"Kenshin. Kenshin!" the small boy yelled.
"Yahiko, be quiet. Kaoru is still asleep," Megumi said, coming out of the dojo to stand beside him.
"Kenshin's still gone."
"He's more than capable of taking care of himself. I'm sure he's fine," the doctor said but she too was beginning to worry about him.
The brunnete noticed how she never referred to Kenshin as Sir Ken when Kaoru wasn't around to hear her.
"Yeah your right."
He then walked off the porch and picked up his sword. Even while he did his usual practice, he wasn't able to get rid of the feeling that something really bad had happened to his red-headed friend.
Dogging the overhanging limbs and uplifted roots came automatically to Kenshin and so he was able to give his full focus on his target. Though there were no clouds to block out the suns bright rays and it shone down in full force, the thickening trees soon casts shadows over the ground but he payed no heed to this either. He couldn't see whomever he was chasing so the absence of light wasn't a problem. As was, he could hear stick after stick crunch under both pairs of feet, neither of them taking the time to trend carefully and allow ground to be either gained or lost.
This went on for what seemed like hours to the rurouni but in truth, he knew it to be only minutes. Finally, however, it was only his feet he hard hitting the foilage. Slowing his pace to a walk, he continues forwrad till he reach a small clearing, being smaller than the average dojo room but with enough space to fight, if it came to that. He stayed completely still, listening for the taletall signs of breathing or crunching. Neither came but he knew he still wasn't long.
"Do you truely like this game?" he said, his voice was low but he knew it would carry.
"Why play a game if your not enjoying it?" came the answer but he was unable to tell where it came from, even with his trained ears. He was hoping the man, whom he now knew it to be, would give away his location.
"Why do you wish to fight me?" His eyes darted around the forest, wishing for more light but, in truth, he knew the man would have to be extremely skilled to avoid detection even among the lengthening shadows and overlapping branches.
"Do I wish to fight you?"
"I do not believe you wish to have me play chase."
"Your right," he heard right before a sharp pain laced his upper arm.
When he looked down he saw only a small scratch but that was enough to unnerve him. He hadn't seen anyone or anything go by him and the man was obviously only playing with him. If he had the skill to cut the ex-Battousai, then he could have just as easily have stabbed him.
He drew his sword and tried to sense the other man but with no luck. Frustrated, he opened his eyes and did the only other alternative, scanned the trees again.
"Here," a voice whispered in his ear but when he turned around, no one was there. How fast could a man possibly be. Not even Hiko could be that fast. He wanted to go back to the dojo, back to Kaoru, but it wasn't in his nature to give up.
He now stood facing the opposite way, no sound or movement coming from him or his opponent.
"Let's end this," he said into the trees, his voice rising but not yet becoming a yell.
"If you really want to," were the last words he heard before he something sharp was stuck through his upper stomach. Looking down, he saw the metal blade of a sword sticking through him, his own crimson blood dripping off the edge.
Is anyone surprised I left off with a cliffie? Sorry guys, but that's it for now. As always please R&R and thanks for reading.