Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin…just Taeya, Hitomi, and Nukasa. Oh, and maybe another character or two that I might put in here later on, maybe during the last 3 or 4 chapters. Speaking of endings…I do have the ending of this story all figured out and everything but, like I said, I want your opinions too. If you have an idea please tell me. I will reveal my ending but not at this moment I think I'm going to wait 'til I put up chapter 6 I think. . Thank you so much for those who reviewed! You don't know how much I appreciate it!
Chapter 4"Akira meru Taeya-san, there are too many of us."
"Hanasa…while you still have the chance Hitomi," she said with her voice as cold as ice.
"You are in no position to threaten me Taeya-san."
"Talk all you want Hitomi…but it won't do you any good," said Taeya calmly.
"Grrr…" Hitomi turned around and stabbed Taeya's partner through the back.
"Ikenai! Oh kami-sama…Kusemai!"
"Gaah!" Taeya sat up as sweat dripped slowly from her forehead. "A-another nightmare……why-why wont they leave me alone? Mhm…Kusemai…I'm so sorry. Onegai…forgive me for not saving you." Taeya began to cry softly at the painful memory of the death of one of the few people she could trust and call friend. She cried herself to sleep as she laid back down on her futon. 'The person that attacked me…could it have been…' she never finished her thought as she fell to sleep again.
Taeya awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside of her window, her eyes slowly opened as they adjusted to the light. She quickly stood up and folded her futon, then changed. She stepped out of her room and stopped when she noticed that the door to Sano's room was open. She slowly walked over to the door and peered inside to find that Sanosuke wasn't there. She frowned slightly in disappointment, 'Where could that ahou be up to this early in the morning?' She closed his door behind her and ran onto Yahiko. "Yahiko, what are you doing here?"
"You're looking for Sanosuke, aren't you? Well, you can stop looking 'cause he's not here. I saw him around 5:30 this morning and he said he had to be somewhere. He did tell me to tell you that he would be back in a couple of days and not to worry bout him." Yahiko looked up at Taeya's expression, "Hay, don't worry alright? He said that he would be back and Sano isn't one to break any promises."
"Arigatou Yahiko-chan. Do you know where he went?"
"Nah, he didn't tell me…but he had some sort of not in his hands. Maybe Katsu or one of his friends wanted to meet him somewhere to gamble or something like that."
"Yeah…maybe. Is Himura in the back?" she asked as she turned away from the door.
"Hai, he's making breakfast."
"Arigatou. Yahiko…could you tell me when Sano comes back?"
"Sure." Yahiko watched as Taeya walked out the door. 'Why did Sano decide to leave? Does it have to do with the letter I saw in his hands…or with Taeya?'
Taeya walked down the dojo's hall with her head bowed low in thought as she looked for Kenshin and saw him in the kitchen chopping some vegetables. She looked up at him in a confused manner, "Himura…did you see Sano this morning?"
"Oro, Sano? Iie, I haven't…I thought he was still sleeping," he said as he continued to chop the vegetables.
"Yahiko said that he saw him leaving at 5:30 in the morning with a letter in his hands."
"Gomen nasai Taeya-dono…but I didn't see anything last night that I didn't. Sano probably just went with his friends somewhere that he did."
"…Iie. I don't think so Himura. Yahiko said that Sano told him he'd be back in a couple of days. However, that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about. Himura…I had a nightmare last night, a memory of the past. One…I guess…that I chose to forget 'cause I didn't even remember anything that happened that night. Himura…do you remember Hitomi?"
"Hitomi? Was she not am Imperialist?"
"Hai…she was my partner until she betrayed me and sided with the enemy. Himura…do you think that Hitomi was behind the attack?"
"Did you do something to her after she betrayed you Taeya-dono?"
"I-I don't remember if I did or didn't but something tell me that I did. I just can't remember what it was."
"Taeya-dono…what happened the night after you killed the Sekihotai?"
Taeya sat down on the floor as she closed the door.
"Himura, after that night…I wasn't the same little girl use to be…I changed. For some reason I was darker…more empty inside. I had no regrets when I killed people on the battlefield…I don't even think I flinched when their blood splashed on me. That night…I lost a part of me and…later…I couldn't remember who I really was. It was around that time that the imperialists gave me my partners: Hitomi and Kusemai. We became close friends after a short while and…I became willing to risk my life for them. Kusemai and I were inseparable…we were always together wherever we went. Hitomi for some reason kept her distance from me…I guess she was little upset that I was better than she was. We were given orders to escort a man named Nukasa Newen; that's all the information that they gave us. We were to take him to the main imperialist headquarters, however…Hitomi had other plans. She betrayed Kusemai and I, she made a deal with Nukasa. That was all I remembered of what happened. After that night…bits and pieces of my memories faded away and there are certain things that I cannot remember no matter how hard I try to."
Taeya hugged her knees to her chest and buried her head in between her knees as the tears she had held back threatened to spill over. Kenshin walked over to Taeya and slowly bent down as he embraced her in a friendly hug to try and comfort her. Taeya began to sob as she tried her best to stop the tears from rolling own her cheeks. For several minutes Taeya and Kenshin sat quietly on the floor as Taeya tried to recompose herself. "Taeya-dono…forgive me for not trying to find you after that night in Shimosuwa. I always thought that you might have needed my help but I thought that you could handle whatever troubles you would encounter. Gomen nasai Taeya-dono."
"Iie…it wasn't your fault…it was mine. I am sorry for troubling you with my own problems…you don't deserve this." Taeya stood up and flashed a cheerful smile as she wiped away the last of her tears. "Gomen for taking you away from your cooking. Tell Kaoru that if she needs anything I'll be in the dojo training myself, okay?"
"Sure thing Taeya-dono." Kenshin watched silently as Taeya's smile vanished, she walked out the kitchen door, and headed for the dojo's training hall. 'Taeya-dono…she is thinking of leaving us,' thought Kenshin as he resumed cutting the vegetables.
In the training hall Taeya worked up a tremendous sweat as she hurled herself into her swift ninja fighting sequences throwing strong punches and side kicks. 'Why?' She punched the air four times then ducked and jumped high into the air as she did a roundhouse kick at her invisible adversary. 'Why? Why did he leave?' When Taeya landed her feet she felt like she was weak, she faltered and almost fell to the floor but caught herself with her right hand. She was breathing hard and she decided to stop. She slowly sat down cross-legged on the floor next to the door.
"Taeya-san…are you okay? Kenshin told me about Sanosuke…gomen nasai," Kaoru said with concern clear on her face. Kaoru walked up to Taeya and sat down next to her, "Are you okay?"
Taeya took in a deep breath and looked over at Kaoru with a small smile on her face as she tried to speak without her tears spilling over again like they did when she was talking to Kenshin about her situation. She exhaled slowly and looked at Kaoru through saddened green eyes as she spoke up, "Daijoubo Kaoru-san, I'm just a little…confused…and…hurt and tired…all at the same time. I wish Sano had told me where it was that he was going so early in the morning…you know?"
"Hai, I do understand. You'll be…okay? I'll be around if you need anything…but right now I need to go and give some lessons to the children that don't come to the dojo. Kenshin and Yahiko when to the store to by some rice because we ran out of it last night but they will be back in a little while. Make yourself at home Taeya-san," said Kaoru sweetly as she stood up and left, leaving Taeya to herself once more in the dojo's training hall.
Taeya took another deep breath as she slowly stood up; she walked out of the dojo then suddenly stopped in her tracks as she laid her eyes on someone she never wanted to see again. Taeya's hidden anger shot out instantly as she stared into black eyes that showed no emotion. "Hitomi…what are you doing here? You actually have the nerve to show your face to me after you killed Kusemai? He was your friend long before the two of you met me…is that what you do to all of your friends Hitomi?"
The girl standing in the middle of the dojo's yard neither said anything or moved the slightest inch, she just continued to stare at Taeya with a serious expression. Taeya fisted her hands by her side and loudly growled as she spat at Hitomi, 'What are you doing here? Don't you dare tell me that after all these years you want to tell me that your are deeply sorry Hitomi. You killed one of the very few people I trusted, you betrayed my trust, and you left me for dead when you could have just left."
Hitomi moved forward a step and spoke up in the softest tone, you'd almost think she was and innocent little girl. "How do you know if anything you just said to me is true Taeya? You don't remember what really happened that night, do you?"
"W-What are you talking about? You and Nukasa ganged up on me and left me to die near the river while you escaped with him," she growled out.
"Do you honestly believe that to be the truth of what happened that night or did you just go ahead and fill in the blanks of the night in your mind?"
Taeya blinked a few times before she sighed in defeat and stubbornly crossed her hands above her chest, "Alright…I'm listening."
Hitomi nodded slowly as she began to speak, "That night…Nukasa told me that if I didn't help him escape he would kill you and every one that I cared about. I-I didn't know what else to do…so I did what he told me to do. I didn't want to kill Kusemai but I had no choice. Nukasa fought against you thinking that he would kill you in no time but later found out that you weren't as easy to kill than you looked. I jumped in and helped hi fight against you until I noticed that you were beginning to waver and the power of your sword wasn't consistent to the others…I knocked you out and convinced Nukasa to leave you alive. I decided to leave your body by the river and we left. Gomen Taeya-san, gomen nasai."
Taeya nodded slowly and looked up at Hitomi, "Promise that it really went down like that? You are not lying to me?"
"Iie, I'm not lying to you Taeya…you have got to trust me," she said in a soft pleading voice. When Taeya did not answer she took another few feet toward Taeya but Taeya remained where she stood. A small breeze picked up but died instantly when Taeya opened her mouth to speak.
"Hitomi…" she breathed as she lowered her head.
Hitomi walked up to Taeya and placed her hands on her shoulders as she spoke, "Taeya-san?"
Taeya slowly shook her head, smiled weakly, and then slowly stepped away from Hitomi's touch. Taeya looked up at Hitomi with somber eyes but her voice never faltered. "Hitomi…I want to believe what you just said but…I am afraid that I simply can't," Taeya looked up to see Hitomi's hurt expression but continued to speak. "You have got to understand just how badly I want to believe what you just said. but my heart and everything inside of me is screaming and telling me that it's not true. Gomen nasai."
Hitomi slowly nodded and looked up into Taeya's eyes. "Daijoubo, I understand what you mean, however, Taeya-san…I am your only true friend. If you want to say that I am wrong then why are you here all by yourself? Why didn't any of your friends ask you to go with them?"
"They did ask…I said that I was fine here."
"Sure they did…Taeya…I know you better than that. Oh, so…uh…tell me about that cute, spiky haired guy of yours."
"Leave him out of this! That's none of your damn business," snapped Taeya as her angered flared.
"Touchy on that subject aren't we? You know, you always did have a bad temper…"
"And an even shorter patience if I recall," Taeya added quickly, reminding Hitomi which of the two was stronger. "Why did you bring him up?" she asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"So your boyfriend didn't tell you were it is that he went to? Well then the two of you are not as close as I thought you were…but then again you were never that…friendly…with the men now were you?"
"Unlike you I am not a whore. Keep it to the subject will you? Where did he go?"
"…Don't know."
"Don't play around with me Hitomi! You better tell me where he is…and now!"
"Like I said…I don't know."
"Don't-lie-to-me," she said through gritted teeth.
"Ha-ha…" giggled Hitomi.
Taeya closed the distance between herself and Hitomi like a lioness chasing her prey an looked at her through angry slits ready to kill as her hands grabbed her shirt's collar. "Know what you said 'bout my temper? Well guess what.you haven't seen my real temper! Tell me where Sano is!"
"I told you…I don't know! Nukasa sent him that letter and then he sent me to make sure he got it. I didn't read what it said."
"Nukasa Newen? Why Sano…why not me?"
"Nukasa didn't tell me," she said in a trembling voice as she looked into murderous emerald eyes.
"Where is he from and I know that Nukasa told you why he wanted Sanosuke and not me…so tell me," Taeya said venomously.
"Well maybe if you…loosened your grip on my throat… I could talk."
"No can do Hitomi. See you and Nukasa…you made one mistake…you involved the people that I care about. Oh, and as for my grip on your neck…deal with it," she spat angrily.
"Alright," cried Hitomi as she began to answer Taeya's questions. "Nukasa was a member Oniwabanshu but they kicked him and his followers out because they enjoyed the taste of blood too much, all they did was kill people. He wants revenge against the Oniwabanshu and you."
"Me? What did I ever do to that guy?"
"You were the one who captured him in the first place, remember? The Imperialists found him becoming a threat and put out a notice and some reward money. He wants to make you pay and as for your rooster headed boyfriend…I honestly don't know what's the deal with him."
"Well…we are going o change that now aren't we Hitomi? Where is Nukasa hiding a-" Taeya let go of Hitomi's neck and flipped into the air landing softly on her toes when she landed a couple of feet from where she stood a few seconds ago. Hitomi was no longer there, in her place were two arrows pierced into the dirt. "Damn," she muttered under her breath as she stood up and walked back into the kitchen.
'Where did Sano run off to?' she grabbed a cookie and stuffed it into her mouth as she walked out the kitchen and to the front of the yard where she found Kenshin and Yahiko returning from the store.
"Hey Taeya-san…can you teach me some more of your moves?" asked Yahiko as he sprinted over to her and looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Maybe some other time Yahiko. I need to talk with Himura-san for a sec…alright?"
"Yeah okay," said Yahiko as he took the bag of rice from Kenshin and walked to the kitchen.
Kenshin looked at Taeya with an expression she couldn't quiet make out. "Taeya-dono…are you alright? Nothing happened while this one was away, ne?"
"An…old friend…stopped by and was kind enough to inform me who it is that tried to kill me. Himura…I need your help."
"Tell me what it is that you need from me Taeya-dono."
"I'm not going to ask you to come with me…I think you should stay out of this one Himura. I wouldn't want Kaoru to be worried over you because of my problems. Demo…I just need some information about the Oniwabanshu."
"The Oniwabanshu? I don't see how they fit into your problem Taeya-dono."
"I know you don't Himura and that's the point. Listen…do they still live at the Aoiya in Kyoto?"
"Hai, Aoshi-san and Misao-dono run the Oniwabanshu now and Misao-dono is the okashira that she is."
"Arigatou gozimasu Himura. If Sanosuke comes back and asks for me…tell him…tell him that I wont be coming back," said Taeya softly.
"You won't be coming back? Taeya-dono…what is wrong?"
"Nothing I can't handle I just…I just don't want to get you guys involved."
"Taeya-dono…do you know the Oniwabanshu? Is that why you are going to them for help?"
"Hai…they are the only ones who can help me at this point Himura. Onegai, don't try to stop my leaving the dojo."
"I won't, just promise that you will be careful in your journey to Kyoto," said Kenshin as he hugged her softly.
"Arigato Himura," she said as she returned the hug and then walked back inside the dojo to pack her weapons. She came out minutes later in her ninja outfit, she had a pair of sais strapped to her thighs, a dagger on the inside of her shoe, a sword on both her hips, and a dozen kunai in her obi and gloves. She looked up and saw Kaoru and Yahiko waiting for her near the dojo's gate along with Kenshin.
She walked up to them and looked at her friends as she smiled, "Sayonara minna." Kaoru hugged her tightly as tears glistened in her soft ocean blue eyes. Yahiko smiled and slightly hugged his new friend. Kenshin hugged Taeya one last time and watched her open the gate and walk slowly through it.
As soon as both of Taeya's feet hit the green grass she began to run into the forest, not wanting to look back at the friends she was leaving behind because she knew of she looked back, even for a moment, she wouldn't want to leave them behind.
I'm so sorry for the VERY long time that you had to wait for this but i had family problems all week and it really got me down and depressed. I'm really srry...but this chapter is up so maybe i'll get some reviews to cheer me up? .