoughts hurdled my mind, I found myself running onto the stampede of people who were hungry for this year's night sale. I just kept running, heck, I don't know why, but my only goal is to get out of this crowded place alive and still in one piece. I scampered over bags of goods that were scattered during the stampede, and goodness, are these people even civilized? They looked as if they were chickens gfighting over a single corn. Yech, I tried not to be the part of the commotion, but the power of the people was stronger than a river's current! God, it was a horrible sight. It was amazing I didn't feel sick with all of these uncivilized citizens…I kept running, running out of that hell till I…
Till I came face to face with the man who seems to be a big fan of these sales.
…
Non other than the skimpy Himura Kenshin.
He was the man that every merchant would definitely want to see at their stalls. I quickly recognized him with his bags band barrels full of stuff, and his slim demeanor trying to carry everything without help. I laughed He didn't know what to do. He just stood there, staring at my eyes with his amethyst ones, as if pleading me to help him with his load. I have heard of him alright, the man who can sweep a merchant's goods within a split second. He's just like a tornado that can pass by and buy everything on its way. I laughed once more and helped him with his load. Boy, who would even think that this guy's the legendary hitokiri? Subsequently I felt a sudden urge of happiness. Right before I knew
what I was doing, I charged him and carried him whole, with all his load and stuff. He was so surprised that he didn't move a muscle. That made me happier. He was so dumbfounded with my strength that he was not able to speak.He stared at me once more after being carried. His eyes were very warm…as warm as his smiles. His eyes lit up the night, ands that was all that I needed right now.
" And to think that I was struggling to carry all of these…" he chuckled as I placed him down. " Talk about strength!" he added.
I smiled and took all of his load. " Well, it's all I have. Brute force."
We started to walk towards the dojo. Chuckling and giggling over our experiences with the yet-to-be-civilized crowd. But he doesn't realize that I'm staring at him all the while now, and that I was smiling like a geek while he's talking.
" Uh…Kenshin?"
He stopped and looked at me with that smile again.
" Uhm…well…" I placed the load at the floor and looked around. There was no sign of anyone, of course we were on a small alley, and it's already night, so…
" Hmm?"
I didn't know what to say. I'm not good at these things…well…but I figured out that I had to say this…it was now or never for me… at least, it turned out to be…, but…
As if reading my mind, Kenshin chuckled, and I blushed furiously. Does he know it already? But how?
He pulled me close and he stared at my eyes, and once again, I was lost at his abyss. God , he looked so beautiful under the moon. I pulled him even closer, and we both shared that sweet kiss I had longed for.
We pulled back after what seemed like an eternity, and he beamed once again.
" You've become strong." He said.
I chuckled. " I know."
And his face was all that I remembered after that moment under the Midnight sky…
Author's note:
Heehee, didn't see that last part coming, didn't ya? Well, if you would read the first part of chapter one, then that last part of this last chapter may ring a huge bell on your mind. Hehe, anyway, it's done! Sorry for making you guys wait for so long. Thank you for all those who read this, and hope to see ya next time! By bye!
3 hagaki.