Quick review response for the masses ^^:
GoldAngel2: Thank you again for review… it always brightens my day hearing from someone who can identify themselves with the characters I write about. It reminds me that I'm remaining true to life and that makes me happy ^^. It's great to be on the same level with each other, especially concerning the depth of the subject matter I'm trying my hardest to address in this story. I read your poem… it was beautiful. You got my review for it so I think you already know how much it touched me… And I'm still expecting that email from you about your original story… I can't wait to hear about it!
ChibiBattousai: Best writer? Me? Awww… well, I hope I've at least provided you with a few good hours of reading material… That's all I could really ask for ^-^
JDFielding: Best RK story you've read? Wow… Thank you!!! That's a wonderful compliment coming from such a great writer as yourself. I was excited to hear about how affected you were by the pain Kenshin was experiencing. It was difficult to write, I assure you. I feel for the people I write about… I try imaging me in their position and feeling the things they must be feeling at such a time. I'm happy to hear I brought the more sensitive side of you to the surface… ^^ I feel privileged to have done so. Forgiveness is always there, people just need to want to find it first before ever accepting it.
And about the email… I never got it… =(. That's okay though… you can tell me all that stuff later ^^.
Satu-Chan: Kenshin takes forever in making up his mind cus I told him to… jk! It's modeled after someone close to me and I try making it as real as possible. It's a tough thing to decide when a person has believed one thing for years on end and all of a sudden is confronted with a hope he or she never knew existed. I am Romanian and have a big family ^^… it's so cool to hear you think that some things in my mundane life are interesting. Are you Romanian? I don't know, just felt like asking ^^. College is going okay. I'm enjoying my classes and I've nodded off in only one lecture so far. Huzzah!
midnyteshadow2003: My New Year was great, thanks for asking! And as for Tomoe… I like her, not as much as Kaoru, but I still like her. I'll email you sometime soon (possibly this weekend)… I do have some things I wouldn't mind having some more prayer for ^-^. Thanks for the offer. Take care girlie ^~
Ari and Kat: Pass some of that Big Red over here… I need as much sugar as possible with this upcoming paper I have to write for a class of mine. No shame in short stories… that's what I usually write outside of my fanfics ^^… And don't you worry, I'll keep truckin' till the break of day ^-^. Thanks for the note…
MisaoGirlBandit: I'll email you this weekend. I think that'll be super cool if you can send me what you've drawn so far. I actually have a friend who's thinking about turning this story into a radio play also, so that would be cool to have it three mediums ^^.
Aglaia102: Deep indeed… it's by far the most serious thing I've written (outside of my poetry). And, yes, the choice is pretty simple… if only people would realize that more.
Mokona: I'm glad you find my spin on things refreshing ^^… Yeah, I'm not too fond of the sex-before-marriage stories either. Concerning Kenshin not going Battousai… you just wait ^-^, there's still the possibility…
Chell: Hee hee, you're a romantic just like me! We have so many things in common, it's scary ^-^. I laughed so hard after reading your review. You already heard what I thought about the rest of what you wrote, and if not, then I'll just tell you the next time I see you at school ^-^. Thank you for thinking that I have skill… I just hope it's enough to get into the school magazine Mosaic. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Yannick: I love the suspense, don't you? Heh heh, I'm glad you liked that little scene. I'm a great writer? *blush* Why, thank you ^^.
Kik-ting: It is very much a God story, and I'm glad that isn't the type of thing to push you away. I was a little worried about that, but now that worry has disappeared ^^. I'm a major fan of words… One of my favorite websites is Dictionary.com ^-^
SeilinKenga: Another Christian! Welcome to my story! Thanks for the cookies, the Rooster-head ones were the best! ^~ Your anime boyfriend ^^, that's cute! Who wouldn't want a bf like that, I know I wouldn't mind. Anyhoo, thanks for coming along and reading.
Disclaimer: Blah… too tired to argue. Don't own RK… Will never own RK… No use being depressed over it… *starts sniffling anyway*
Oh, and to warn you… I finished this around 2 in the morning… So there are probably some errors still floating around. So in advance, sorry for the foibles ^-^;
Chapter 14
A thin veil of sunlight, newly born to a land once hidden from it's gaze, began to touch everything in it's wakening path. Everything began to awaken within its presence, leaving the shadows of a rainy day stored away in the memory of the storm that began it's retreat late in the night. The only evidence of the past day's gloom hung in the few clouds scattered upon the vibrant blue of the heavens. Now each color stood out brighter than before, the light from the sun having brought it out along with the promise to chase the dark of the past day and offer hope for a new beginning.
Softened sunlight filtered through a crack in the shaded window, peaceful in its approach but reproached for keeping the sleep away from the face of the man it fell upon.
"I need another hour… don't come up until then…" Sano mumbled to the sun, his face contorting in discomfort. He turned over on his side to escape the light, but the glare of it shimmering off of something hit him squarely in his half lidded eyes. He groaned in response, throwing his hand over his face. Sitting up he kept his hand where it was, shielding him from the offensive light, and noticed the object reflecting the sun to be a sword. With eyes adjusting to the new day Sano watched as Kenshin's form became clearer before him.
The red haired man looked up with a smile from where he was cleaning his sword, offering a friendly greeting the semi awake man stretching a few feet away.
"Good morning, Sano." The fist fighter heard Kenshin say.
With a wave of his hand he mumbled back. "Yeah, same to you." Lazily, he stretched some more, his hands reaching over his head toward the ceiling. His brown eyes took in much upon fully awaking helping his skills of observation kick in earlier that morning. "Your bed's made… Have you been awake for long?"
"For most of the night and all morning." Kenshin affirmed with a nod, returning to his work.
"Why?" The brunette asked as he pulled his shirt on after walking across the room to get it.
"There were a few things on my mind, that's all."
"You skipped out on sleep to think? Why?"
Sano's last question made Kenshin laugh. The tall man grinned after a second or so, happy to have amused his friend. The later seemed a little depressed when he came home the other day, Kaoru in about the same state. To see the man laugh was a good thing, Sano acknowledged in silence.
He stared at Kenshin, watching the smooth motions with which the rurouni cleaned his blade, as if taking great care in each of the strokes he took along the shiny surface.
"Kenshin, I'll come straight out and ask you… What happened yesterday?"
This time Sano's inquiry caused Kenshin to stop, his hand removing the cloth he held from the blade.
"A long day cannot be summed in a short answer, Sano." He stood from his spot on the floor, sheathing his sword and returning it to its place at his side. "I think we should wait until breakfast for such news."
Sano remained quiet as he watched Kenshin leave the room. His gaze soon fell on the boy still snoring away in the room, a couple of yellow flowers lying near his head.
*I don't think I'm going to like what I hear.*
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"Miss Megumi, is Kaoru still asleep?" Kenshin's eyes not hiding the concern at the young woman's absence. They had blessed the food and still Kaoru wasn't around the small dinning table. His eyes would constantly search the doorway and find nothing but other guests of the inn and no Kaoru walking through. Megumi noticed this and hid the smile that itched to come out. He was concerned for the young woman, anyone who would have eyes to see would undoubtedly perceive the look in his eyes as so.
"Poor thing couldn't sleep last night… she was coughing a lot towards the end of the night and I gave her some tea to calm her throat and she fell right asleep." Megumi answered with a sip of her tea, glancing through her lashes at the expression that came out on the rurouni's face. As she expected it was a frown.
"Okay, you've kept us in enough suspense, Kenshin. Tell us what happened yesterday." Sano's voice was muffled by the mouthful of he spoke around. Kenshin lowered his chopsticks and placed them next to his bowl. His eyes, heavy with the memory of yesterday's events, remained downcast as he began to explain what it was that he and Yahiko found out. All written in a simple note they were given to read…
(Yesterday, at the Aoyia)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenshin held the paper low enough for both his and Yahiko's eyes could scan the contents, their hearts feeling the hate with which every word was written, all scribbled in a scratchy scrawl.
"Times haven't changed to give way for the disease of Christianity to infect our people. Those who call themselves by the name Christian will be slain including all who side with them, be they ninja or hitokiri.
We have heard of the Battousai's presence among such people and, thanks to the news of the company he was keeping, we found the location of one their meetings in Tokyo. What happened there wasn't the first of our exterminations and it won't be the last. If he or anyone else stands in the way of justice they will feel the wrath of the gods themselves for such an infidelity as standing with the Christians.
We will see to it that the great land of Japan is restored to where it should be, free of stains such as Christians and disloyal hitokiris.
~Officers of the 4th Urakami"
"It appears they know of your presence." The Oniwaban leaders voice cut through the unease thickening by every minute. Kenshin lifted narrowed eyes to regard the other, his mind still dwelling on what he had read.
"It seems so," Kenshin agreed, his words spoken with unhindered venom. Aoshi had recognized him for who he once was. So it seemed that the Oniwaban leader was much more intuitive than the old man, hearing of his name once and putting it all together. Kenshin didn't mind that the rebels knew of his identity, but to hear that his appearance in Tokyo led to the slaughter that left both Kaoru and Yahiko orphaned was simply… unbearable.
Aoshi pushed past him and the ever quiet Yahiko, both on recovery from what they had read… one not believing it more than the other. How such a blind hate and lust for innocent blood could exist was beyond the young mind trying to fit itself around it and to understand it.
"Himura," Aoshi called from behind, his voice as even as always. Not an ounce of emotion broke his indifferent expression as he turned to face the rurouni again. "Even though they've addressed you by name, know this; if the Oniwaban is brought into the battle we will defeat them. No outside help will be needed, and that includes you."
Kenshin remained silent but Yahiko couldn't keep the first thing to come to mind at bay. His brown eyes narrowed themselves and locked onto the back of the ninja's retreating figure.
"This means more to some people than you think." His little fists balled up and began to shake with his building emotion. "We came here to Kyoto to help the Christians of the Doshisha and that's what we're going to do!"
Misao, who had been watching from around a corner down the hallway, covered her mouth at hearing the outburst aimed to her leader. She watched on with large eyes as Aoshi turned to regard the youngster with what could be seen as an amused smirk.
"And what could a brat like you do to help?"
Yahiko seemed to become even angrier by the second and he pulled out his bokken from by his side. But Kenshin stepped in front of him, sending him a stern look and shook his head. The older man then turned cold eyes toward the skilled ninja.
"It is true that a young boy may not stand much of a chance against an experienced swordsman from the Bakumatsu, but his heart tells him to train and fight for what he believes in, no matter what lies ahead."
Just then Misao decided to join in and stand by Aoshi's side. Her bright eyes were as innocent as always and they moved in between the dueling gazes of the two men. Aoshi remained rigid as he stared down the rurouni, breaking eye contact only when he felt some one pulling on his sleeve. He looked down to see Misao staring right up at him, her eyes reflecting her belief in the other's words.
"Your words have some truth to them, Himura. But another truth remains, the Urakami Officers aren't to be underestimated."
"I understand." Kenshin's hand fell on Yahiko's shoulder and pushed him forward, telling the young one that it was time to leave. "But be prepared, our paths may cross yet again."
The other man snorted in reply while Misao's eyes followed them until they departed through the front gate and out of sight completely.
(In the present)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What a pain!" Sano said, crossing his arms over his chest. "That guy sure has too much pride if he thinks only the Oniwaban can take care of those idiots. I wouldn't mind joining in on the beating of those Urakami freaks."
"I didn't get it Kenshin," Yahiko admitted. "Why do they call themselves the Officers of the 4th Urakami?"
"It seems that around 20 years ago or so many people were imprisoned near the city of Urakami. Many of which died during their sentences, some from torture and others from the harsh conditions. It wasn't until lately that I heard that those imprisoned were Christians." Kenshin face grimaced as his thought continued. "They probably see this as a chance to get rid of more Christians, but through using more severe measures."
"I get it now… " Yahiko said, lowering the food he had lifted to his mouth back down to his plate. He no longer had much of an appetite after reviewing what made his stomach feel heavy yesterday. A couple minutes passed and his eyes began to roam about the table, taking in what he could see of their thoughts through their mannerisms. Sano sat back with his hands folded over his chest, his brow creased in thought. Megumi's hands clutched at a small ceramic cup, her eyes focused on the steam lifting into the air above it. And then there was Kenshin, sitting with his hands lying in his lap and eyes closed. Yahiko brought a hand and covered his stomach as he felt a cold feeling spreading within it. He felt the chill climb up and along his spine, causing goose bumps to rise along his skin as he shivered.
"Why's everybody so glum?" Came a voice from the doorway. All heads turned toward and saw a young girl standing there, hands on her hips and a smile on her face. Her long braid hung behind her as she settled herself against the doorframe.
"Good morning Miss Misao," Kenshin replied politely. "We were just going over the news from yesterday, that we were." The truth was something she didn't want to hear, or at least that's what it seemed like when her smile disappeared immediately.
"Oh…Yeah, um… I'm sorry for the way Lord Aoshi spoke to both of you yesterday. The threats are becoming more and more common from what my friend told me and now they're starting to reach us."
"Tell me this, Miss Misao. Will the Oniwaban allow us to help when the rebels attack?" Kenshin watched as Misao averted his gaze, casting her eyes downward toward her feet.
"I'm not sure… If it were up to me I would ask you to join, but I'm not the one who makes the decisions." She remained with eyes downcast, yet her body language spoke of a struggle going on inside. Her arms would cross over chest and then fall to her sides, and after a couple of seconds they would return back across her chest. "Dang it… I'm not going to lie." She said as she threw her hands down and stared directly into Kenshin's violet eyes with her own of an ocean blue. "The reason I came here was to ask you for your help. I overheard Okina and Lord Aoshi speaking of you, Himura. You're strong, the strongest ally we have now and I won't let them remove you out of this. You can help them, the Christians… I just know you can." After delivering her words with her usual yet intense passion, Misao stood there breathing heavily as she stared at the young red haired man, waiting for some form of response.
Kenshin scanned the faces of his companions and saw that they, too, watched him with an eager curiosity, all awaiting his words.
"I will do whatever it is that I can do, Miss Misao."
Sano shook his head and pointed a thumb to his chest. "Hey, don't overlook the fact that I'm here too. I can take on as many of those jerks that come my way, and I promise you that no one has ever taken me down in a fight, no one."
Misao smiled and nodded her head, turning her eyes to Yahiko in expectance. "Well? Aren't you going to spout off some mighty words saying how great a swordsman you are with that toothpick you carry around in your belt?" Her smile turned into a mischievous smirk as she watched the boy narrow his eyes at her and cross his arms over his chest before turning his head the other way.
Megumi felt a bit left out and decided to offer her own two cents to the conversation. "Misao, is it? You are welcome to join us if you haven't eaten yet."
The young ninja's eyes shown with gratitude but she shook her head no.
"Thank you for the offer, but I really need to get back home. The Urakami Officers sent us another letter this morning and things aren't looking too promising from what I heard of the Doshisha either." She turned her body to leave but stopped before going through the doorway she was standing in, her back turned toward whom she was speaking to. "If you were to come with me Himura, I'm sure I could talk my Lord Aoshi into changing his mind." Her eyes pierced straight through him, but that wasn't what struck him still… it was her next words, an echo of ones spoken to him before. "This God the Christians speak of, I think He brought you here for a reason unknown to us, yet all I know is that we need you."
Kenshin slowly slid his focus down to where his hands lay in his lap… More words continued in his mind, voiced by a woman he was comparing the young girl's passion to. *"Kenshin, I need you…"* He closed his eyes and spoke in a subdued tone, many thoughts being ushered into the forefront of his mind after replaying Kaoru's words.
"I will go and see what I can do." A flash of smiling faces met him behind his closed eyes, the last one being Lord Kamiya and his kind smile. Kenshin's eyes blinked back the images and took in the sight of his sword, the hilt jutted upward from it's place at his side. Placing one hand on it, he stood up from the table. "I will be back soon. Please tell Miss Kaoru that if she awakens before I return."
Kenshin followed Misao's leading and left the others with their breakfast getting cold. Kenshin's bowl remained in it's place, the food in it untouched. Palpable was their discomfort in the corner they occupied. The other guests at the inn and their not so secretive glances didn't bother the three people sitting in thought. They were, by the choice of being Christians, subject to the presence of eyes following them, be it in disdain or curiosity. Sano was the one to break the morose mood in which he and the others had been stewing in for the last few long minutes, growling in frustration.
"I let him do it again!" A loud resounding sound came from his fist slamming against his open palm. "He's leaving me out of it all just like yesterday!" The spiky haired man stood to his full height, towering greatly above his friends who watched him with stares driven by curiosity.
"Then what are you doing here complaining about it. If you don't want to be left out go run after him. He shouldn't have gone that far in the last couple minutes." Megumi said, her eyes lowering to where the steam had long left her cup of tea. Yahiko smiled and folded his hands behind his head, sighing a heavy sigh.
"Yeah, she's right." Yahiko said as he leaned backwards to rest against the wall. Instead of reaching the wall Sano's foot gave him a firm push, sending the poor boy toppling over and landing on his side with a thud.
"Thanks, Yahiko-'chan', for clarifying that for me." Yahiko grumbled and rubbed his sore elbow from it's impact with the floor, glaring daggers at the back of the retreating Sano.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within an hour of arriving at the Aoiya, Kenshin and Sano found themselves walking the street taking them back to the inn. But now they had a clearer vision of what role they were given to play there in the streets of Kyoto, Kenshin especially.
With Misao's expressive face, her eyes large and pleading, and Kenshin's words of collected wisdom it didn't take long to convince Okina of the threat that lay ahead and the importance of joining together. The elder ninja stole a few fleeting glances at the current Oniwaban leader during his conversation with the rurouni. Aoshi remained quiet throughout the most of the exchange and got up after nodding his head in agreement with Okina's proposal. Kenshin and the others would be able to choose their own way of dealing with the rebels in whatever way they deemed fit, yet as long as they did not get in the way of the Oniwaban. Misao sighed and shrugged as she met Kenshin's eyes across the room, him and Sano agreeing to abide by the conditions set.
And now they were walking once again, step by step towards the inn where their friends were awaiting their return. The morning sun showered them with the warmth the day before had been lacking.
*It's much warmer than yesterday morning.* Kenshin began rolling up his sleeves as he turned his eyes to the clear blue sky covering all he could see overhead. While his eyes trailed down to the buildings ahead of him he noticed a ripple in the air, the increasing heat showing itself in the wave spreading up further on. But it wasn't just a wave of heat that drew his attention to the spot but the hazy darkened cloud rising up into the sky. Kenshin quieted his mind and began to use his senses to scope the surrounding area, trying to feel out for the fear or panic of the idea he formed that made him sweat. His fears were confirmed with the sound of screaming and yelling, people crying out in fright from the area ahead where the sky started changing in color...
The smoke was all that filled his vision as he ran, his eyes focused on reaching the building ahead as fast as his feet made possible. As he neared the inn, the thickness of the defiled air stole his breath from his lungs. Giant flames licked out of the windows, the building itself invisible behind the intensity of the fire swallowing it whole.
"Kenshin!" Yahiko's panicked voice reached his ear. As soon as the boy came within his view he began scanning the area for another face but couldn't find her among the crowd. Grabbing Yahiko by the shoulders he shook him and stared straight into his eyes.
"Kaoru, where is she?!"
"I tried to stop her," came a reply from Megumi who approached the group with distress written all over her features.
Sano finally caught up and took in the horrific sight with wide eyes. When he was about to turn and ask the shorter man what happened Kenshin was already gone.
The swordsman stood before the tall wall of flame that separated him from his heart. He prayed for her safety and her safety alone. People screamed behind him, yelling at him to get away from the building and the falling debris gathering scattering around the ground like a plantation of fire, each piece of wood thoroughly a part of the flames that consumed them. But despite it all, Kenshin went in, heading straight forward with a jump over the fallen doorway and into the oven like remains of the inn surrounding him.
The heat's intensity breathed down upon him without mercy, singeing the fine hairs on the hands he held up to shield his face from the flames, red and yellow arms branching out to grab him from all around. His eyes, though stinging as they were, desperately searched around what he could see in what was left of the front room, a thick layer of black smoke curling around the room amid the inferno. Sweeping his blurring vision beyond the fallen walls and collapsed ceiling he found what was left of the stairs, his gut telling him to go up.
He leaped over three steps and found steady footing on one that seemed unaffected by the fire. From there he made it to the top and faced the hallway, the space aglow with an eerie dull yellow and brighter along where the fire ate away at the inn's frame. The hallway was narrow before but the fire lessened the width by another couple feet, not giving Kenshin much room to enter. He coughed the offending air out of his lungs but to no avail, his throat constricting with every difficult breath. Without any other thought he plunged in the middle of the where the suffocating walls stood, calling out for him to go as far down the passage as he dared. Kenshin dared much, his heart and mind set on the same thing, to find Kaoru as fast as possible. His determination wouldn't be crushed, his resolve strengthening as his goal came in sight. The door to Kaoru's room.
With whatever breath he had left he began calling out, his voice ringing desperate and ineffective against the increasing roar of the fire. His eyes blinked a the sweat dripping into them, the heat and salt an agonizing combination.
"Kaoru! Where are you?! Kaoru!!"
His heart began to loosen itself of the strength built around it, his persistence turning away to nothing as the minutes brought about the unwelcome horror… he might not find her in time. He balled a fist and coughed into it again, his head feeling dizzy from the action and his lungs still unaltered by it. It dawned on him that he was losing, losing a fight against an inanimate foe. Despite it's affects, he coughed again.
A softer cough mirrored his somewhere across the room. Kenshin's heart began to beat faster and he squinted his eyes, trying to see beyond the film of smoke obscuring his vision.
"Kaoru!" He yelled again, moving with hands in front of him again, trying to evade the ceiling falling in flaming heaps around him. He wiped at the moisture in his eyes so he could see where he was going, having heard the cough a couple more times. A large slab of the roof came crashing down in front of him, stopping Kenshin in his blind search. The piece was so large it illuminated the area around it ranging several feet.
That was all he needed to see the huddled mass near the far left corner of the room. A pale white hand lay precariously near a fallen banister being eaten by what brought it down, the red and yellow flame flickering itself closer and closer to it.
Kenshin quickly reached her body and gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. Her eyes were closed, a frown present on her face with the way her brows were knit together. In her right hand she held something, her fingers clasped around it's leather cover. The whole building shook with a thundering violence, throwing the man off balance a bit but he managed to keep his foothold. He moved out of the corner and hugged her even closer as he noticed what had happened, something that made his stomach sink.
The doorway was completely gone, the ceiling of the hallway having fallen in under the weight of the fire's vicious hunger. Their way out was no more.
Yet still a whisper tugged his bleary eyes to his left and toward the small window in the wall that stood out among the overwhelming heat surrounding it. Something told him to look and in doing so an idea came to him.
He had found Kaoru as he intended and now he needed to find a way out. And from what it looked like his only option was to make a way of his own. As gently as possible he set Kaoru on her feet and leaned her standing body against his. Reaching his right arm around her Kenshin felt his palm burn once grabbing hold of the heated hilt of his sword. Through the pain he concentrated all thought towards the intricate movements needed for what he was going to do. He transferred all the strength he could gather into the hand that lifted the sakabato to his right. With an incredible speed he slashed the surface of the wall with a curving horizontal strike. The impact of steel against wood split the wall open, the force of it all causing the flames to dance and swirl around the couple yet not one touched them. Placing his sword in its sheath Kenshin picked Kaoru back up and leapt outside into the alley bellow. Just as soon as they landed he bent down and lay Kaoru's quiet form on the ground. With a worry quickened breath he examined her body for any sign of injury yet he found none. Pressing two fingers to the side of her neck he felt her pulse, present but weak. Her breath was shallow and Kenshin found himself cradling her cheek with a shaky hand, his eyes growing blurry from tears of concern. Smoke had blackened the skin around her mouth, her lips pale and ashen against it. His thumb swept across the sides of her mouth wiping away some of the soot, feeling the heat of her soft breath as he passed by her partly parted lips.
"Please, let her be alright…please." He shut his eyes for a second before looking down to the Bible limply grasped in her hand. Slipping it out from under her fingers he tucked it in his sash for safekeeping. A few minutes had passed and strength returned with the fresh air now filling his lungs. As tenderly as possible he lifted her into his arms yet again, knowing full well the urgency of the situation. Kaoru needed to be seen by a doctor and Megumi was on the other side of the smoldering building. He needed her help or else Kaoru might not ever open her eyes again; those lovely, breathtaking eyes that pierced their way into his soul, telling him of a love and hope like no other.
Before he even registered the speed with which he began running Kenshin saw a group of people gathering in front of the destroyed inn as he turned the corner. They were crowding around someone, yelling and throwing fists in the air along with their rage.
"Don't you lie to us! It's always your fault!" A shrill woman's voice yelled.
"You're wrong! We didn't do anything!" A young voice countered. Recognizing that the familiar voice came from within the middle of the circle Kenshin narrowed his eyes.
"You came into our city, that's what you did! We already have enough of your kind here as it is!" A gruff voice shouted, anger bursting in his words.
Kenshin had enough. His eyes traded their dull violet in place of a glowing amber, matching that of the slowly dieing embers of the fire behind them. They narrowed greatly, a sliver of the fearful color gleaming in the wake of any eye willing to give him a look.
He moved himself and Kaoru through the crowd with ease, the people falling dumb as they spread before him giving him room. Many had caught sight of his expression and were afraid once spotting the message his eyes were sending. The noise of the obnoxious crowd died down as all eyes took in the sad sight. A few gasps reached the rurouni's ears yet he didn't really care… they didn't really care. He made it to the middle where Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko were rallied for judgment. Kenshin eased his hardened gaze as he met their faces, the same concern in his eyes mirrored by theirs. Megumi broke through her shock first and walked up to feel Kaoru's pulse, just as Kenshin had done earlier. Her immediate scowl told Kenshin that his suspicions were correct.
"Let's get her some water quick so we could make sure her throat is clear. She's suffering from the smoke she inhaled and we need to wake her as soon as we can." Megumi's hand wiped at the perspiration collecting to her face as she looked around at the people around them.
"Won't any of you help us? Come on, can't you see we have a sick person here?" Sano asked casting unbelieving eyes at the people spending their time gawking and falsely accusing the innocent rather than lending someone a helping hand. Sano spat on the ground, disgusted with all of them. "All of you are cowards!"
A sickening silence reigned, not a one man or woman present willing to offer help to those in great need of it. Instead, just as Sano said, their stares spoke volumes of what they were. Cowards. Not one word was uttered out of concern for the young woman hanging unconscious in the swordsman's arms.
Kenshin was overwhelmed by the callousness surrounding him. In all his days he never imagined such a heartless reaction to such a horrifying event. An inn burnt down and a young woman left nearly dead due to it… and yet the people blamed her and her companions for what happened.
"Kenshin?" Yahiko questioned him as he began walking again, his eyes indifferent to the scornful glares and gazes falling upon them. He felt Kaoru move in his arms, a sign of hope that she would make it though the ordeal, somehow. Kenshin set his eyes, their color having returned to normal, to an unseen spot down the road. He spoke no word, yet walked with a pressing pace, leaving the other three to walk quickly behind to keep up. Each one felt the weight of the stares tracking them, but not a one cared. Kenshin now knew of the two looks known to be given to Christians, and this time they were eyes of disdain following them.
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A/N: Hiya! I'm alive, yet barely… Not having too much money is bumming me out (I have no job) and the refund check from school is being eaten up by all the books I have to buy, not to mention what I'll use of it for gas money. *sigh* Oh well, tis life… especially in college.
About the chapter… did you guys like it? I was wanting to come around and write something like this. Ever since those monstrous fires ate up most of Southern Cali a few months ago I've had a fire scene stuck in my head. I think it came out okay… what do you all think? Once again, I gotta thank you all for being so awesome and leaving me reviews for the last chapters. They have been the hardest ones to write, by far, and to be honest they've been quite draining also. A lot of my heart is put into it and it's just a great feeling to be able to share it with all you. Thanks and I guess I'll see y'all next time! Ciao! ~ The Honorable Gucci