The Guardian

By: Wildfire Sky

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The Guardian

Chapter Nine

The two-horse carriage clattered over the stone passageway that led up to the large, two story building of public affairs, the same building that housed the offices of some of Japan's most influential citizens, next to the emperor himself. Passing through the wide, metal gates, the carriage quickly pulled in front of the large entryway, its occupant patiently waiting as an attendant scurried down the front steps to swing open his door with a tight, formal bow.

"Good afternoon, Gortu-sama." The attendant said, stepping aside to make room for the bearded man to step down. Gortu regarded him with unhidden distain, smoothing out his suit as he began up the steps to the building, the attendant quickly joining him as the carriage pulled away.

"Gortu-sama," he said, nodding at the guards to open the doors and admit them, "You've been requested by the council to appear in exactly one hour. Do you wish to have anything to eat or drink before your meeting?"

Gortu's lip curled into a snarl. "Get the hell away from me."

The attendant nodded. "Of course Gortu-sama. May I also announce that you have a visitor waiting for you in your office."

"A visitor?" Gortu echoed, cocking an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

"He did not disclose his name, sir. Just asked that I deliver the message to you." The sound of hooves clattering filled the air and the attendant paused, bowing reverently. "Excuse me, Gortu-sama, while I attend to the new arrival. Is there anything I may get you before I depart?"

Gortu shook his head, waving a dismissing hand. "No. Go about your business."

"Thank you, sir. Have a good day."

Gortu watched the attendant suspiciously. With the bout of recent murders and kidnappings, not to mention the shocking discovery of Genze's body, no visitor was allowed into any political building with an armed escort and knowledge of his name. A sinking feeling stirred in Gortu's stomach. What if it was the assassin and the attendant was his accomplice? That would mean that the moment he walked into his office he'd be cut down.

Not a chance in Hell...

Gortu spun on his heel, approaching the two guards at the doorway. They snapped to attention as he approached, one stepping forward and delivering a swift bow. "Gortu-sama, how can we be of service?"

"Did the attendant that escorted me inside come by here?" Gortu asked, his hands on his hips as he looked between the two.

The guards glanced at each other in confusion. "Yes, Gortu-sama," the first said, "He was just called away."

"So he's gone where?"

The guard bowed solemnly. "I do not know, Gortu-sama. Would you like us to track him down for you, sir?"

By now, the people passing the hallway were beginning to stare as Gortu stood, berating the two innocent guardsmen. He began to feel more and more self-conscious as the other politicians began to whisper and frown, displeased with the fact that he was lessening their safety by distracting to two guards. It wouldn't help him to send the guards away on what might turn out to be a wild goose chase. Straightening his jacket, Gortu forced a smile on his face.

"No, no...that won't be necessary." He returned their offered bow with a mumbled 'good-day'. He left the two guards, trying to ignore the heated stares of his coworkers. Back straight and nose in the air, he strode away, trying desperately to seem much more important than he really was. As soon as he turned the corner, Gortu let his body slump, wariness hitting him like ice water. He had no weapon, no escort, nothing to prepare himself for whatever might lie beyond his doorway. Although the notion was ridiculous, it was a justified ridiculousness.

He slowed dramatically as he approached his office door, almost tiptoeing as he paused in front of it, hand nervously twitching over the door handle. Scratching at his beard, Gortu took a deep breath before slamming his shoulder against the door as he opened it, falling to the ground in a roll, stumbling into the dimly lit room. Crashing headlong into his desk, Gortu landing in a painful heap on the floor, his back leaning against the wooden desk. Moaning lightly, Gortu brought up a hand to the back of his head, caressing it softly.

"What are you doing?"

Gortu blinked in surprise, slowly looking up into the weathered face of one of the most important men in both his life and the lives of the citizens of Japan. Iccesha Yamoto stared down at Gortu from over the edge of the desk where he'd been sitting, his grey eyes overshadowed by the matching wisps of hair that fell over his face. Dressed in a traditional red and white kimono, Yamoto, the so-called 'Son of Peace' by the people, came around the desk as Gortu scrambled to his feet, bowing reverently.

"Yamoto-sama!" he said, his heart pounding in his chest. "I am so deeply honored that you would take time to visit me." Straightening, Gortu moved to offer him the plush desk chair. "Please, sit."

Yamoto smiled gently, holding up a hand. "Oh no, that won't be necessary, Gortu. If you would do me the pleasure of joining me for a walk around the gardens for a bit. I think there's some things we need to discuss...things that we need fresh air for."

Gortu knew what he was talking about. After all, Yamoto was one of the men he was being summoned before. Besides being highly influential in the political ring, Yamoto was also his superior. Saying no was not an option.

"Of course, Yamoto-sama," Gortu said, bowing again, "I would be honored to accompany you."

Outside, the gardens of Public Affairs still shimmered with the clinging droplets of morning dew that hung desperately from the leaves and petals of the sakura trees which had not yet fully bloomed. Tiny birds hopped from foot to foot on the thinner branches, their heads tilting curiously as they observed the two men walking along the pebbled pathway that wound through the garden.

Yamoto walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his legs coming out in front in a slow, leisurely pace that did everything but much the rapid beating of Gortu's heart. Nervously clenching and unclenching his crossed hands in front of him, Gortu's gaze remained riveted on the ground in front. The old man beside him spoke not a single word as they strode through the gardens together as if old friends. The silence did nothing to calm Gortu's nerves, but instead gave him the time to realize that he was walking next to a very important person.

After the revolution, Yamoto and a small band of future politicians had begun the process of restoring the loyalty of the people with a new government. With the majority of the population torn between tradition and something new, Yamoto and his groups of friends tried to devise some way to calm the shaky ground on which this new era had begun. If he and his friends hadn't moved as quickly as they had, the vanquished warlords displaced by the revolution would have stepped forward once again and taken back control over both the land and the people. By his guidance, Yamoto himself formed the new office of public affairs that handles so many things this day.

Of course, that was only one of many things that Yamoto did for this country. And now Gortu was in the presence of a man worshiped by the people. He didn't feel worthy...not with his past and what was happening now in the present.

As they began their second circuit of the gardens, Gortu became anxious. "Yamoto-sama..." he began slowly.

"It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?" Yamoto cutting in, tilting his head towards the clearing sky. "A proper morning for such a grand place like Japan. I helped build this country you know, put it back on its feet after such a terrible war."

Yes, Gortu was fully aware of Yamoto's accomplishments. Everyone was, including the smallest child.

Yamoto lowered his head, pausing beneath a sakura tree. "It's been so long since that terrible war ended, but I can still feel the bloods of innocents running over my hands. You didn't know that I was a fighter, did you, Gortu? In fact, I was one of the men fighting to prevent this new era from coming."

That made Gortu pause. He stared at Yamoto in shock, his brain seeming to turn to overload at this shocking revolution. "Yamoto-sama? You...you were..."

"One of the Shinsengumi, even if I was no more than a background man." The old man let out a tiny laugh. "My purpose was to either convince warlords to join with us, or kill them. Not much of a negotiation, but that was pretty much all you had to offer in those days. The men that helped me form this era were once my enemies...I hated them and they hated me as well with every fiber of their being."

Gortu shook his head in confusion. "Yamoto-sama, I don't understand...why are you telling me all of this? I have no desire to learn your past."

"Even though you're going down the same path I was?" Yamoto turned cold eyes on Gortu, "I know about your dealings with the yakuza and that friend of yours. I've known for many months now. Have you no mind, Gortu? Why would you threaten to break the peace that I've fought so hard for all these years for something as pathetic as more power?"

Gortu stiffened, his body automatically locking into defense. "If you've known for so long, then why didn't you try and put a stop to it earlier?" he glared as Yamoto turned away. "I know you could have...your sources seem well enough."

"You really don't know what you've done, do you?" Yamoto held out a finger and a tiny song bird swiftly landed on it, letting out a light chirp as it hopped from foot to foot staring up at Yamoto curiously. Yamoto watching carefully, his eyes softening as it took to flight, joining a circle of its relatives. Gortu watched Yamoto instead of the birds, wondering about the entire display.

Finally, Yamoto sighed, turning back towards the large building, his hands clasped behind his back again. Gortu quickly followed, to the side and slightly behind his superior, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What have I done, Yamoto-sama?" he questioned, "Tell me what has you acting like this..."

Yamoto paused, staring directly into Gortu's deep eyes. "Often an entire city has suffered because of the ambitions of one man. Do not seek evil gains...they are the equivalent of disaster."

Gortu blinked in surprise as Yamoto swiftly turned away and proceeded up the back steps, instantly flanked by the assistant from before. The man paused at the back door, offering a pointed glare and a short bow, before turning to follow his master inside. Gortu was left in the gardens, staring at the closed door, more confused now than he had been before.

"Do not seek evil gain?" Gortu snorted, looking away from the building, his lip curling into an annoyed sneer. "Yamoto no baka! I am doing this world a great favor through my actions. He'll see that someday..."

They all will...

Karou looked in on Kenshin's prone form, wringing her hands nervously as Megumi gathered her thing and stood up, casting a sorrowful glance down at Kenshin before she turned and approached Karou, closing the shoji door and blocking Karou's view of the suffering Kenshin. Despite the fact that she could no longer see him, Karou continued to stare at the door, as if trying to will it to open again and grant her access to her love.

Megumi silently observed Karou, her worries increasing at the quiet rage that she knew was flowing through the sword master's veins. The floorboards shook slightly in announcement of Sanouske's arrival, his walk not as firm because of his still mending injuries. Behind him came a scrambling Yahiko, skidding across the polished wood in his haste.

"Baka!" Sano snarled as Yahiko crashed into his legs, nearly sending him crashing to the ground, "Watch where you're going!"

Yahiko sat up from his position on the ground, rubbing his head, "I was watching, you were in my way you big baby!"

"You little brat!"

"Over grown monkey!"

Megumi quickly stepped forward as Sano wrapped a hand in the front of Yahiko's kimono and bodily lifted the squirming boy from the ground, fist raised in preparation of a pounding. "Enough!" she snapped firmly, grabbing Sano's hand, "I won't have you two fighting in front of my patient."

"You mean Kenshin, right?" Sano growled, jerking his hand away, "He's not just another one of your patients, he's your friend."

Megumi shook her head, "That's why doctors make mistakes when dealing with people they know. Should the worse come, I can't have the line blur between our relationship and I make a mistake. He's already suffering; I don't want to make it any worse."

Karou turned slightly from the door, looking at Megumi from the corner of her eye. "What is wrong with him, Megumi? Is he going to be blind forever?"

"I honestly don't know." Megumi said with a sigh, "From what I can tell, that poison was made from a very powerful venom base, mostly likely from a snake or a spider."

"Don't know of many poisonous snakes in Tokyo." Yahiko mumbled to himself. He looked up at the others. "Does that mean that the venom is foreign?"

"Who the hell cares?" Sano demanded, thumping his fist against the firm wooden roof supports, "Just let me find that Toorima chicken shit and I'll stuff that poison right up his---"

Karou frowned as Sano trailed off, his voice hitching in his throat. "This is all my fault..." he said softly, "If I hadn't been so stupid and got hurt, I might have been here to help..." he looked over at Karou. "I'm sorry, tanuki...I really am."

Karou merely shook her head, stepping closer to the taller man and staring up into his sorrowful eyes. "Please don't be sorry for something you couldn't control, Sanouske. Toorima took everyone by surprise, even Kenshin…right?"

Sano looked away. "Sure, tanuki…whatever you say…"

Yahiko watched the exchange impatiently, his arms crossed in front of his chest, eyes narrowed. "Who cares whose fault it is? I say we go kick his ass!"

Megumi frowned, an eyebrow arched. "Excuse me? Are you seriously contemplating leaving an injured and exposed Kenshin while we go after a man that managed to slip past us twice?"

"Well, what else are we supposed to do?" the young swordsman demanded, glaring. "If we don't go after him, won't he attack us again?"

Sano thumped Yahiko on his head, steeling the boy with a hard glare. "Don't be so stupid. Karou said she injured him too, right? That means he'll have to recover his strength as well before he can do anything. We'll wait here, help Kenshin recovery and then…" Sano slammed his fist into the open palm of his hand, "Then, Yahiko, we go and kick his ass!" Yahiko cheered enthusiastically as the two began to plot.

Megumi sighed, locking gazes with Karou and projecting the same thought. Men…

A low moan drifted from Kenshin's room, causing the group to fall silent. Karou quickly made her way towards the shoji door, pausing as Megumi stepped in front of her, stopping the insistent girl with a hard stare. Karou glared back in a silent order for the doctor to move.

"Comfort him." Megumi whispered, never cowering from the glare, "Try not to say anything about Toorima or his eyes. At this point, Kenshin's pain is more mental than physical; he doesn't need to be reminded of his handicap. Understand?"

Karou lowered her eyes. "I understand."

Nodding, Megumi moved aside, granting Karou access to her patient. Sano resisted the urge to follow, aided greatly by the dangerous scowl that appeared on Megumi's face. Holding up his hands in defeat, Sano leaned against the roof support, crossing his arms and watching as Karou knelt down next to Kenshin. Yahiko joined him, crouching down just outside of the door, giving the two lovers inside just enough space for the privacy he knew they wanted.

Karou knelt next to Kenshin, smoothing his sweat soaked bangs from his forehead. Her fingers trailed down from his forehead to his cheek, her thumb gently caressing the burning flesh. Kenshin lay before her, his boiled eyes wrapped in a medicine soaked cloth that bathed his eyes in a soothing liquid designed to ease his pain. Megumi's professional hands had also cared for his leg, the calf sown up and wrapped in tight bandages. She'd blatantly refused to allow Megumi to treat her wounds, knowing they weren't nearly as threatening as Kenshin's were.

Kenshin's face slowly turned into her hand, his lips pressing a small kiss against them. Smiling gently, Karou leaned closer to him. "How are you feeling, Kenshin?"

The ex-hitokiri smiled against her hand. "I'm feeling well, that I am, Karou-dono. And you? You're not hurt too bad are you?"

"Nothing that will take more than a day to heal." Her smile fell slightly at the sight of his wrapped face. "Sano and Yahiko are outside."

Kenshin chuckled lightly, "I know. I heard them, that I did…very loud those two."

Karou also forced a laugh, her hand continuing to move. The silence stretched between them, until Kenshin finally spoke. "Don't go after Toorima…don't even try, Karou-dono."

Karou blinked. "But, Kenshin, I…"

"I know what you are thinking, that I do…" He frowned, "You want to find him, even after everyone agreed they would not. Don't do it…don't let Sano either."

Karou glanced over that the group staring curiously into the room. Sano had a look in his eyes that confirmed Kenshin's observations. When their eyes caught, Sano looked away guiltily. Kenshin's hand came from beneath the sheets to grab at Karou's stroking hand.

"Wait for me…" he whispered, "Wait for me and we will finish this together."

"Kenshin…"

His hand tightened. "He threatened you…injured you. And that is unacceptable, that it is. But having you hurt or…or killed for my sake is even more condemning."

Karou shook her head. "But Kenshin…you don't have your sword, Toorima does. How you fight him when the time comes?"

Kenshin's face settled in to hard determination. "Even if it does cost me my life, the threat of Toorima will end. If that means I fight him with my bare hands so be it." He hand came up to Karou's face. "But until then, Karou-dono, stay. Stay with me…onegai…"

Karou closed her eyes, her own hand coming up to cover Kenshin's as she nodded. I will stay Kenshin…I will stay with you. She looked at Sano out of the corner of her eye, his firm nod mirroring her thoughts. But, if I must fight…I will. I will fight to protect the man I love.

Whew! Ok then, nearly a month has gone by since I've updated, and I hope I have not displeased. I screwed up my hard drive when I tried to install a new one, which is why I haven't updated in forever. Please forgive me. Anyways, I hope you guys didn't think I've given up on this one. You know, I've noticed something…action chapters I have no problem with. But these more, I dunno, 'political' chapters, kill me. Am I the only one who gets writer's block like that?

Thanks for all of your reviews! WATCH OUT FOR MY NEXT CHAPTER!