Gunshot Roses

Chapter Four

................. are flashbacks

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Yahiko looked at Kenshin as they walked along the side of the road, toward the police station, "Why are we going to see the sheriff? I thought this was over with."

"Because," Kenshin answered, "I'm pretty sure there's more to the story then what appears."

They stepped into the small, dark building and asked for the man in charge. A sleepy looking officer pointed toward a door marked, "Sheriff". They entered and a man was seated in a tall black chair with his back to them. The chair turned slowly and showed the man's face. He had long blonde hair that was stacked on his head and defied gravity.

"May I help you?" he asked in a annoyed voice.

"Yes," Kenshin spoke first. "We would like to know if you've done any investigations on the Kanryuu mansion."

"I don't normally give information to strangers . . . especially from out of town . . ." the man replied.

"I am Ken-"

Sano clapped a hand over his mouth, "He's Kenny. I'm Bill, he's Bob and they are Jill and Betty."

The man looked at them and everyone, besides Kenshin, shook their head vigorously. The sheriff looked skeptical, but continued, "I am Chou, the sheriff of this pathetic town. We've done investigations on the mansion, for possible slavery issues, but we found they are just normal paid workers who have the added bonus of living on the property."

"But they are not paid . . ." Kenshin said, while thinking. "I am most certain they are not paid at all."

"Well, seeing as how I've never seen you in this town before, and I doubt you have any relations to Kanryuu or his workers, I don't see why our say in this would have any weight at all." Chou picked up and knife and started to sharpen the blade. "You should forget about it."

"What about investigations on relations underground dealings?" Kenshin asked.

"If you're referring to illegal drug usage, I suggest you forget that too. Kanryuu Takeda isn't doing anything wrong as of now," he blew on the edge of the sword and smirked. "Now, if that is all, leave. I have paperwork to do."

"But- . . ."

"LEAVE!!!" he barked. The group was startled and left abruptly.

"Morons . . ." Chou laughed.

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"Well, that was a waste!" Misao sighed.

"Maybe not entirely," Sano grinned, looking at a figure ahead of them. "Hey! Missy!"

A woman with raven black hair turned her head and her face lit up. Kenshin blinked and smiled, while reaching for the bags that her arms were loaded down with.

"Hello everyone!" she smiled cheerfully while giving up and letting Kenshin carry her bags. "I'm afraid that last time we met, I didn't get all of your names!"

Introductions were made quickly and Kaoru thanked them for helping to save her. She took a quick glance and the clock tower and noticed the time.

"I'm sorry! I got to get back to work! Tae sent me out on errands, but if I don't get back—"

"It's fine." Sano grinned, "Why don't you stop by later tonight and we'll hang out, get to know ya."

"Oro . . . I don't know if that's a good- . . ." Kenshin began to say.

"Of course. I'd love to." Kaoru bowed. She turned to Kenshin, "May I have my bags back, please?"

"I'll carry it Milady," Kenshin nodded forward for her to show him the way. She waved to everyone and headed toward Tae's bar.

"She's something else . . ." Sano laughed.

Misao giggled, "I like her!"

"What does he see in her?" Yahiko snorted. "She's ugly!"

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"Umm- . . . Miss? Do you know where I might find the Himura party?"

Kaoru leaned on the desk in the front hall of the Horseshoe Inn. The woman behind the desk pointed up the stairs and gave her a number for a room. Kaoru thanked her and walked upstairs. She knocked on the door, "Hello?"

The said door swung open and Sano greeted her with a rather drunken smile, "Hello!"

She giggled and stepped in. Misao bounced toward her and asked her to play cards with them. She agreed and Megumi dealt out the cards. Kaoru looked over at Kenshin and he tipped his head in acknowledgement. She winked and picked up her cards.

Long into the night, they bet, lost, won and laughed. They placed bets on an assortment of items, including a pair of pants, a horses brush, a ribbon, a gun holster, and a bottle of booze.

Kenshin, who had a streak of bad luck, had only his pocket knife left before he would have to bet his clothes. He reluctantly placed the knife table and sighed, looking at his hopeless hand of cards. Kaoru looked at him and grinned mischievously.

"I fold!" Megumi sighed.

"I raise . . ." Misao pushed a pretty hairpin into the pile.

"I fold!" Yahiko slapped his cards down on the table.

"I fold . . ." Sano grumbled, taking a swig of alcohol.

"I raise then!" Kaoru giggled. She placed her bracelet in the pile. "I had better get that back! It was my mother's!"

"What good is playing if it's not for keeps!" Sano laughed.

"You shouldn't talk," Misao grinned. "I got your shirt right here!" She held up his white shirt and he grumbled.

It was back to Kenshin, and time to reveal the cards. Kaoru beat both Misao and Kenshin and took the whole lot winnings.

She looked at a clock on the wall and gasped. "It's one o'clock!" she stood up quickly. "If I don't get home soon, many people will be very upset with me!"

Misao smiled, "Alright. Everyone, give her, her stuff back!" Kaoru took back all the items that belonged to her and bowed.

"I had a wonderful time. I hope, maybe we can do this again?"

"Sure" was the varied answer. Kenshin stood as well and walked with her to the door. "Would you like a ride home?" he asked.

"If it's not too much trouble . . ."

"For you, it never would be." She blushed lightly at his words, and he opened the door for her. "Shall we go?"

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They arrived at the house, and it was nearing two a.m. Kaoru slipped off the horse and motioned for Kenshin to be quiet. He nodded and followed her to the door.

She grinned up at him, "Look." She held up his pocket knife with his engraved initials.

Kenshin gave her a surprised look, "Give it back." He held out his hand to take it, but she snatched it away.

"I think I'll keep it!" she smiled.

He shook his head, "I might need it."

She held out her own knife and he took it, understanding her actions.

"Goodnight, Kenshin."

"Goodnight, Milady."

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The next morning, Kaoru walked out of the house, carrying a bucket of water.

"Kaoru!"

Kaoru jerked in surprise, and the water spilled on the ground. Aoshi stood behind her with a stern face.

"Y-Yes, brother?"

"Where in God' name were you last night?" he towered over her. She stared up at him and thought how much he really was like her father.

"I was hanging out with Kenshin and his group of friends." She picked up the bucket and walked back to the well.

"Kaoru . . . Do you know how much trouble Kanryuu could give you if he found out that yo-"

"Found out what?" came Kanryuu's cold voice from behind them. "What are you two conspiring about?"

Kaoru looked at him with wide eyes. Aoshi kept his cool, "Nothing sir."

"Bullshit, tell me."

"I was just reprimanding Kaoru for getting home so late." Aoshi nodded toward Kaoru and she nodded.

"I was helping out Tae by cleaning up afterwards, but I lost track of time and . . . well . . ."

"Really, well I just have to ask her when I go into town today." Kanryuu walked ahead of them. "Oh, and Kaoru? You may not go to Tae's today."

"What? But-"

"End of discussion!" he barked, turning around to face them. "I'll be back soon . . ."

Kaoru whispered to Aoshi with tears in her eyes, "May God condemn his soul to hell."

"It's only one day. Why are you so upset?"

"It's the fact that he orders me around like that! I can work for myself, can't I? I mean- . . ."

"You love him, don't you? The cowboy, I mean" Kaoru blinked and stared at her brother. A small smile adorned his face and she nodded. "So be it . . ."

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Kenshin had received word from Tae not to go get Kaoru today. He had been confused but asked no questions.

He sat on his bed, Sano leaning against the wall near him. Megumi was playing a small game of cards with Yahiko and Misao had just walked in from brushing her horse.

"So, Himura," she smiled, "have you decided what you're gonna do to get Kanryuu?"

"I can't just 'get him', Misao. I need evidence. And I have none." Kenshin sighed and looked at the ceiling. "I would do anything to help her, but I can't. Even if we found evidence, the police wouldn't help us . . . I don't think they give a rat's ass what happens to this town."

"That's true . . ." Megumi sighed.

"Oh yeah!" Yahiko said, getting up. "I was riding around when you were out, and I found this really cool place!"

"What are you talking about, Yahiko?" Sano asked lazily.

"If you go about 5 miles out of town, in the Kanryuu mansion direction, then head toward those mountains you see in the distance, you'll find this really cool place!" Yahiko nodded.

"Wait a minute, I know about those mountains!" Misao said looking up. "There's a legend around here that the Indians believed in . . ."

..................................

A long time ago, in the ages where gods roamed the earth, there was a certain god that fell in love with a certain woman.

The god was the god of strength that everyone prayed to before battle. He would side with the side he favored, and that side would win.

The woman was mortal.

For months, they kept their love a secret, but one day the other gods found out. Since it was forbidden, they were going to kill the woman and ensnare the god.

On the last night before their imprisonment, the god secretly visited the woman. Together, they snuck off to the middle of the desert, where they were going to hide. The other gods saw them, and quickly decided to kill them there.

The mountains rose up around the couple in a circle. Water rose from the ground, slowly. If the god was to flee, he would have to leave his beloved behind to die, so instead he stayed with her.

They kissed one last time, before the water rose to high and they drowned. Together.

It's said that the area around there stays green, even in the driest of summers. The flowers always bloom, and the lake that is left from the gods' punishment is still crystal clear. It's a place that certainly enchants whoever visits.

But you can still feel a sense of warmth, as the couple surly did seconds before they perished, together.

..................................

Misao sighed, "I fell in love with a man from around here . . . he had brought me there, told me the legend and . . . never mind."

"What Misao?" Megumi asked, sitting next to the girl on the bed. "Go on."

"He said he would try to mimic the actions of that god. He said that he loved me." She laughed, "Then he forced me to head home . . . to the North and I haven't seen him since . . ."

"What was his name, Misao?" Megumi asked again, knowing Misao didn't like talking about her past much.

"Aoshi Shinomori."

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A/N:

If I go any further, you might not read this this week. Or next week . . . or the week after . . .

Anyway, thank you to my reviewers! You all get special chibi Sou dolls, left over from the story "Puppeteers" but Bando-Edio no Megumi-sama!

The chapter titles are also lyrics to the song In Gods Country, by U2!! If you're a U2 fan, you all get strawberry cheesecake from Mark's Cheesecakes!!

Till next time!

Ciao