Authors Notes: Sorry guys! I didn't mean to keep you all waiting! ;; anyway, I'm going to update this as soon as I can because a couple of my family friends are coming over ;; Well, let's get this show on the road!
Chapter 23 – Hold Tight
Kaoru's breath was shallow as she watched Kenshin collapse onto one knee, clutching his stomach, his breath also ragged and uneven. His eyes were dilated, and they seemed to haze over with pain. The crimson liquid seeped through his hands as the bullet remained in his abdomen.
Kaoru couldn't stand to stand there, paralyzed any longer. She rushed over to Kenshin's aid. She softly placed a hand on her shoulder, the tears seeping down her face.
"K-Kenshin!"
Kenshin looked up at her and smiled weakly. But then his face grew rigid. He suddenly pushed Kaoru out of the way as soon as another gun shot rang through the forest trees.
-
Katsura gazed upon the woods. There were two gunshots out in the woods so far that he could keep track of. Yet he knew that none of his men carried any guns.
He hoped that Kaoru was the one firing.
But then again, Kaoru wasn't the type of girl to by carrying a gun around.
'Oh Kenshin, please be alright.' Kuchiro's plea was left suspended as his heart raced at what his mind was telling him.
The gun shot could have missed or hit.
He just hoped to god that it was the second option. He hoped to god.
"Lord Katsura!" One of his men rushed over to him.
Kuchiro sighed in frustration and turned to him.
"What is it, Arashi?"
Arashi frantically blabbered out what had him so jumbled.
"Scythe has escaped from his chains, sir!"
Katsura sighed and looked out to the woods.
"Let him go…" We'll see if he's become a loyal companion.
"B-But sir!"
"Don't question me, Arashi…I know what I'm doing." Katsura's assured answer was final.
Arashi bowed with a sigh.
"Yes sir."
Katsura nodded to him and then returned his gaze to the forest. Please don't let me down Scythe. Please don't let me down…
-
"Aahh!!" Kenshin's scream of agony rang out as he gripped his left shoulder tightly. Blood began to dribble down through his fingers as his expression shifted into a scowl.
"You…you low life worm. You're a bastard! You disgrace the samurai!" Kenshin spat out at Kuchiro.
Only a laugh emitted from Kuchiro as he held up the gun.
"Your words aren't so threatening anymore." He held up the gun to Kenshin and snickered. Kaoru suddenly shifted in her position and Kuchiro quickly aimed the gun to her.
"Ah, ah, ah. No you don't, lovely. If you try to do anything, I'll shoot him in the leg then he can't move. And then I'll have some real fun with you while he gets to watch." He then let out another laugh.
"You sick dog! You better not lay a hand on her or I'll-" Kuchiro then turned back to Kenshin and shot close to his leg, just missing it by about three inches.
"I wasn't lying when I said that I would make you watch." Kuchiro replied with a sneer.
Kenshin only glared at him.
"You…make me sick…"
Kuchiro only laughed. He then sauntered over to Kaoru, stumbling slightly from the pain. Kaoru quickly tried to scramble up onto her feet, but Kuchiro reached her before she could.
He pinned her down and snickered as she began to squirm and wiggled under his weight.
"Get off of me!!! Get off!!!" She screamed and thrashed her head from side to side.
"Get the hell away from her, damn bastard!!" Kenshin screamed as he staggered up onto his feet. Kuchiro aimed the gun to his leg and pulled the trigger again.
The bullet pierced his skin again and Kenshin screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground, clutching his leg.
"Kenshin, no!!"
Kenshin grit his teeth and reached for his sword that lay on the ground. He scarcely heard a growl emit from the bushes, but didn't pay any mind to it.
Kuchiro snickered and started to feel Kaoru up again like earlier. She continuously tried to escape his grasp but only caused him to laugh more.
"You're not gonna get away. Not this time."
Kaoru looked up to him and glared.
"Then try it!" She then spit at his face, hitting him in the eye.
He snarled and whipped away the spit.
"You'll learn your place, you bitch!!"
He grabbed onto her kimono and brought his arm up to rip it off when suddenly he felt a painful piercing into his neck.
"W-What the hell!??! Get it off me!!" Claws ripped into his sides as leaped off Kaoru and tried to get it off his back.
Kaoru gasped as she saw what was attacking Kuchiro.
"Scythe…" The jaguar that had brought her to Kenshin's base was attacking Kuchiro.
Kenshin then began to think for a moment. He did recall a growling from the bushes when he was reaching for his sword.
Scythe continued to clamp down on Kuchiro's neck as he screamed and continuously fired the gun. Finally, Scythe's jaws hit the jugular vein as Kuchiro collapsed to the ground, mouth wide, eyes white.
He was dead.
Scythe slowly let go of his neck and got off of the dead body. He slowly padded over to Kenshin who was still lying on the ground, hissing from the pain.
Scythe slowly began to lick at his wounds. Kenshin brought a bloody hand up to Scythes forehead and began to pat him weakly.
"Good boy…good boy."
Kaoru finally gulped down the last of her fear and ran over to Kenshin and Scythe.
"Kenshin! Oh my god, we need to get you to a doctor!" Kaoru said, her voice cracked and eyes full of worry. Kenshin just shook his head.
"There's no need for that." Came his reply. Kaoru just looked at him like he were crazy. He then pointed behind her as she turned to glanced at what he was pointing at.
There stood all of his comrades. They all clutched their swords, ready to pounce at who ever else would try to attack Kenshin.
"How did they know we were here?" Kaoru questioned.
Kenshin answered to the best of his ability.
"The gun shots. Kuchiro fired gun shots rapidly to try and get Scythe off his back. They heard the gun shots, and came running. Am I right?"
His comrades smiled and nodded.
"Gee, Kenshin. For a guy who was shot three times, you seem to be doing fine." One of his comrades spoke out.
Kenshin smiled weakly.
"Yeah…well, we better…head…..back…." Kenshin slowly lost his consciousness as he collapsed into Kaoru's arms.
Kaoru gasped as she called out his name.
"Kenshin…?…Kenshin!!"
That's all for now :D please review 3
