The Frog Swordsman
Part Nine
By Maria Cline
Megumi sighed as she sat on top of a high tower. The place she was held wasn't like other prisons but it felt like it. Her room had the finest silks and furniture that money had to buy. She had a vast storehouse of food for many years. She even has a library where she spent her time reading about medicine and other things to pass the time. Yet, she was lonely. No one was going to keep her company except for the stupid monster. She couldn't even talk to him since he can't go in and she can't go out.
Day after day, she watched the various suitors come up to the door and get thrown out by the monster. She never really saw him but he had a loud human voice that wakes her up at the crack of dawn. The suitors lessened as she waited patiently for someone to rescue her. She never liked being held up and being used as a prize but that was the wish of her father. "I wonder how they are doing." Megumi wondered to herself as she thought of her siblings and their punishments.
Kaoru shivered as she and her friends were flying on the back of Kenshin's old master. She couldn't help but feel excited about seeing the world from so high up. It was nothing she had ever experienced before. Then, she saw a solitary tower in the middle of a vast field. Surrounding the towers were camps of warriors around campfires drinking heavily. They were all wounded and covered in bandages. They looked up to see the dragon and held up their weapons.
"Looks like I'm not going to be welcomed here." The dragon mused as he flew to a neighboring field and landed.
"Wow… you're fast." Rapunzel complimented as she brushed her now matted golden hair.
"That was so cool!" Yahiko laughed as he grinned.
"Thank you for the lift." Kaoru said as she looked around.
"No problem but I can't stay here. All those fighters will try to get me and I'm not in the mood to fight." The dragon held out his claw and a flute came out. "When you need me, go to an open field so I can land in and play this flute."
Kaoru bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, Hiko-san. I promise, we will find a way to repair your cape and get you back to normal."
"Your kindness moves me." Hiko said as he smiled slightly. He looked at Kenshin who had gotten out of the pouch. "Take care of my baka denshi for me. Baka Denshi, when we are normal and you are ready, you will ask for me to finish your lessons."
"Hai…" Kenshin nodded.
The dragon flew up into air and sped off into the distance in a grand way.
"He's so cool." Rapunzel sighed as stars filled her eyes.
"Let's go and fight that monster." Kaoru said as she got out another bokken.
"You can't do that!"
The group looked to see a man with his right arm in a sling and a bandage around his head. "Who are you?" Yahiko asked.
"I am Sir Galahant, a suitor looking to marry the fair Megumi at least as soon as I defeat that monster." Sir Galahant said as he pointed to the tower.
"What is this monster like?" Kaoru inquired as she put her bokken onto her shoulder.
"He is a giant bird who attacks without mercy. He laughs as he fights his victims and even dared others to join into the fight to make it more fun. We had all taken a vow never to talk about the beatings we had endured under this ruthless bird. You must heed my warning and go back home." Sir Galahant explained darkly.
"Oh no, my home is in a tall tower."
"My home is with Kaoru-dono."
"I was kicked out of my home."
"Ditto."
Sir Galahant shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you." The man walked off.
Kaoru smiled slightly at Kenshin and asked, "Did you mean that your home is by my side?"
"I… I just want to go where you go." Kenshin said as he looked down feeling embarrassed.
"Let's go and fight this monster." Yahiko said as he held up his shinai and the group started to walk to the tower.
The defeated warriors looked at the group and laughed to themselves. Kaoru had to admit, they didn't look all that threatening with a blond woman dressed up in fine clothes, a boy, a girl dressed up as a man, and a frog. Still, she had to save her sister.
They went up to the tower and everyone watched as Kaoru came up to a small cave. Out of the cave was a loud snoring sound. "Hello? Mr. Monster? Can you come out please?" Rapunzel asked sweetly.
"Huh? Oh! Another fight!" A male voice said as a tall figure came out of the cave. Kaoru and the others gasped at the sight. He was far taller than the others and had a strong presence about him.
"He's a chicken!" Yahiko laughed as he fell over.
"I'm a fowl!" The monster yelled as he shook his wing like a fist. Kaoru also joined in at the laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation. The chicken monster was brown with white jacket and white pants with a red headband around his head. Despite his posture, he looked like a giant chicken.
"Wow, I didn't know chickens grow up to be this big." Rapunzel said in wonder.
"I think I know why the warriors didn't want to talk about this monster." Kenshin muttered as he studied the giant chicken.
The giant chicken sighed as he shook his head. "Look, my name is Sanosuke the Fighting Fowl and I won't let anyone into this castle until they defeat me."
"Fighting Chicken is more like it." Yahiko muttered as he recovered his breath.
"I heard that!" Sanosuke screamed.
Kaoru came up and said, "We're not suitors. I am Princess Kaoru once of the Kamiya Kingdom and the loudmouthed boy is my little brother Yahiko. The blond is Rapunzel and this is my frog Kenshin. We're not here to fight you, just to see Megumi."
Sanosuke's feathers drooped as he sighed. "I can't. Sorry, princess but I was ordered not to let anyone in that includes brothers and sisters unless they defeat me."
Kaoru raised her bokken to challenge the chicken when Kenshin spoke up. "Kaoru-dono, don't. Sanosuke may be a giant chicken but he is far stronger than you and have much more experience. He is stronger than Gohei."
The woman dropped her bokken and turned to Kenshin. "Are you sure?"
The frog nodded solemnly. "Yes, but don't worry. I can defeat him."
At once everyone including the chicken fell over laughing. "BWAHAHAHA!!! A tiny frog like you defeat me?! Now, I have to laugh!"
"The giant chicken's right. How can you defeat him?" Yahiko asked giggling.
"Just put me on the ground and I will handle things." Kenshin requested politely.
"All right." Kaoru knelt down and let the frog hopped to the much taller chicken.
"Okay, how can someone who I would normally eat as a snack defeat me?" Sanosuke asked as he sat down onto the ground to get a better view of the brave little frog.
"Well, I see that you are a gambler." Kenshin said as he pointed to a bowl with a pair of dice inside.
"Yeah, I like to gamble with the guys over there after I was done beating the tar out of them. Why?"
Kenshin smiled slightly and said, "If I were to win ten games of dice before you, will you let me and my friends get Megumi-dono out?"
Sanosuke shrugged. "Sure, but I have to warn you, I'm lucky with dice."
"And I am luckier." Kenshin said as Sanosuke got out the dice. Sanosuke rolled the dice into the bowl.
"Evens!" He called out. Then, the dice became odds.
"My turn." Kenshin said as he picked up the huge dice with his tiny hands and called out, "Evens!" With all of his strength, he rolled the dice and it became evens. "My point."
The two played for nine more rounds. A few times Sanosuke won but Kenshin never lost a roll. Finally, Kenshin put away the dice and said, "I won the ten games of dice. May I see Megumi-dono?"
The chicken smirked as he put a straw in his beak. "I don't see why not. I did give you my word. Besides, that was a fun game."
"Now wait a second!"
The group looked to see the warriors angered with Sir Galahant in front. They were holding their weapons ready to kill. "We had fought you for six months and nothing and then this pathetic frog got lucky and he gets to see the princess?!"
"He won fair and square." Sanosuke said as he stepped in front of the group. "Guys, go and get Megumi. I'll take care of these losers."
"Thank you, Sanosuke." Kenshin said as Kaoru picked him up and the group ran into the castle.
Sanosuke closed the door behind them and pounded his wings like fists. "Who's first?"
Kaoru and the others rushed up the stairs towards the tower. Rapunzel looked at the stairs and said, "Wow, these stairs go so far. Is this how people normally go up into towers?"
Yahiko warily replied, "Yeah. I know I'm going to regret asking this but how do people get up the tower where you're from?"
"They climb up my hair!"
"I had to ask."
"Guys!" Kaoru screamed as they finally reached the top floor. "Megumi!" She called out as she opened the door to see her older sister sitting by the window.
"Tomboy! Yahiko-chan!" Megumi gushed in shock as she ran up and hugged the two. The two siblings hugged back and everything felt at ease. "I see you have not fully embraced your womanhood." Megumi teased as she pointed to Kaoru's clothes and hair.
"I've been through a lot." Kaoru said as she frowned. "Let me tell you what happened."
Megumi sat in shock as she absorbed the story. She wanted to deny it. She wanted to say that Kaoru was lying but deep down she knew the truth. "Mother, Father, we had to save them. We have to gather the best fighters in the world and get our home back."
"I know." Kaoru put her arm around her shoulder. "Kenshin and I had met many fighters including this dragon. I know that if we look hard enough, we can get an army to save our kingdom."
"So true. I had been studying many things while I was cooped up here so I can help. Anyway, how did you pass the monster? You didn't kill him did you?" Megumi asked concerned.
"Oh no. He was too strong. Kenshin challenged him to a dice game and won." Kaoru said with awe and then she asked the frog. "Say, how did you predict all those dice rolls? Magic?"
"No, it's just a skill." Kenshin replied as he smiled slightly.
"Oh ho! You saved this maiden from the tower. You deserve a kiss." Megumi picked up the frog and kissed him on the lips.
"Oro…" Kenshin's eyes became a pair of swirls.
"Megumi!!!" Kaoru screeched as she pulled Kenshin away.
"Jealous?" Megumi smirked as she saw the fire in her sister's eyes.
Kaoru gritted her teeth as she blushed. Why did she just become angry over that? Kenshin deserved that kiss for freeing Megumi. For some reason, the thought of anyone kissing Kenshin like that made her stomach turned.
"Looks like you are growing up. Good. Let's go. I want to meet the monster who had been protecting me." Megumi said as she went down the stairs and out of the castle. Standing there among the unconscious bodies of the fallen wannabe suitors stood Sanosuke looking proud. The fighting fowl came up to Megumi and said, "Hey, princess, nice to meet ya."
Megumi blinked and said, "It's a… chicken."
"Rooster or fowl actually." Sanosuke said as he winked. "I'm joining in to help out."
"A… chicken has been guarding me?! OHHOHOHOHO!!!" Megumi laughed as fox ears popped out of her head.
"It's not funny! I'm a great fighter!" Sanosuke screamed as he flapped his wings wildly making the woman laugh even harder and causing the others to laugh as well. The only ones who were not laughing were Kenshin and Rapunzel.
Rapunzel smiled sweetly at the chicken and said, "Well, I think that you are a good fighter if you can beat up all these guys."
"Thanks, Rapunzel."
"For a giant chicken."
Sanosuke fell over and Kenshin hopped toward the chicken. "Sanosuke, may I ask if you are a man turned into a giant chicken?"
"Yeah. I was human." Sanosuke said as he sat down and petted the frog.
The group stopped laughing and Megumi cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were cursed like that."
"Hey, no problem." Sanosuke shrugged as he smiled slightly.
"How did you become a giant chicken?" Kaoru asked concerned as she sat down on a stone.
"Well, it's nothing dramatic. I was eating at this restaurant and I left before I paid my bill a few times. This guy who owns it didn't trust me to pay my debt so he put a curse on me turning me into a rooster until I pay off my debts with interest." Sanosuke explained.
The group stared at him. "That's it? You became a giant chicken because you didn't pay off a tab? Why don't you just pay it off?" Yahiko asked in disbelief.
"Well… it's a big bill and there's only so much work I can get as a giant fowl." Sanosuke said as he looked away.
"Oh, I just thought of something. Was your last name 'Sagara'?" Kaoru asked as she got out a paper picture.
"How did you know?" Sanosuke asked.
"A friend of yours is looking for you. His name is Katsu and he likes to work with bombs." Kaoru said as she handed Sanosuke the picture.
Sanosuke's jaw dropped as he looked at that picture. "Aw man! Have I been gone that long? I gotta remember to find him once I get back to normal because there's no way I'm letting my buddy know that I am a chi- fowl."
Megumi sighed as she patted her friend. "Well… as soon as we get back our kingdom, we can find a way to help you repay that bill and get you back to normal."
"You will?!" Sanosuke exclaimed as he jumped up.
"Of course. You did protect Megumi and besides, you're not the only cursed person here." Kaoru said as she looked at Kenshin.
"You too?! And I thought I had it bad." Sanosuke picked up Kenshin and studied him.
"I am used to it."
"How did you get cursed?"
"It's a long story. Let's just say that I deserve this fate."
"No you don't." Kaoru chided as she gently took Kenshin into her arms. "Come on, let's go to an inn and get some rest."
Meanwhile, high in the air, a pair of figures soared throughout the air. Enishi held on with all his power as the broom shakily moved through the air. "I hate flying this old broom." The man growled as he looked down.
"I know but we have to catch up to that stupid dragon and this is the fastest way." Rose said as she focused.
"You should have gotten another broom! This one has over five hundred thousand miles on it!"
"It's reliable. My mother had this when she was my age. It's a family heirloom."
"It's cracking."
"It's your imagination. Just hold on tight."
"With one arm. Sure, no problem."
"I sensed the Battousai and he's on the ground now."
"Good. Get us on the ground too." Enishi ordered as he held on tighter.
"Not so tight!" Rose screamed as she tilted the broom down. All of a sudden the broom snapped in two and the two fell to the earth.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
Laughter filled the room as Megumi, Yahiko, and Kaoru were arguing, Rapunzel was reading, and Sanosuke was drinking. Kenshin watched contently from the table. "Ahhh… nothing beats good sake." Sanosuke said as he plopped down next to Kenshin with a jug in his hand. "You know, Kenshin, I like you. I never met another guy cursed like me before. Makes things easier you know?"
Kenshin looked up at him. "Well, I'm glad to help someone with their pains. Do not worry, they are a good family and they will do everything they could to get you back to normal."
"I trust them and I don't mind waiting. But, I would be more worried about you. I mean, I may be a giant chicken but I can defend myself. You… you're a frog that could only talk and predict dice rolls. How did you survive?"
Kenshin pointed to his head. "I was creative and lucky."
"Ah… well, I won't eat any more frogs. I promise."
"Thank you."
Sanosuke fiddled with a fishbone as he glanced at his friend. "So, Kenshin, what did you do to make someone turn you into a frog?"
The frog fidgeted and replied, "All I can say is that I deserve this punishment."
"Ah…" Sanosuke nodded as he rubbed his beak. "Well, I'm going to go to sleep now." The giant fowl grabbed some pillows and put them onto the floor. Then, he sat down on them and closed his eyes.
"Isn't that uncomfortable for you? We have a bed for you." Kaoru asked as she gestured to a bed.
"Nah, I can only sleep sitting up. Part of the fowl curse."
"Weird."
"Actually, sleeping sitting up wasn't that bad." Kenshin commented as he came up. "I used to sleep sitting up all the time before I was cursed."
"Really?! I heard that only assassins sleep sitting up." Rapunzel exclaimed.
The group looked at the blond and then at Kenshin who was stiffening up. "Many swordsmen sleep sitting up." Kaoru defended quickly.
"Oh." Rapunzel nodded but she remained confused.
"Silly blond." Megumi scoffed softly.
Kaoru sighed in relief. Rapunzel nearly figured out everything. For someone as naïve as the blond, she was pretty sharp. That made her more observant than others care to admit. She had to be careful around her. If Rapunzel know how smart she really was, she would be dangerous. "Anyway, we all better get some sleep and then try to figure out a way to get some good people on our team. We'll need some great fighters, someone to handle weapons, and a witch or two would be great."
"It might be hard to find a good witch." Sanosuke said, "Most witches like to keep to themselves and if they are ever disturbed, they might curse you. These magical entities are tricky. I heard about this fairy who cursed a baby to death because she wasn't invited to some party by her parents."
"Anyway, we'll get some sleep. It will be a long day tomorrow." Kaoru yawned as she went to a tent and go to sleep.
"I told you we needed to get a different broom." Enishi said as he and Rose came out of the woods picking twigs out of their hair.
"It was stable just before it snapped. I don't get it." Rose examined the broom again. It wasn't like it to just snap in two in the middle of the woods. The witch sighed. "Well, the good news is that the rampion child and the Battousai are close by. The bad news is that I can't do much for a few days."
The man blushed as he glanced at her. "You don't mean…"
"Yes."
"Damn it! Why does that always happen at the worst possible times?"
"I don't know." Rose and Enishi went into the village and noticed that they were being stared at. They were used to the stares since they don't look like the average villager. Then, a young boy came out and yelled, "Wolf! I mean, Witch!!!"
At once, the various villagers stared at the two and without warning ran after them. Enishi growled as they ran off. "We will get the Battousai."
To Be Continued...