Wow, I finally got the sucker updated. If you liked the lil' fight with Sano and Ama, wait till you see the next one! The only problem is getting from here to those good spots, as usual. Oh well, R&R? Please? THANKS!
I own Ama…so there. Anyone know how to say "wolf" in Japanese? I would REALLY like that! Cus it helps a bit with the story plot and all.
"That's an interesting name," Kaoru commented staying close to the girl's side as they started for the dojo. "I don't think I've ever heard of it before, you aren't from around this area are you?"
The young lady just gave her a half glance as she continued to finish wrapping her bandages back over her eyes. The staff she carried was slipped into the folds of her kimono on her back. "That would be because most of the Sorayinu family is dead and gone." Kaoru had to halt in her steps holding a hand to her heart watching as she walked on past her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Sanosuke, who had been watching the little scene.
Kaoru sighed walking on again, "I know exactly how she feels too."
"I know you do, but hey don't forget we've been so accustomed to Kenshin and his big happy grins I think we've forgotten what it's like to deal with harsh people." He grinned down at her keeping an eye on their guest. What is it she wants to know so badly from an Imperial Officer? Maybe it has something to do with her family, I wouldn't be surprised. The girl stepped back a few feet away from Kenshin and Yahiko, who were walking together, and looked away from them in a world of her own. He patted Kaoru's shoulder jerking his head towards the girl. She was about to speak but he trotted off to Amaterasu's side smiling. "Hi there."
"What is it you wish of me now Zanza?" Amaterasu sighed taking her staff in hand as they walked.
He recoiled feeling a bit hurt by her harshness, but smiled again knowing he dealt with it from Megumi all the time. "Since Kenshin's being so nice to you, and inviting you to stay with him and Kaoru and Yahiko at the dojo, don't you think you could be a bit more kind. Or at least talkative?" She peered up at him, so he shot her a smile (having figured out that she would be able to judge the looks on his face even with the bandages). "Just a little?"
She shook her head in defeat, "Forgive me, I am usually more friendly to people. I suppose I've been too much of a lone wolf these days, maybe I've forgotten how to talk to people after so long." She sighed again smiling sadly. She gently prodded his foot with her staff laughing as he jumped into the air.
"Now what did you do that for?" he squeaked.
"Be quiet then," she hushed. The others were now all ahead of them by at least ten feet. "Kenshin?" she called out.
"Yes Miss Amaterasu?" the man questioned turned around.
"Go on ahead to the shrine, there's a few things I wanted to ask Zanza. He'll take me there when we're done," she concluded. She looked up to Sanosuke giving him a look to convince him. He nodded waving off the others, so as they left he grabbed her arm.
"What the hell are you up to?" he asked her. At first he thought that she held him back for a reason involving the two of them and a secluded place, but that idea was soon shattered.
She pointed her staff off into the woods, "There. I thought it would be better to get the others away before the fighting broke out."
"Fighting?" Sanosuke asked raising an eyebrow. At that moment, six or seven swordsman burst through the trees yelling into attack. "Oh, this fighting." The fighters formed a circle around the two forcing them back to back for defense. Sano peered over his shoulder at Amaterasu who had her staff at the ready. "Want your bandana off?"
"No need," she smiled. "There are three on your side." He snapped his head around seeing that she was exactly right in her assumption. "Unless you want to switch places with me?" The fighters brandished their axes and wooden swords to intimidate them, but it had no effect on either of the two.
"Well now," Sano grinned cracking his knuckles, "how do you suggest we do that, not like we have a lot maneuvering room and all." He reached back holding her waist gently; he felt her jump a bit from it in shock. "You don't look too heavy, so need a hand?"
"What a gentleman," she laughed. He spun around putting both hands on her waist, lifted her up above his head, and cautiously tossed her behind him. He tilted his head back to check up on her, and she seemed to be doing fine as she slammed foot first into one of their attackers. She spun her staff defensively knocking away a weapon. Amaterasu caught his eyes, "Don't just stand there! Defend yourself!"
"Huh?" he asked. He felt someone trying to grab him from behind and whipped his fist over his shoulder breaking the man's nose and knocking him back. She shook her head and went back to defending herself as he whipped around punching out a man with a very large axe. The other two drop their weapons and jumped on him at the same time making him bend his knees ever so slightly. "Get offa me you idiots!" he growled straightening up. The fell off, but quickly rose with their weapons in hands.
The taller one held a true blade out to Sanosuke, "Get out of our way. We are not here for you. If you insist on stopping us, we will kill you." Sanosuke refused to move from his spot, so he decided to just check up on his hand wraps. "Then you'll die!"
They ran forward at him swing wildly with the weapons, but none of them touched the gang fighter as he glided through the attacks without receiving any of the intended blows. This is getting boring, so I think I'll end it. He whipped one leg under the sword carrier's feet and grabbed the blade before he could attack swinging it into a tree. He didn't even check to see if it stayed caught within it before slamming a punch into the other's jaw knocking him cold to the ground. He spun around still hearing a few sounds of fighting from Amaterasu. She hadn't taken out any of the fighters; all three were just kept at bay by her staff. "Need help?" he asked as he lifted the sword fighter into the air.
"Wondered when you would finish," she sighed pushing them all back with one blow.
"Are you sure?" he was worried seeing as she hadn't done anything to harm them. But his doubts were soon dissipated. Within a few seconds, she had pummeled her staff into one's stomach and twirled it over her head hitting another in the face. She combated with the axe wielder for another five seconds and then effectively knocked it away. He staggered back nervous so she turned her back on him smiling at Sanosuke. As her attacker stepped forward, she leaned forward on the staff kicking behind her without a second glance.
"Now that only one is left," she concluded walking towards him, "we can ask him what he planned on doing with us." Sano smiled and lifted the man in his grasp towards her. "Now kind sir, please do tell us what you planned on accomplishing by attacking me and Zanza." Sano frowned at the informality, but grinned when she slapped the silent man upside the head. "Now.
"Tell us," she hissed into is face.
"You know who sent me girl," he gasped. "He'll find out soon enough where you're hiding and he'll come for you! You can't hide forever." She narrowed her eyes from behind the bandage and curled her fist landing a firm punch in his face. He fell limp into Sanosuke's grip as Amaterasu walked off back in the direction that Kenshin and the others had gone. He looked at the man then tossed him aside in a bored fashion gazing after her for a moment. She is hiding something. I knew it all along! So some jerk is after her, and been searching for her for a while I'm guessing. She's off searching for someone as well, but it can't be him otherwise she would have found him. Why is it we always pick up the ones with issues?
"Don't go off without me now," he teased catching up with her, "you don't even know the way!" She looked up at him as he laughed warmly, but only shook her head at him like he was a child. She picked her pace up a little so she was walking right before him. Sano glared at the back of her head in annoyance, boy was she treating him like shit.
"I wonder what the reason was or Amaterasu and Sano to stay behind," Kaoru wondered aloud as they reached the Kamiya dojo.
Yahiko sneaked up behind her grinning with a twisted thought, "Maybe they hit it off and wanted to spend more time alone!" Kaoru smacked him in the back of the head sharply sending him flying into the door. "Ow, did you really have to hit me?"
"Yes," she growled. "How dare you assume Amaterasu is like that! You don't know anything about her and you go and say some smart remark like that."
"Why aren't you defending Sanosuke Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin asked as the doctor's two grandchildren came running for him.
"Well, isn't it obvious? I would almost expect something like that from him." Kenshin only shook his head feeling a little bad for his cocky friend. Ayame and Sasume leaped into his arms hugging him and shouting Uncle Kenny and other greetings. "But the most important thing is if they're safe or not."
"Of course we are." They all spun to see Sanosuke walking up to the dojo side by side with Amaterasu.
Kaoru run up to them punching Sano in the arm, "Where were you? I thought you said you'd only be a we seconds after us!"
Amaterasu put a hand on her shoulder taking off the bandages from her eyes, "I am truly sorry Miss Kaoru. I did not mean to make you worry, although I am deeply touched that you did so in the first place. Mister Himura?" she called looking past the assistant master to him. "Why is it you wished me to come here?"
"Uncle Kenny," Ayame asked whispering to him, "who is that lady?"
"Yeah Uncle Kenny, who is she?" Suzume chorused.
"I'm sorry. This is Amaterasu. She's going to be staying here for a few days."
"She is?" Kaoru, Sano, and Yahiko asked.
Amaterasu was equally shocked, "I am?"
Kenshin set down the girls smiling back up at the small group. "If it isn't too much trouble Miss Kaoru. Perhaps we could speak over dinner tonight about the little predicament we were in this morning."
"I suppose that would be alright," Kaoru thought aloud. Then she smiled as brightly as possible, "We could all go to the Akebeko! After all, we never did get to have lunch there!" Yahiko and the girls automatically cheered and started dragging Kenshin in the general direction. Ayame stayed behind looking up at Amaterasu curiously.
"Miss Amaterzu?" she asked innocently.
Amaterasu chuckled and knelt down at the young girl's level taking the bandage from her eyes. "Why don't you just call me Ama? Much easier to say isn't it?" The young girl nodded smiling brightly. Amaterasu had a warm smile on her face, "What was your question?"
"Why are you dressed like a boy?" Kaoru nearly fainted in the embarrassment of the question and Sanosuke couldn't stop laughing. One of his first impressions of her was that she was most definitely dressed in clothes that were not her own.
Yet this rude and childish question only made the stranger chuckle a little, "For my line of work, they are much more comfortable. And these were my father's, so they mean very much to me as a sentimental value." Ayame smiled in understanding and grabbed her hand as if she had been staying with them for years.
"Come on! We don't want to be late at the Akebeko!" As she was dragged away she took a quick look back and Sanosuke and Kaoru laughing in confusion. "Come on Kaoru!"
"We better catch up Missy," Sano laughed chasing her down, "otherwise we'll probably starve!"
"You better pay for your own share this time!" she screamed at him.