A Wanderer's Sword
A Sequel to "Broken Hearts"
Ch. 14
Brought Back to Life
Kenshin lay motionless on the ground, blood pouring from the side of his head and mixing with his crimson hair that blew in the miserable breeze. Sensei stood above him with a cruel and careless expression on his face. He laughed deeply as he watched Kenshin struggle to breathe.
"Why do you still cling to life, Himura?" Sensei said mockingly. "There's nothing left for you here…only misery."
Kenshin rasped desperately for breath, blood spluttering out of his mouth. Every time he took a breath his eyes would slip more closed; the pain too intense to endure. His fist clenched tightly as his body began to shut down, his vision blurring and his heart beating slower and slower.
Sensei through back his head and laughed. "Die Himura! Die and leave your woman for me!" He paused grinning wildly. "She is such a jewel, absolutely gorgeous in every manner. I will gladly take your place as her guardian, and one day…"
"…no…" Kenshin whispered on his last breath.
"Excuse me?" Sensei laughed. "I couldn't quite hear you?"
"NO!" Kenshin said pushing himself up with all his strength. "I…will…not…leave…Kaoru…"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Sensei laughed. "Yeah right, you're bleeding to death! Any moment now your heart will give out on you! Your brain must be slipping silently into death itself."
"No…" Kenshin said his arms wobbling as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. "As long as Kaoru is alive…as long as she needs me…as long as my child needs me…I cannot die…"
Sensei laughed again, but this laugh had a hint of worry in it. "You say this as if it was a fact, yet there you are, bleeding to death before my eyes."
"You really—don't know what true love is…" Kenshin said rasping for breath and wiping the blood from his face. "…do you? True love…can do anything…even…" he said struggling to stand up, "…bring the dead back to life…"
"No!" Sensei said angrily, his eyes filling with horror.
"You seemed to have missed…" Kenshin said putting his hand to his wound. "One inch to the right and I'd be a dead man, that I would."
"Impossible!" Sensei said indignantly. "It was pointblank!"
"I'm afraid you have drunk just a little too much sake, Mr. Sensei. Not only could you not shoot straight, but your breath is so strong I could smell you ten yards away, that I could."
"Shut up you bastard!" Sensei said raising the pistol in his hand to point between Kenshin's eyes. "Are you saying I'm a drunkard?"
"Mr. Sensei I'm afraid I have no time to debate this matter, nor anytime to debate anything else. I suggest that you lower that gun from my head and stand back, or I will have to do something rather unpleasant on your part, that I will."
Before Sensei even had time to laugh it was too late, Kenshin had grabbed Sensei's pistol arm and had spun him around and slammed him squarely on the ground. Kenshin picked up his sword and thrust it into the sleeve of his shirt, pinning him, face down, on the ground.
As he walked off Yuske attempted to sit himself up, but all he managed to do was worsen his injuries and utter a painful whimper. Kenshin looked back at him with a caring smile, "I would try and lay still for a while, that shoulder's going to need some good care."
"Kenshin!" Kaoru said with tears pouring down your face. "Oh my goodness, Kenshin!"
"I'm here Kaoru…" he said looking at her with utter joy spilling from his heart. He wrapped her in his arms, holding back sobs of relief.
"Oh Kenshin—how I—missed you!" she said between deep breaths. "Our baby…it's about—" but she was interrupted by a spout of pain.
"It's okay…" he said. "I know…just breathe Kaoru…"
"But—what—are we—going—to do!"
"You are going to push, Kenshin's going to well…stay there…Sano and Yahiko will get hot water and towels…and I'll…" Kira gulped. "…deliver the baby…and hopefully Megumi and Doctor Gensai will get here soon."
"Kira!" said Kaoru in alarm.
"Sano?" Kenshin asked surprised.
"Yahiko!" Yahiko said pointing at himself proudly.
"But how?—when?—where—" Kenshin sputtered.
"There's no time to explain! Get going you two!" she said yelling at Sano and Yahiko.
"But have—you ever de—livered a baby be—fore?" Kaoru asked.
"I helped deliver my baby sister a few years ago…but we'll just have to hope we have help before that time comes." Kira said beginning to sweat nervously. "We just have to hope."
TO BE CONTINUED