Heart Of The Battousai
Chapter 11 - Captured!
SURPRISING CHAPTER! That's all I can say without giving anything away so just read on and enjoy! Oh yeah, things that look like 'this'is a memory or flashback, 'k? Now on with the show!
Tamaiya awoke the next morning and quickly changed into her gi and hakama before heading off into the kitchen to find everyone else already awake and eating breakfast, minus a still sleeping Yahiko, that is. She sat next to her father and started eating, noticing the particularly happy smile he had playing on his lips, "Hey Daddy, why are you so happy?"
"Can't I be happy without having a reason to be?"
"Most normal people, yes, you no."
Kenshin smiled and looked to Kaoru, "Should we tell them, Kaoru?"
"Tell us what?" Hiko asked curiously
"Well... do you remember last night when you set me and Kenshin up, Tamaiya?"
"Yes, why, Miss Kaoru?"
"You see... after everyone went to bed Kenshin and I had a talk and well..."
Kaoru held up her hand so that everyone could see her flower ring and Tamaiya's face lit up as she looked hopefully at the young kendo master, "Miss Kaoru... are you saying that..."
"Yes, Tamaiya, Kenshin asked me to marry him and I said yes."
Tamaiya squealed with joy and tugged on her father's gi, "Does that mean the Miss Kaoru's going to be my mom?"
"It sure does, my little star."
"Yey!"
Tamaiya hugged both of them tightly and Sanosuke and Hiko congratulated them just as Yahiko came in rubbing the sleep from his still blurry eyes, "What's all the screaming about?"
"Yahiko!" Tamaiya ran up to him and grabbed his hands, jumping up and down happily as she did so, "guess what!"
Yahiko had to smile at her, "What? You're hyper?"
"No, my dad asked Miss Kaoru to marry him and she said yes, so that means that she's going to be my mom, that it does! Isn't that great, Yahiko!"
She hugged him tightly around the neck and he chuckled the best he could, "Yeah... that's great, Tamaiya, but I can't breath..."
"Oh... sorry."
She loosened her grip on him and he took a breath before smiling down at her, "So Kaoru's gonna be your mom huh? I feel sorry for you."
Tamaiya giggled and Sanosuke went to cheering, "Oh, look at how cozy the two little lovebirds are."
They quickly parted and flushed brightly before huffing up slightly, "We're not cozy, that we're not, boys are gross, that they are!"
"Yeah really, girls are just walking cooties!"
Hiko nudged Kenshin and grinned at him, "They weren't saying that last night, were they?"
"What do you mean?" they both asked together
Kenshin couldn't help but smile at their dumb-act, "Tell me, Yahiko, do you want me to kill you now or later?"
"Why are you going to kill Yahiko, Daddy?"
"I told you that if I ever caught you kissing a boy that I would kill him, didn't I?"
"But... I've never kissed Yahiko, that I haven't."
"Oh really? Then I guess that was a new Kamiya Kasshin move that I saw you two practicing last night with your lips locked together, right?"
Tamaiya and Yahiko both turned the color of Kenshin's hair and laughed nervously, "Um... we have to go and practice with our swords now!"
"Yeah... practice... with swords... bye Daddy!"
They made a hasty exit and the adults busted up laughing before following them outside to torment them some more. About an hour or so later there was a knock at the gate and Kaoru answered it, seeing a tall man with short black hair and beady eyes, "Can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Kenshin Himura the Battousai."
Kaoru recognized the challenge in his voice and tried to shut the door back, "Kenshin doesn't live here."
The man roughly pushed the door open and moved past Kaoru, "I know he's here, get out of my way, woman!"
Kaoru quickly shut the door and hurried off after the man but by the time she caught up to him he had already found Kenshin and the others. Hiko sensed his presence and looked up at him, raising an eyebrow as he gave him a suspicious smile, "What can we do for you, stranger?"
"I'm looking for Kenshin Himura."
"I'm Kenshin Himura, that I am, what can I do for you?"
"I've come to get back what's mine!"
"Excuse me?"
"You stole something important from me ten years ago and now that I've finally found you I want it back!"
Kenshin stood up and instinctively grabbed the hilt of his sword, "I don't know what you're talking about, that I don't."
"Don't play dumb with me! I know you have what I've come for and I'm not leaving without it!"
"You seem familiar but I don't recall ever stealing anything ten years ago, you must be mistaken."
"It's no mistake, several people saw you with it!"
"What is it exactly that you claim I've stolen from you?"
"You stole my child!"
"What!" everyone asked in complete shock
"Explain yourself." Kenshin said coldly
"Ten years ago my wife and her body guards were killed and my child was taken from her! One of the guards was still alive when I found him and he said that he'd seen a man with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek take my daughter! But by the time I had a break in battles and found the Choshu clan you were already gone! You kidnaped my child and I want her back!"
Kenshin looked at him for a long moment, trying to remember where he's seen this man before, then it suddenly donned on him who he was and his eyes narrowed dangerously at the stranger, "I remember you, you're Kai Okume, the assassin from the Satsuma clan. I ran into you the night I found the baby and I asked you if you knew who she was and you told me that you had never seen her before. For all I know you're just someone looking to take a child and sell it to someone."
"I'm no baby-seller, I've only come to take back what's mine!"
"Can you prove that the child I found ten years ago is yours?"
"Yes, she has a birthmark on her back that looks like a star!"
Kenshin's eyes went wide with shock, only he had known about that birthmark, no one else could've possibly known about it unless they'd seen it for themselves. But before he could answer Tamaiya came running out from the side of the house with Yahiko and looked around at everyone with curious eyes, "What's going on, Daddy?"
Kai looked over at Tamaiya and smiled, "Kiri... you're alive, has this monster hurt you?"
"Kiri? Sir... I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else, that you have, my name is Tamaiya, that it is."
The man frowned and looked hurt, "Kiri... don't you recognize me?"
"I'm afraid I don't."
"I'm your father, Kiri."
"My father? You're not my father, that you're not, he is." she said simply as she pointed to Kenshin.
Kai growled in anger, "So you haven't even told her that you kidnaped her! First you kill her mother then you take her away and raise her like your own, teaching her all about your sick way of life and not even bothering to tell her that you aren't her real father!"
"What do you mean he's not my real father?"
"This man stole you from me when you were just an infant and I've been looking all this time for you and now that I have it's time to go home."
Kai reached out to take Tamaiya's hand but she backed away from him and shook her head, "I don't know you and I really don't want to go with you, that I don't, and you're not my father."
"Kiri I know this is hard to understand but I am your father and I've come to take you home so just come with me and I'll take you away from this monster."
Kai reached out and took her hand but before he could do anything else Kenshin was between them. He drew his sword and grabbed Kai's hand, pushing him away from Tamaiya and flipping his sword over as he put it to Kai's throat, his eyes turning a deep gold as his voice took on a threatening tone, "Touch my daughter and I will kill you."
Kai snarled and punched Kenshin in the chin, sending him back a couple of feet,
"She's my child!"
"No she's not! Tamaiya is my little girl and you will not take her from me, now get out before I decide to break my vow and cut your throat out."
Everyone's eyes went wide at the seriousness in Kenshin's voice, they had never heard him threaten someone like that before, not even Saito and the emotionlessness of his eyes sent chills down their spines as they seemed to challenge the old Satsuma assassin in front of him. Kai looked at Tamaiya and growled softly before turning to leave, "I will get my daughter back, Battousai, I will be back for her and next time I won't leave unless she is with me."
"We'll just see about that, won't we."
Kai left without another word and everyone just stood frozen for a moment before Tamaiya tugged on Kenshin's sleeve, "D... Daddy..."
Kenshin looked down at her and his eyes immediately turned back to violet, seeming to snap out of his trance, "Tamaiya..."
"Daddy... what did he mean that... you're not really my father? And why did he say that you stole me? And why did he call you Battousai?"
Kenshin sighed and sheathed his sword before picking Tamaiya up and setting her on his lap as he sat down on the porch, "Tamaiya, I have much to tell you, just listen to me and I'll explain everything, ok?"
"I'm listening, that I am."
"First of all, have you ever heard of Battousai?"
"Yes, he was a manslayer during the revolution, that he was."
"Well... I'm Battousai or... at least I was. One night while I was out on an assignment I heard some commotion and I went to see what it was and I found several dead soldiers and a young woman. She was still alive when I found her and she told me to check the brush and I did and I found a baby. I went all through Kyoto and part of Otsu to see if I could find the baby's parents but no one knew who she was. That man, Kai, was an assassin during the revolution and I ran into him on my way home and he said that he'd never seen the baby before so I just took the baby with me. After a couple of weeks of searching I figured that both of the parents were dead and so I... decided to keep the baby and raise it myself."
Tamaiya's eyes went wide as she started to register this in her mind, "Was... was I... the baby you found?"
"Yes, I was Battousai for a few months after I found you then one night I almost lost you in a battle and I gathered up you and my things and I left the Choshu clan, that's when I became a wanderer."
"So... you left to protect me?"
"And other reasons but that's not important, what Kai said was true, Tamaiya, I'm not your real father... I was just a fortunate manslayer who happened to be in the right place at the right time is all."
"So... all these years... you've been lying to me? Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I... never wanted you to find out, you always seemed to be happy with me and I don't think I ever made you feel out of place and... I didn't know that your father was alive. Believe me, Tamaiya, I would never intentionally take a child away from someone, I didn't know you still had family, if I had I would never have taken you."
Tamaiya's eyes started to tear up at his words, her voice slightly cracking as she asked, "You... didn't really want me?"
"At first I... I didn't... not because of you but I was a manslayer at the time and I didn't know how to take care of a child but... after I had you for a couple of weeks I... fell in love with you, you became my life."
"So... you just figured that since my parents were dead you had no reason to tell me, right?"
Kenshin sighed, "Basically, yes, but also I... just wanted to keep you."
She looked down at the ground and her voice came timidly and softly, "Why would you want me if I wasn't really yours?"
"Tamaiya," Kenshin grasped her chin and made her look up at him before resting his hand against her scarred cheek, "I kept you because I loved you. I know that sounds really strange, a manslayer loving a child that's not his but... it just happened. I know you don't understand and I know that I don't deserve a wonderful little girl like you but you have to understand that I care deeply for you, even though I'm not really your father I love you and I will do anything for you and that's why... I'm going to let you decide."
"Decide what?"
"I'm going to let you decide on who to go with, you can either stay here with me... or you can go with your real father."
"You're making me decide?"
"Yes, it's not my choice to make, I know I was wrong to keep you from your father just now but... in my eyes you're still my little girl and I wanted to protect you but it's not my call to make anymore. Whether you choose to go with him or stay with me you will always be my little Tamaiya, my little star. It's up to you, little one, it's your life and you're old enough and wise enough to make your own decisions and whatever you choose I will be happy with."
Tamaiya looked down at his chest for a moment before she whispered, "Can I... go somewhere to think?"
"Yes, of course, take your time."
"Thank you..."
Tamaiya pulled herself away from Kenshin and headed off towards the backyard. Kenshin waited for a couple of moments before he asked, "Yahiko?"
"Y... yeah?"
"Go and check on her for me."
"Why do you want me to go, Kenshin?"
"She'll talk to you."
Yahiko watched as Kenshin clenched his hands into tight fists and silently made his way to the back. Kaoru looked down at Kenshin's hands and saw blood dripping onto his hakama from where he had his hands clenched so tightly, worry started to overcome her as his shoulders began to shake slightly, "Kenshin..."
Kenshin stood up and paced around for a moment then without warning he punched the support beam hard enough to make the dojo shake a little, "Kenshin!" Hiko yelled, trying to get his attention.
They heard him growl softly and he ran his hands through his hair as he started to pace around again, muttering to himself, "I can't believe this! Ten years... ten years... why didn't he tell me back then that she was his... damn... damn... damn..."
The others watched and listened to him rant for a few moments before Kaoru cautiously laid a hand on his shoulder, "Kenshin..."
"What?"
The ice in his voice startled her but she forced herself to speak all the same, "Are you alright?"
"No!"
"What's wrong? Tell me."
"Nothing, Kaoru!"
Kaoru took a step back, he'd never spoken to her that way before and the force of his voice frightened her, it was then that she finally realized why the people in the revolution had been so afraid of him, he was like a dormant volcano, controlled and calm but could erupt at any moment with brutal force,"Kenshin?"
He didn't answer, he just kept muttering to himself and pacing, "Kenshin?"
Again he didn't answer then Kaoru decided to try something, "Battousai?"
This time he looked up at her and she let out a soft gasp when she met a pair of piercing amber eyes, the same eyes that she had heard so many stories about. These were the eyes that could freeze a man in place with fear and now those very same eyes were casting their spell on her but she somehow managed to ask, "Sit down?"
"I don't want to sit down."
"Please?"
Battousai looked at her for a moment before he gave in and he rested his back against the pillar he'd just punched and slid down to the porch as Kaoru moved to sit in front of him, "Now, tell me exactly what's bothering you."
"What do you think's bothering me, Kaoru!"
Kaoru jumped slightly at the harshness of his tone, he apparently noticed this and looked up at her. Once he saw the fear in her eyes his took on a slight look of guilt as he reached out and ran his thumb over her chin, "I'm sorry, I'm not angry at you, I didn't mean to snap."
"It's alright but... tell me what's wrong, it might help if you just go ahead and rant and get it out of your system."
He was silent for a moment before he started yelling, "I just can't believe it! That bastard suddenly shows up after ten years and wants to take my child from me... but... I guess she's not really my child... is she, Kaoru? All these years I wondered if there was something I could've done to save her mother or find a relative to take care of her or something! When I took her in I thought that I could raise her and make her happy but I guess I was wrong! I had no right to take that man's child away from him but I still took her all the same and raised her like she was mine! I kept a father and daughter separated for ten long years and I know she'll never forgive me for that! I love that little girl so much and just knowing that I've kidnaped her and forced her to live a lie and hurt her... it's just too much! That man has every right to have her and I denied him that, what kind of a man am I!"
"You're a good one, Kenshin." Sanosuke said confidently
"I agree, you may be a stupid apprentice but you're a good father." Hiko added
"I'm not her father... I'm just the man who stole her..."
He suddenly felt a sharp stinging in his face and he looked up at Kaoru to see her hand raised, he put his hand on his throbbing cheek and realized that she had slapped him, "What was that for?" his voice had a slight twinge of hurt but mostly it was just cold.
Kaoru didn't seem to notice though as she put her hand back to her side, "That was to get some sense into you! Listen to me, Kenshin, you're a good man, whether you want to believe that or not, and you didn't kidnap her, you found her and didn't he say that she wasn't his when you asked him?"
"Yes but..."
"But nothing! He gave up his right to be her father that night that he denied her, what man doesn't recognize his own child? I won't sit here and let you put yourself down and blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault! Answer me something, who took care of her when she was hurt?"
"Me."
"Who took care of her when she was sick or scared? Who was is that taught her right from wrong, taught her to be wise and strong and how to use a sword?"
"Me."
"That's right it was you, not Kai! That man may have helped bring her into this world but you are the one who took care of her and raised her, you watched her grow up and made sure that she was safe and happy! That man isn't her father, Kenshin, you are!"
Kenshin was silent for a long time before he looked down at his hands, a sad smile coming to his face, "If that is what it takes to be a father then I partially fit the bill... even so, it's her decision not mine. I love her with all of my heart and I want her to be happy and if being with her real father is what it will take make her smile then I can let her go..."
"Kenshin..."
Kaoru lifted his chin up and gasped when she saw tears falling from his normally emotionless golden eyes, "I honestly don't know what I'll do if she leaves, Kaoru... I just got her back and it was hard enough to leave her for two years... how in the hell can I say goodbye to my little girl forever?"
"Oh Kenshin..."
Kenshin let her pull him into her arms and laid his head in the crook of her neck, silently letting his tears fall down her throat and into her kimono, "I love her so much, Kaoru... but if she wants to leave then I'll let her go..."
"Even though it would kill me to watch her leave for good..."
MEANWHILE
Yahiko went around to the back and saw Tamaiya fighting a tree and from where he was standing the tree was losing, badly. After a few minutes of watching her he cleared his throat and called out, "Tamaiya?"
She looked over to see who it was before she headed over to him, "Yes?"
"You ok?"
"Oh yeah, I just found out that the man I've called my father for ten years is really just 'a fortunate manslayer who happened to be in the right place at the right time.'"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, that I don't! All my life I never once thought that Kenshin wasn't my real father, we were always so happy wandering around with no ties to anyone or anything, then he left me at that orphanage and came here! Things were so much better when we were vagabonds, until now I never felt out of place with Kenshin but then my real father came and...oh... how could he keep this from me!"
"Tamaiya... I know it's a lot to take in but be glad you have someone, I'd love to have Kenshin as a dad, but I have no one. Nobody wanted me when my parents died and I had to work for yakusa for several years... then Kenshin and Kaoru came and gave me a family. Kenshin loves you and he'll do anything for you, that's why he's letting you choose who you want to be with, he knows that you have the right to know your father but... if Kai really wanted you where was he ten years ago when your mother was killed? Why didn't he tell Kenshin that you were his when he asked him?"
"I don't know, that I don't! I don't know who my real father is supposed to be!"
"I can't tell you, I don't know what a father's supposed to be because I've never had one."
Tamaiya suddenly spun around and looked at him with teary eyes, surprising Yahiko when he saw that they had turned from dark blue into a light silver, "A father is someone who loves you and takes care of you... someone who makes you feel safe at night when the nightmares scare you or..."
Tamaiya paused and let out a gasp when a memory suddenly came to her...
Six years earlier
Tamaiya had been angry with her father so she decided to sleep by herself but when she awoke she was terrified by the nightmare she'd just had. She crawled over to Kenshin and tugged on his sleeve, he immediately woke up and looked down at her with worried golden eyes, "What's wrong, Tamaiya?"
"I... I had a bad dweam, that I did."
"Oh a bad dream?"
"Yeah..."
"What about?"
"I had a dweam that... you were fighting... and you... you got... hurt... and then you went to sweep and you wouldn't wake up, that you wouldn't, and then... this man took me away and..."
"Shh, it's ok, Tamaiya, that it is, it's ok, come here."
He reached out and scooped her up into his strong arms and rocked her back and forth, running his hand through her hair and whispering soothingly to her as she cried into his gi, "It's alright, that it is, nothing's going to hurt you."
"But... it was you who got hurt..."
"I won't get hurt either, that I won't. Listen, sweetie, I will always be here for you no matter what, no one's going to take you away from me because you're my baby girl and I'll always protect you. If you ever see a man like that just tell me and I'll make sure that he goes away."
"But you might get hurt... why would you want to get hurt to pwotect me?"
"Because I love you, you're my world, Tamaiya, that you are, and I'll do anything for you. No one will hurt you as long as I'm alive, that they won't, and if they take you they'll have to take me to, that they will."
Tamaiya smiled, "They would need a big bed for you, that they would."
Kenshin laughed, "That they would, do you feel better now?"
"Yes."
"Ok then."
Kenshin got up and set her down in her original spot and covered her up before going back to his tree. Tamaiya looked at him for a long moment before she went back over to him and rubbed her cheek against his arm. He opened his eyes and smiled down at her, "Another bad dream, Star?"
"No... I want to sweep with you, that I do... I feel safe when we sweep together."
Kenshin smiled and picked her up, holding her tightly against his chest as she snuggled into his warm gi to get comfortable. He started running his hand up and down her back as he began to sing her favorite song to her and it didn't take her long to drift off to sleep but not before saying, "I wove you, Daddy, that I do."
"I love you, Tamaiya, with all of my heart, my little star."
"Tamaiya? Tamaiya?"
She snapped out of it when Yahiko gently tapped her cheek and she looked up at him as if in shock, "You ok?"
"Yes... I'm fine, that I am... I need to go see the others now, that I do."
"What for?"
"I've made a decision, that I have."
Yahiko followed her to the other side of the house and she took a deep breath before tapping Battousai on the shoulder, "K... Kenshin?"
He looked over at her and forced a smile, "What is it, Tamaiya?"
"I've... I've made a decision, that I have, Kenshin."
His heart sank when she called him 'Kenshin,' he already knew her answer but he asked any ways, "And what have you decided?"
"I..."
"Tamaiya, whatever you choose to do I'll be happy with it, just tell me."
She looked into his golden eyes and felt her heart skip a beat, they were the same golden eyes that had comforted her and made her feel safe that night she had her nightmare, the same eyes that she knew and trusted for the past ten years. Looking into those eyes she knew what she had to do, "I... want to stay with you, that I do."
Kenshin's eyes went wide with surprise, "Are... you sure... you can go to your father and..."
"No! Listen to me, Kenshin, that man Kai may be my father by birth but he was never there for me when I woke up afraid, he never kissed my wounds to make them feel better when I fell down and hurt myself, he never checked empty trees several times over to make sure that the monsters were gone so I would be safe. Kai was never there when I couldn't get a certain technique right, he wasn't there to answer all of my stupid questions, you were. You were always there for me and you are now, even though he was my father you protected me because you care for me and that's the real difference that helped me understand something."
"What's that?"
Tamaiya reached out and took Kenshin's face between her small hands and laid her forehead against his lovingly, "Kai may be my father... but he is not my Daddy."
"What?"
"Kai is my father by birth and that's all he is, he's my father, not my Daddy, you are, you are the one I love and you're the one I'm staying with, you promised to always be here for me and so I'm making the same promise to you, that I am, whenever you need me I'll be here, that I will," Tamaiya suddenly moved into him and hugged him tightly, "I love you, Daddy, that I do."
Kenshin smiled and let the tears fall from his eyes as they changed back into their usual shy violet, the Battousai no longer needed for comfort now that he had his little girl again, "Tamaiya... you don't know what this means to me... I love you so much."
"I know, and I'm sorry for yelling, that I am... I was confused."
"I know, and I'm sorry for not telling you about who you really were but..."
Tamaiya stopped him by shaking her head, "You have your reasons and you don't need to explain them to me, that you don't, the only explanation I care about is what we're going to have for dinner."
Kenshin smiled, "What would you like?"
"Anything but frogs."
He laughed and kissed her forehead before standing up, "I can do that."
"I'm going to finish practice now, that I am."
Kenshin smiled as she started off towards the back but then she stopped and turned around to smile at them, "Besides, I can't leave, that I can't."
"Why not?" Hiko asked
"Because I have to help my new mom keep my dad out of trouble, and make sure that he doesn't go near any sharp objects."
"Tamaiya Tomoe Himura..."
Tamaiya giggled and ran off, knowing that when he said her full name she was in big trouble. Yahiko followed closely behind and Kenshin had to chuckle, "That wasn't at all what I expected, that it wasn't."
Kaoru smiled and hugged his arm, "Now what was the deal about the sharp objects?"
"When she was little I cut my hand open sharpening my dagger and so she picks on me about it, that she does."
Hiko laughed, "She's just like her father, a big smart-ass."
Kenshin glared at his master, "And where do you think I learned it, Hiko? It wasn't from my parents."
"True but you couldn't have learned it from me, I'm too polite."
"Yeah, polite as a rabid dog maybe."
"Hey! Look here you annoying little..."
They started arguing and Sanosuke nudged Kaoru, "I just realized how much those two act like one another, when Kenshin's around Hiko they act just alike, I guess this is a case of 'like father, like son,' huh?"
Kaoru giggled, "I see your point, I guess Sir Hiko is kind of Kenshin's dad."
"What?" both men asked
"Think about it, Hiko took you in and raised you basically so... I guess he's kind of your surrogate father like you are with Tamaiya."
Kenshin and Hiko looked at each other before they both groaned, "There's no way that I claim to have any kind of fatherly relationship with my stupid apprentice here. On the other hand I think I made a pretty good father now that I think about it."
Kenshin frowned for a second before grinning evilly, "That statement just made me realize something."
"What's that, that you love me like your father?" Hiko laughed
"Kind of, I just thought that you did kind of act like a second father to me... and that's why I ran off to fight in the revolution."
"HEY!"
Kenshin ran off towards the kitchen with Hiko tailing closely behind, sword drawn and ready to knock some manners into his arrogant student as Sanosuke and Kaoru laughed at them.
MEANWHILE
Yahiko and Tamaiya were playing around when a dark shadow suddenly loomed over them, "Kiri."
They looked over and saw Kai standing next to them, "What do you want?" Yahiko asked
"I've come to take you home, Kiri."
"I am home, that I am, I don't know you and thus I can't trust you so I'm staying here where I belong, that I am."
Kai growled slightly, "Don't speak to me that way, I'm your father and you will listen to me!"
"You're not my father, you're a stranger and my dad taught me to never go with strangers, that he did."
"Then I guess we'll do this the hard way, I was hoping you would come peacefully but I guess I have no choice."
"What do you mean?"
Kai reached over and grabbed Yahiko, twisting his arm behind his back as he snapped his fingers, getting Tamaiya to gasp, "Yahi..."
Her shout was cut short when a large hand came up to cover her mouth with a fowl smelling cloth, making her vision blur as she drew in a startled breath. She tried to pull away from her attacker but he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, holding her tightly against his chest as her body went limp and darkness claimed her. Yahiko looked on in fear, "Tamaiya! Let her go!"
"No, she's my daughter and I have the right to take her if I want."
"No you don't, Kenshin's her father! Wait that's it..."
"What's it?"
"KENSHIN! HELP ME!"
Kai snarled and hit Yahiko in the back of the neck, knocking the young boy unconscious as he dropped him and turned to his companion, "Let's go, we've got my daughter."
The man nodded and scooped Tamaiya up in his arms and they ran out of the dojo with their precious cargo. Kenshin and the others came running around the corner and they immediately ran to help Yahiko. Kenshin knelt next to him and lifted his head up, patting his cheek to get his attention, "Yahiko! Wake up, are you alright?"
"Ken...shin?"
"Yahiko, what happened, where's Tamaiya?
"He... took her..."
"Who took her?"
"K... Kai and some other guy... they took her... I'm sorry..."
Yahiko's eyes went closed again and Kenshin's eyes flashed in anger as he handed the unconscious boy to Sanosuke, "Sano, take care of Yahiko."
"Where're you going, Kenshin?" Hiko asked
Kenshin looked over his shoulder at them and they gasped when they saw blazing gold eyes, "I'm going to kill Kai and get my daughter back."
"Kenshin wait!"
He didn't hear Kaoru's shout, for he was already out of the dojo and running down the road, following the fresh footprints there, "Hold on Tamaiya, I'll save you no matter what it takes, I promise!"
Another chapter YEY! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up but I wanted to make sure it was really good. I was trying to shock everyone with this one, so did it work? Any ways, hope you liked this chapter, there's more on the way, oh and I hope you like Battousai because he's about to kick some butt!