Gunshot Roses

Chapter Ten

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"Kanryuu, sir!" a solider said, ready to give whatever word Kanryuu said to the rest of the men.

"Tell the others to prepare," Kanryuu said, as he sat in a chair near the fire. "We're going to attack a certain inn at dusk. Make sure to bring the best of the best."

"Sir, yes, sir!" the solider answered.

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Kaoru sat in a plush chair in the front hall of the inn, mending a shirt of Misao's that she had torn. She hummed to herself as she sewed and Kenshin watched her, with mournful eyes. She put down her project and said, "You have been looking at me with those sad eyes for ten minuets. What is it you want?"

Kenshin feigned a smile, "It's nothing..."

"No, it looks like something, please tell me," she insisted.

He got up and stood over her. She placed her sewing down and stood as well. "It's just," he began, "Some things may be happening that I have no control over... and you might not be pleased... with some things. And I just want you to be happy, but in order to be happy I have to let these things happen..."

She smiled, but looked totally confused. "I'm sure that whatever these things are, we'll be ok..."

He looked up at her, unconvinced, "You're gonna hate me when this is over..."

She laughed, "How could I ever hate you? And could you tell me what we're talking about?"

"Well..." he began.

Gunshots cut him off. He grabbed Kaoru and slid behind a couch. He stared at her and motioned for her to be quiet. She nodded and he pulled out his gun and loaded it. They heard footsteps walking around in the hall.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are, you little mouse!" a man called. "Mr. Kanryuu wants his pretty little chikie back, and he wants her back now."

Kenshin stood with a smile, and a gun in each hand, "You really shouldn't shoot at people if you need a favor from them."

There was a gang of men, standing inside and outside of the inn, all with guns out and ready. "This ain't no favor, pal," the man said. "Either you hand her over or you end up dead."

"You know," Kenshin smiled again, aiming the guns, "I don't think I like either choices."

"Your funeral, pal!" the man grinned and leveled his gun.

Two shots rang out. The man slumped to the floor with two bullet holes in his chest. The other men stared at the dead man then at each other. "Did you see that?"

"Not really, but I don't think the captain even got to shoot..."

"That other guy shot to fast!"

"That man... who is he?"

"Who me?" Kenshin grinned. "Well, I'm nothing but a cowboy."

The other men stared in terror. One man cried out, "Let's get out of here!"

"N-No.... we gotta bring the chick back!"

"But we're all gonna die!"

"Yeah, either way we will though!"

"That's right! Kanryuu will have our heads, if he found out we brought back nothing!"

"So let's make this simple," a voice said behind them. "Why don't you stay!" Two men fell, revealing Sanosuke, who was pulling his fist back. He gave Kenshin the thumbs up, "Hey friend."

"Hey yourself," Kenshin rolled his eyes, "You should be in bed. After all, you did get shot."

Sano waved his hand in the air, "Feh; that was nothing"

The men looked at each other, "He's wounded!"

"Let's get him!"

"Maybe use him as a hostage!"

They all began to rush forward, but ten knives flew out of the air and hit the ground in a line. "Tsk, tsk," Misao teased, jumping down from the roof top. "Hurting a wounded man, what's wrong with you?"

The men stared at her in terror, "Oh my God!"

"How the hell?!"

"Kill her!"

Misao pulled out some more knives and threw them as the men ran forward. Three men dropped and she smiled, "Hey Himura!"

Kenshin laughed, "I thought you were taking a nap!"

"And miss the fun?!" she giggled, while flipping, and kicking someone in the nose. "No way!"

The man yelped. Someone else jumped down from the roof and hit the man on the side of the neck with his hand. The man passed out and Yahiko smiled. "Where's Kaoru?!" he called.

"I'm right here!" she said, standing with her hands on her hips. "Do you people enjoy this?"

Sano, Misao and Yahiko looked at each other and answer, "Uh, yeah!" Kaoru looked at Kenshin, who shrugged.

"Hey!" a voice called from the roof. "Help me down?!"

Sano walked over to the ledge. He held his arms up and the figure slid down. He set her gently on the ground and Megumi dusted of her skirt. "Thank you." She looked around at the men. "Not much of a match," she said bored.

"Wow!" one of the men said, "Look at her!"

"Excuse me?!" Megumi shouted, while smacking that man with a medicine chest. "Don't you 'wow' me!" The man fell to the ground, with a bloody nose.

Sanosuke stared at the rest of the group, "Anyone else got anything to say about the lady?" He cracked his knuckles. The others slinked back in fear and shook their heads 'no'. He grinned, "Good."

"Holy crap, they got over seven guys in less then five minuets!"

"And we're supposed to be the best of the best!"

"You're the 'best of the best'?" Yahiko laughed. "Please!"

"He's right!"

"Let's get the hell outta here!"

The remaining few started to run. Yahiko ran a few steps after them and shouted, "Tell Kanryuu we said 'hi'!"

Misao started cracking up. Kenshin shook his head with a smile, "Yahiko, you really shouldn't..."

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"What?!" Kanryuu shouted, his fists smacking the desk.

"We've been defeated sir..." the solider hung his head low. "They were too good..."

"After all that money I paid you?! After hand picking the best of this filthy town?! You failed?!" Kanryuu hollered and rose from his seat.

"S-Sir, if you were t-there, you w-would've-"

"I don't give a damn how powerful they are, next time bring the Gatling Guns!" Kanryuu ordered.

"Y-y-yes S-sir!"

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Kaoru watched the people pass by, as she stood outside of the inn, her back against the wall, her hands behind her back, and her head bent low. How will I ever be able to find happiness? She wondered. Kanryuu will always chase me... If only Kanryuu wasn't around... then maybe I would have a chance with Kenshin... I-...

Footsteps broke in her thoughts and she looked up to see Kenshin. He stood there for a while and just stared at the dark sky. She sighed and looked at the ground again. He finally turned to face her and he smiled lightly. "Would you like to walk?"

She nodded quietly, and took his hand. They walked down the quiet streets, slowly, looking at all the store windows and every person who passed by.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked as they continued walking.

"Hmm?" she answered, staring into a shop window.

"I just want to tell you that... I..." he stared up at the sky again, asking for an answer to an unspoken problem.

"Kenshin," Kaoru turned towards him, "Please tell me, what's going on? Why are you acting so nervous?"

"I have to-... I have to leave... soon..." Kenshin looked her in the eye.

She stared back, with a confused look. "W-what do you mean 'leave'?"

A man's voice shouted, "He's gonna have to leave you and give you to us!"

Kenshin and Kaoru both whipped around, and saw the gang again, this time, they had a few more artillery weapons in their possession.

"A Gatling Gun?!" Kaoru gasped.

"That's kind of a dirty way to play," Kenshin smiled pulling out his gun.

"Yeah? Well it's about to get dirtier!" the leader grinned.

Suddenly, screams were heard from behind and Kenshin and Kaoru turned to see another group of men. This group, however, had hostages. The town's people.

"Damn!" Kenshin cursed.

"That's right," the one said. "So you best just give up now. There's no way you'd make it out alive. Or rather," he snapped his fingers and the men tightened up on the grasp of the townsfolk, "they won't make it out alive."

Kenshin clenched his teeth, "Kaoru, get behind me."

"There's no way you two would get out of here alive!" the man shouted. "So just give it up and hand her over!"

"Shit!" Kenshin spat. There is no way, he thought to himself. We're screwed...

"Kenshin..." Kaoru whispered. Kenshin turned. "Let me go with them. Get yourself out and let me go with them... I'll be ok... I promise."

"Damnit! I've got to do something. I'm not just throwing you to the lions." He whispered harshly.

"You're not throwing me to the lions; I'm walking in to save you."

"But Kaoru, I'm supposed to be there for you, always! This isn't right!"

"You men are so egotistical. I can take care of myself." Kaoru laughed lightly. "Let me save you for once."

"But-..."

"If you fight you'll be killed!" she shouted suddenly. "I-I.... I just don't want that to happen."

He turned to face her, and stared into her eyes. She's set on this, he mused. I won't sway her.

"Fine," he sighed deeply. "But know this: I will always come back for you. Always."

She smiled and turned to walk towards the mob. "Release the people!" she shouted at them. "Release them, or I'll bite through my tongue and drown in my own blood!"

"Alright, alright, bitch." The man snapped his fingers and the people were released. Kaoru kept walking towards the rabble. She got on with one of the horses, and as they rode away she turned to Kenshin. He stood there, helplessly staring at her.

"Keep your promise, cowboy!" she shouted.

A small smile tugged his lips, "Of course, Kaoru Kamiya!"

His smiled disappeared as he remembered the task that lay ahead of him.

Now, down to business...

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"Kaoru..." Kanryuu sneered. "Sit." Kaoru walked up to the long dining room table and sat down, carefully. Kanryuu sighed from across the table. "Why can't you just be a good, quiet woman like everyone else?"

"Sir..." she started.

"Hush. I'll be doing the talking tonight." He ran his hand through his hair. "Kaoru I must impose on you the proposition that I offered you nearly a month ago."

"A-And what proposition would that be, Sir?" she asked, hesitantly.

"Marriage, Kaoru, marriage." He drummed his fingers against the table. "I'm tired of waiting. Yes, and free your family, or no and kill them."

"K-kill?"

"Yes... I've decided I've spared them long enough." He picked up a glass half full of wine and took a sip. "You know, since I'm such a nice man, and I've realized that you, with all your tomfoolery, probably haven't considered my offer once these past few weeks. You have till morning. If I don't get an answer by twelve noon... your family is dead."

Kaoru lowered her head, "I..." She raised her head to show her red eyes, "I understand."

"Goodie."

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"What do you mean, 'their not here'?"

The inn keeper raised his hands, "I told you lady, they checked out early this mourning..."

Kaoru bit her lower lip. She asked the inn keeper another question. "Did you hear any mention of their destination?"

"No, but the young boy did say something about a big city... although the red head seemed rather pessimistic."

If he's left, he damn well should be pessimistic, because if he ever comes back, I'll kill him, she thought, angrily. Point blank kill him.

"Thank you," she said, smiling. She walked outside and her eyes grazed the town.

Are they really gone?

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Kaoru quietly stepped onto the Kanryuu estate. She turned her eyes upward and gasped. Kanryuu had Aoshi, Soujiro and Tsubame on their knees, at gun point.

"No!" she shouted as she ran to them. Two men caught her shoulders and held her back. She fought their grip and shouted.

"Kaoru!" she heard Kanryuu call. "Give me an answer now!"

The men cocked their guns. She fell to her knees, crying. Tsubame closed her eyes and readied herself. Aoshi reached for her hand, unsure of what Kaoru's decision would be.

"Fine!" she choked out. "I'll marry you! L-let them go!"

"Lovely," Kanryuu smiled. He snapped his fingers and the three were set free.

Kaoru ran to them and wrapped her arms around Tsubame. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." She stroked the back of her head.

"No Kaoru," Tsubame smiled, "I'm sorry. I know you were in love with Mr. Himura... I'm sorry we were venerable enough to be caught." Kaoru shook her head and smiled, while wiping away her tears.

Kanryuu came up behind her and jerked her arm. He smiled down at her. "Now, my beautiful bride, it's time for preparations."

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The crowd hushed as the bride walked slowly and solemnly down the aisle. It was a beautiful chapel and a gorgeous dress. The bride looked beautiful as well, although her expression was heartbreaking.

Kaoru Kamiya's -soon to be Kaoru Takeda- face was a mixture of sadness, and the fact that she knew, this was the only way. Tears streaked her face, making her make-up run. Her arm was laced to an unemotional looking Aoshi, who stared only straight ahead, and never at his miserable sister.

They arrived at the alter and he turned to her. Lifting up her veil, some of her misery made it's way to him. He sighed deeply and kissed her one cheek. He lingered, and whispered, "Have faith." He kissed her other cheek and whispered, "Sometimes it's all you need."

She nodded, her face tightening up and her hand wiping away more tears. Aoshi let the veil fall back down and handed her off to Kanryuu.

Kanryuu smiled, "My love..."

The priest began his sermon.

Kaoru closed her eyes.

Kenshin....

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Hey guys sorry for the long wait. And sorry this is kinda depressing....

Feel free to kill me!

Anyway... I have R.E.M. playing .... It really helps the writing process.

My site hit 300!!!! I'm so glad!!!

The new chapter for Linay's Broken Pieces is out!! Yay!

Thanks to everyone for reviewing thus far. Just stick around for one more chapter and maybe a epilogue! Now I gotta get this up before my curfew!

Ciao!