Wow. I recently realized I had 52 reviews. I know compared to a lot of stories that's not too many but I decided I'm proud anyway. Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter. It's always nice to know people's reading these. Otherwise, there's not much point in writing, lol.
The tall brunette looked down to his smaller partner and saw that Kenshin had narrowed his eyes. Turning his gaze back to Saitou, he reverted back to his usual defense tactic: anger.
"What? What kind of idiot are you? Kenshin would never do anything like that," he said. "Not anymore anyway," he quickly added.
Leaning back against one of the thicker post of the dojo, Saitou's face was the perfect picture of nonchanlance.
"Once a man takes a life, it stays with him. He was capable of it once. I believe he's capaable of it still," he said looking down at the red-head who had yet to stand up.
Before Sano could go into another tirade, a faint response came from Kenshin.
"I did not kill him, that I didn't. However, I don't think you will take me on my word. Miss Kaoru is sleeping and we mustn't wake her. Miss Megumi, Yahiko, and Sanosake also say Monkusai and I am sure they could identify him for you," came his quite voice, his eyes never leaving the now dark ground.
How can he always be so calm, Sano asked himself.
Looking at Sano, then back at Kenshin, Saitou gave his reply. "I suppose he can come down and identify him but one wrong move and..." he threatened.
Sano noticed that Kenshin's gaze had traveled to the night sky and it was a sight to behold. There were no clouds in the sky which left an unobstructed view of the moon. The stars were bright, each one shining as strongly as the next.
He didn't seem particuarly worried about the threat, probably for the same reason Sano wasn't. For all his talk, Saitou too had changed since his Battousai days. He know had a job and a wife. He wasn't the same man the Revolution had seen.
"You'll do what?" Sano shouted depsite this knowledge. Ignoring him, Saitou stood up and began to move toward the gate muttering something which sounded suspicously like "I hope your not too stupid to follow me,". Humphing, he did just that, half afraid of what he would find.
Dark eyes watched as the two tall men left the dojo, and a smirk formed on his evil face. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. It was surprising the thing you missed, the skills that dulled over time.
However, it was evidence of his abilty that Kenshin didn't know that he was no the objection of the hate-filled stare. This man had gone many place, left many scrars on those he deemed worthy enough to leave behind yet no one knew his name. Unlike the man the sat only a few feet in front of him, his name would never be feared, never be spoken in hushed breaths with notes of fear. That was fine with him. He had no name, he was the dark. No one could pinpoint the exact point of darkness that it began to get too, there was no name for the darkness that was darker than the rest. It just existed. As did he.
As these thoughts raced through his head a small smile formed on his lips. No manical laught flowed forth, nor did saliva begin to roll down his chin. This man wasn't insane, he in fact was extremely very quick and clever. It was so much easier to kill that way.
Monkusai dead? The thought was almost too much to handle for Kenshin. For the last few days he had been fighting a loosing battle to his dark side and now the choice was mad for him. Shaking his head, he decided to go inside and check on Kaoru.
Making his way to her room, he slowly and quietly slid open the door. She lay on her pallet, pale but with some pink returning. Her long dark blue hair lay at her side and her dark blue eyes were closed in exhaustion. Walking further into her room, he slowly slid the door back and took a seat next to his pallet.
If only you knew the love I feel for you. After Tomoe I didn't think I could love again. I was wrong and I the concept never made me happier, Kenshin mused looking down at his angel.
And it was true, he loved her. Knowing that why did he still hold back. All his excuses, their age, her innocence compared to his jaded past, no longer seemed to hold the love at bay. He had come so close to losing the light of his life and he knew he couldn't go back to the darkness. Not now, not ever.
After checking on Yahiko, Megumi went next to Kaoru's room. Opening the door she saw Kenshin sitting on the floor, a distance look on his face. Even in his muse, he heard the door open and turned to see Megumi enter.
"You need to leave so I can check her," she told him, feeling a clinch in her chest at the look of love that came to his face as he thought of Kaoru. She wasn't jealous, they all knew she didn't really have romantic feelings for Kenshin, but it was hopeful. Love that strong and that pure can still happen, even to the most jaded of people.
Nodding, he stepped out of her path and quickly left the room.
After sitting on the porch for the last half hour, Kenshin began to get restless. He was about to go back inside when he saw Sano's form appear from the darkness.
"It's not good," was the first words out of the brunettes mouth. After seeing Kenshin's puzzled look he continued. "It's him. No doubt about it. Soembody beat him bad. He had so many markin's' on him, you could barely see his skin." He paused to take his breathe and prepare himself for what he was about to say. "They said the marks on his body was distictive. Thanks to Saitou, they were able to identify them to those cause by the sakubota (sry can't spell it). Kenshin, your sword made those marks.
Did it make sense? Did you like it? Hate it? Please let me know in a review. I can't get better unless I know my mistakes. Thanks for reading it this far.