A Wanderer's Sword

Ch. 11

A Very Hot Day

Kenshin finally shook himself awake as the hot sun began to roast his face hatefully. He washed his face and hands sleepily in a stream nearby and took a swig of his sake. He looked about him; it couldn't be later than eight or nine in the morning, but waves of heat rose blurrily from the dry ground. Kenshin lifted himself up finally and was on his way again.

It had been a long time since he had been out on the road. If he hadn't been so occupied with searching for Kaoru he might have enjoyed the fresh air and sweet smell of summer flowers. He had left just two days after Kaoru's kidnapping, being sick and tired of the other's trying to convince him there was no use.

Kenshin had been growing increasingly uneasy as the days past by. If Kaoru was alive, the baby should be due around July or August, and June was passing quickly. He had no idea if her kidnappers would be able, or even try to care for her and the baby during this time.

Kaoru scratched another crooked line deep into the wooden wall of the confining hut. Hot and utterly tired she sat very still on the straw bedded floor. It had been 63 days since Kaoru had been taken captive and forced to work like a dog. But she could work no longer, for her baby would be coming soon.

"Hello!" Kaoru struggled to call out, beads of sweat crawling down her face.

"What do you want know?" Sensei asked distractedly peering into the hut for only a second.

"Water…please." Kaoru whispered barely audible, her mouth utterly dry.

"Fine, fine, whatever…" he said turning towards somebody outside. "Get the woman some water then! Anyway…" he said continuing the conversation he had been engaged in.

Kaoru laid back uneasily, breathing in the stuffy summer air, which tasted of rotten straw and sweat. Kaoru winced slightly; her soar back ached painfully. A tiny breeze slipped through the cracks of the walls and whispered in her ear.

Kaoru opened her eyes suddenly, she had the distinct feeling that—but that was impossible. But yet, she couldn't deny the feeling that something, or rather someone was coming. She closed her eyes hopefully, whispering his name—the only comfort she still had.

"What the hell is with you Sensei!" Yuske asked insistently. "She's going to have the baby any day now, and that Himura guy's sure not coming for her. Just kill her and be done with it."

"You little fool." Sensei said shaking his head and laughing. "You just don't get it. I know he's been following us…why else do you think we've moved seventeen times since we got the girl? I'm just playing around with him for a while, getting on his nerves, stirring him up."

"Well what are you going to do if she dies on us?" asked a tall gangly man next to him with a head of hair that looked strangely like he had placed a black bowl upside-down on his head. "There's no way she could survive if she had the baby out here…"

"I know that Jiro." Sensei said looking up at him with a mad grin.

"Just what are you planning?" Yuske asked angrily.

"You'll see, you'll see." He said strangely.

"I don't like this one bit." Jiro said quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.

Kenshin searched wearily along the muddy ground for some sort of trail. He had been following these for nearly two months. The trails weaved in and out of forests, up hills and slopes of mountains, across creeks and even once he lost a trail that lead straight into a river. After a few weeks tracking he discovered that one small trail, what appeared to be three large men, and a small woman would take a more direct route to a woody area, usually near a stream or river, while a host of men and women and horses would move around in circles just to confuse him.

Currently he reached an open area in the forest where a small wooden cabin had been hastily put together, an old fire pit sat beside it, burnt logs and remains of food scattered in amongst the ashes. By the looks of it about a dozen people had trodden around the area for at least a week or two; piles of rotten food and trash lay in piles everywhere around the camp.

Fortunately it had been raining about the time that the campers had left and a clear trail lead roughly to the north. Kenshin's blood boiled; they were heading farther into the wilderness with absolutely no regard for his wife or for his child-to-be. He dashed off down the trail and into the thickness of the forest.

"Hello…somebody?" Kaoru called out desperately her eyes held tightly shut in pain.

"WHAT!" Sensei said storming in upset.

"Water…"

"Again!" he turned to yell at someone to get her water. "Some—"

"No…my water…broke…"

"What the hell are you talking about lady!"

"The baby …is coming…"

"NOW! But why now, I'm—well I'm not ready!"

"You're not ready! You're not ready! I've the one that's been carrying this thing for nine months!"

"Well—I…" he stammered. "I just thought—can't you wait?"

"NO YOU IDIOT! IT'S COMING NOW!"

TO BE CONTINUED