Chapter Four: Shura vs. Kenshin/Sano Meets His Match!
"So OUTTA MY WAY, SAITOU! I'm goin' to Kyoto! I'll show Kenshin what a 'weakness' I am--I'll show him with my FISTS!" -Sagara Sanosuke, Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 8
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Sanosuke moaned in his sleep, the soft noise of heavy footsteps echoing like thunder in his aching head.
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Shifting slightly, Sanosuke found that the floor was hard and lumpy, not to mention it was moving beneath him. He groaned again, not bearing to open his eyes.
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The footsteps gradually slowed, until they stopped altogether. Sanosuke felt himself being lifted into the air; he dangled limply in the person's huge hands. He didn't care what happened to him now. He had been sleeping for what had felt like days, before someone had picked him up.
Sanosuke dared to open his eyes in midair. He immediately squeezed them shut again, feeling dizzy; but not before checking his surroundings and finding that Anji was the one carrying him. Normally, Sanosuke would have been ashamed of this, but his pride had sunk into the floorboards at his house, along with his tears.
Obviously, once the soldiers were gone; Anji had picked Sano up from the floor, slung the lanky young man over his shoulder, and crawled out of the basement. Anji had somehow made it through the city, and escaped to the outside with Sanosuke. They were now in the middle of a forest.
Sanosuke had no idea of how Anji got out of the city unnoticed, but he didn't really care. He was in the depths of misery, and couldn't care less even if someone had shaved off all of his hair and drew a smiley face on his forehead with pink permanent marker.
Of course, no one did anything of the sort.
Anji set the near to lifeless boy on the ground, dismayed at Sano's unresponsive state. Sanosuke stared blankly up at the tree branches above, unblinking.
Anji started a small campfire, tending it with a small stick. Sanosuke wasn't even conscious of the heat emanating from the fire; he was drowning in his own grief. I couldn't save them, he thought again and again. They're gone now, and I'll never see them again. Never. It's all my fault. I didn't do anything.
"I'm disappointed in you, Sanosuke."
Sanosuke blinked, suddenly conscious of Anji's deep voice. "Uh?" he stammered, his voice hoarse from screaming and crying.
"I said, I'm disappointed in you." Anji gave him a serious look. "Even when I got you out, you didn't go after them. You didn't run after the soldiers to retrieve your family. Instead, you shut down in your own sorrow and let them go."
Anger blossomed in Sanosuke's heart, and he began to tremble in renewed rage. Sitting up angrily, Sano felt his infuriation flood from his lips in the form of words. "You--you bastard! WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP ME? I WOULD HAVE STOPPED THEM AND SAVED THEM IF YOU HAD HELPED ME! IT'S NOT MY FAULT I WAS TOO DAMNED SHORT TO JUMP UP THAT HIGH, YOU EVIL MONSTER! IT'S YOUR FAULT THIS HAPPENED!"
"Is it?" Anji said softly, poking the embers with his stick. "I simply kept you from getting yourself killed. If I had let you go prematurely, you would have been shot without hesitation. However, if you had kept your head, we would have been able to sneak up on the soldiers from behind using the element of surprise, and take the children. But you were too incoherent to listen to me. Even when I tried to wake you, you were too busy sobbing and mumbling to yourself like a half-wit that you were completely unconscious of my words. You even tried to kill yourself, if you don't remember."
Anji looked up to meet Sanosuke's angry brown eyes. "And now, here we are. Outlaws, the both of us."
Sanosuke's enraged expression melted into one of utter shame. Covering his eyes with the back of his hand, Sanosuke let out a ragged sigh. "You…You're right, A-Anji…it's my fault…" Pulling his palm away, Sanosuke watched it crunch into a fist. "After all my effort to protect them, I was still…such a stupid kid…"
"And that's what happens when a boy tries to be the man he is not," Anji said, closing his eyes.
Sanosuke said nothing. He knew Anji was right. "C-Can we go back?" he asked, biting his lip hopefully.
"No," Anji replied.
"W-Why?" Sanosuke said, almost shrilly.
Anji blinked, replying, "Because you're going to help me overtake Shishio."
"WHAT?" Sano shouted, on the verge of hysterics. "WHAT--me--who--what--when--why--WHAT THE HECK MADE YOU THINK THAT?"
Anji remained expressionless. "Because I can help you gain the power to avenge your father and save those children."
That caught Sanosuke's attention. He paused, considering it. What do I have to lose? Sanosuke thought tiredly, and nodded. "Alright, Anji. You win."
"Good. Then so do you," Anji said mysteriously.
Sanosuke drew in a deep breath, and asked, "What strength do you plan on giving me?"
"Teaching, not giving." Anji corrected him, and then held up a fist. Sanosuke tensed, but then realized that Anji wasn't threatening him. Sanosuke watched curiously as Anji moved his fingers into a half-closed fist, and slammed it into a nearby, huge tree. As Anji's knuckles made contact with the bark, he closed his fist entirely in a motion so swift Sano barely caught it.
The tree shook, blasting into halves. The upper half of the tree fell backwards, landing with earth-shaking force.
Sanosuke gaped, astounded. "W-What was that!" he exclaimed.
Anji looked at him again with those intimidating onyx eyes. "The Futae No Kiwami."
-
"SIR KEN!"
Kenshin nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the terrified cry of Megumi. He spun around just in time for the lady doctor to jump into his arms in fright.
"Oro?" Kenshin said, before he could stop himself. "What is wrong, Miss Megumi?"
"S-Sir Ken…a snake."
Kenshin looked down, finding a small, eight-inch garden snake was moseying its way across the path Kenshin had been clearing for Megumi. Kenshin's eyes grew to tiny, aggravated dots, and he put Megumi on her feet once the snake had gone.
They had been traveling for a day together; Megumi wearing her cleaned clothes, and free of the smell of smoke. Her ivory skin was free of ashes and the blemishes they had left, and she was perfectly healthy again.
From the moment since Megumi had returned from the river, she had stuck to Kenshin like glue.
"Arigatou, Sir Ken," Megumi said, smiling happily. Already, she found herself deeply attached to the unbeatable wanderer. Just having him around soothed her grief for her village; she knew Kenshin would protect her. Just like he had from the T.S.C. and the garden snake.
Nodding, Kenshin once more began to walk on through the forest. Though Megumi was indeed, an interesting character, Kenshin found it difficult to keep his patience around her.
"Where are we going, Sir Ken?" asked Megumi.
Kenshin replied, "There should be a village or a town within a day's journey ahead. We'll stay there for a bit, and decide what to do with you. They might have a place for you to stay, de gozaru yo."
Megumi felt her heart drop. Of course, I can't stay with him, she scolded herself mentally. Sir Ken has far more important things to do than to baby-sit the likes of you, Megumi.
Kenshin sighed softly again, slicing a large plant out of the way. He continued, hacking the path for Megumi, well aware that he was making it perfectly clear to villains and demons that humans were abroad. All's they'd have to do is follow the path Kenshin had been making, right up to them.
Of course, Kenshin wasn't worried about his safety. He could manage himself easily. It was Megumi that Kenshin was concerned for-the lady doctor had no weapon, and seemed to know near to nothing about battle.
Kenshin came upon a large, thick vine. With a simple stroke of his blade, Kenshin sliced the vine in half. The upper half slipped upwards, and the panicked rustling of leaves echoed in the treetops.
Freezing, Kenshin looked up furiously. That is not normal, he thought. What could--?
"Sir Ken?" came Megumi's nervous voice. "What's wrong?"
Kenshin paused before replying, but before he could make a complete word, a net dropped from above, trapping both the wanderer and the doctor.
Megumi screamed, trying to wriggle free of the net. Kenshin growled in irritation--of course, it had to be trap! Fumbling to gain control of his sword, Kenshin sliced at the mesh, only to find that he had aimed poorly. Only a small, insignificant slit was made. There was no way he could escape from that.
Trying again, Kenshin freed himself and leapt from the entanglement.
Upon seeing him do so, Megumi yelped, "Sir Ken! Help me!" When Kenshin turned and gave her a blank look, the terrifying idea that he was going to leave her there came to Megumi. But then she turned, and saw what he was looking at.
People were coming from the woods. Megumi looked closer, finding that they were dressed to blend in with the forestry; most were tall and well-built, carrying spears or bows. At least forty of them had surrounded Megumi and Kenshin within thirty seconds. They all were smirking.
Their leader, a short woman with forest-green hair and onyx eyes, held a link of battle nunchakus in her left hand. "Well," she said in an authoritative voice. "Who are you? A half-bitten samurai and a worn-out village girl, it looks like."
Megumi's features were contorted in fear, but Kenshin's expression was completely unafraid.
"What's the matter?" the Amazon lady asked him, giving her nunchakus a little twist. "Not to be rude, but it almost seems like you don't know who we are."
Kenshin lifted his chin slightly. "No," he said in a clear voice. "And I have no intention of getting to know you any better. If you'll excuse me, I must untie Miss Megumi and continue on our way."
Chuckles rifted through forest; apparently, the forest-dwellers thought Kenshin's heroism was foolish.
With a flick of her fingers, the leader silently ordered two men to march up. They tied the ends of the net together, trapping Megumi inside.
Kenshin made to lunge, but the leader declared, "They are the Kairyuu, the pirates of the wood! And I am their leader, Shura."
Megumi screamed in protest as the men began to drag her off. "And," Shura finished. "We will now be taking our leave, samurai. We have no use for wanderers."
"Stop!" cried Kenshin, as the pirates turned to leave. "You cannot take her like that. I won't allow it," he added, brandishing his sword.
Shura smiled softly, eyes sparking with interest. "Will you fight me, then? Fight for your lady, samurai?" Shura's smile disappeared, and she warned Kenshin, "I admire your loyalty and kindness, but the samurai are dead. And you will be, too, if you don't mind your own business."
Kenshin glared at the pirates--mainly Shura--and said, "Let her go, or I'll kill you all."
Megumi's eyes widened at the frightening tone of voice Kenshin maintained, and the sharp angles of his eyes. His flaming hair and his gleaming sword, combined with his dark attire and yellow-flecked eyes added to his awesome figure.
Shura was annoyed. How could he just brush her and her pirates off like common thieves? Tossing off her leaf-sown cape, she grinned as she began to swing her nunchakus. Stepping into the clearing, a good ten feet from Kenshin, she said loudly, "Then why don't you try, pretty boy?"
A pang of irritation shot through Kenshin. Pretty boy? Excuse me? Kenshin thought in shock. Despite his exasperation with this prideful woman, Kenshin kept expressionless. He simply narrowed his eyes as an outward reaction.
"If you insist. But if I win, instead of killing you; you must return Miss Megumi and leave without any sort of trouble. Agreed?" Kenshin asked firmly.
Shura shrugged. "As you wish, but if you lose...you come with us." she replied, and then took a stunning leap into the air. Kenshin followed her with his eyes, easily dodging the slamming attack she brought, and took a leap of his own when Shura turned about in a swift kick.
Kenshin disappeared into the treetops. Shura looked about furiously, and shouted, "Come out, samurai! You can't hide fore--"
"Hiten Mitsurugi Style…" came a haunting whisper, that seemed to come from all directions at once.
There were mutters among the men of the Kairyuu Forest Pirates. "The legendary style of the angels? Could it be?"
Kenshin appeared in a flicker just behind Shura. The pirate flung around to block him, but failed. Shot backwards by a stupendous blow, Shura tumbled across the clearing with a cry.
The other pirates gasped. This simple samurai had tossed their leader, with a single attack!
Shura got to her feet again, looking embarrassed but enraged. With a cry, she charged at Kenshin, swinging her nunchakus in all sorts of formations. Kenshin watched her carefully, keeping an eye on her weapon and another on where Shura's gray orbs flickered.
"URAAAH!" Shura roared, making her attack. Kenshin flickered with movement just as her nunchakus were about to connect with his temple, and disappeared. Shura looked down, too late, to discover he dodged downwards. He gave a shout of his own, and with that, Kenshin slammed the hilt of his sword into Shura's abdomen.
Time froze, and Shura immediately slumped over Kenshin's shoulder in a faint. The warrior stood, withdrawing his sword. Adjusting Shura's weight, Kenshin shouted, "One of you bring forth Miss Megumi, and I will return Miss Shura to you without harm or trick."
There was a silence, as the Forest pirates gaped at the noble wanderer. This was unexpected, and none of them quite knew how to react. Without Shura, they were a typical band of miscreants masquerading as expert thieves. It was a common act taken by many who wished to be feared.
Finally, with a nervous twitch, one man unbound Megumi from the net. Taking her wrist firmly, but strangely not unkindly, he walked her to Kenshin. The man was about eighteen, and looked genuinely frightened when he came near to the wandering swordsman.
And yet, the pirate seemed even more afraid for Shura. He looked at her with worry, and Kenshin felt a pang of admiration for the young and loyal soldier. Bowing slightly, the pirate said to Kenshin, "Here's your maiden. Please return Shura-sama to us, as you said you would."
Kenshin nodded, but when he turned to lift Shura from his shoulder, he was surprised when Shura attacked suddenly. The blow struck him on the back of the head; as it turned out, Shura had elbowed him viciously when she had suddenly regained consciousness.
The young man gasped in surprise as Kenshin fell forwards into a faint, and Megumi cried out in horror. Shura maintained her balance, looking even angrier than before. She kicked the comatose Kenshin in the side, barking, "That unspeakable excuse for a warrior! He--he tricked me, didn't you see?"
Shura turned to her followers, who nodded. They surely didn't want to believe Shura had lost like so, so they believed what she said. It was certainly more pleasant.
"Well...we'll keep our deal, at least." she barked at the young man holding Megumi. "Let her go. I don't want anything to do with her--but take the swordsman. Bring him back to camp, where I can kill him!"
The young man nodded nervously, glancing at Megumi before bending down to pick up Kenshin. The wanderer hung limply in the man's arms, helpless. Shura took Kenshin's sword, and nodded.
"No!" Megumi stammered, standing in front of Shura and the adolescent in attempt to stop them. "I-I can't let you take him l-like that! Sir Ken didn't do anything wrong, and he didn't tri-"
Shura shut the lady doctor up with a glare. Megumi's mouth shut immediately, surprised at the warrior's aura the shone so bright from Shura's eyes. But, oddly enough, in those eyes was a sort of fear and shame.
She's doing this because she doesn't want the Kairyuu to think she's weak! Megumi realized. If the Kairyuu knew she lost like that fair and square, they'd mutiny for a new leader. But Shura seems to think she's best choice for leader right now, from the way she acts and the other men seem...so she's using Kenshin as a scapegoat!
"I'm being nice by letting you go free," Shura spat with venom, though to Megumi her tone seemed almost hollow. Megumi felt her anger spike, even so.
Megumi shot back, feeling her tongue sharpen, "You have no business treating Kenshin and I this way! I'm Takani Megumi of the lineage of Takani Ryusei, and Kenshin…Kenshin's a far better warrior than anyone of you! When he wakes up, I bet you my sandals that he'll beat every one of you into the dust with his katana! Kenshin--"
Shura growled angrily. "You know what?" the forest pirate snarled, "I am sick of your stupid chatter, and I'm not feeling so well disposed towards you anymore. So I'll let my men have their way with you--rot for all I care."
And with that, Shura walked right past Megumi and began leading the majority of her soldiers away, Kenshin dragged along. However, hearing Shura's last comment, a few of them stayed behind.
Seeing the looks on their faces, Megumi abandoned her hope of saving Kenshin, and took off into the forest. Tears of self-hatred and fear gathered again, when she heard heavy but experienced footsteps in her pursuit. Megumi doubled her pace.
Oh…Kami-sama! she prayed, her breathing becoming irregular as her legs began to feel like lead. I know I haven't been the best to You, but please…oh please, don't let them hurt me! I don't care what You do to save me--help me find a town, or a good place to hide where they can't find me, or send an angel--!
THUD.
Megumi fell backwards with a cry as she ran right into something hard. Landing on her back, Megumi looked up into the face of a very surprised young man, bare-chested and covered in sweat. A mane of spiky brunette hair, some of which hung messily in his eyes, swayed when he moved, like the flimsy feathers of a rooster.
He looked just a surprised as Megumi did.
"Ah…" Megumi hesitated. The man certainly didn't look like a heavenly messenger--more like a bar-brawling thug. The sound of Megumi's pursuers reached her ears again, and she stood and threw herself at the boy, crying out, "Please, help me! I'm being chased by evil men--"
"There you are!" came an unfriendly snarl from behind Megumi. She turned her head slightly to find that the Forest pirates had caught up. They looked irritated that she had run, but pleased that they had at last caught up.
Megumi's savior seemed a bit unsure. "I don't know exactly what's going on, but I don't think the lady wants your company too much. Maybe you guys should take off before this gets worse, ne?" he said casually.
The lady doctor looked up at the young man nervously, wondering if Kami had indeed sent the right person. He could end up being even more dangerous than those pirates, Megumi thought, frightened.
"You punk!" one of the men yowled. "Just what are you doing in Lady Shura's forest, anyways? We should drive you out!" With that, the soldier wrenched his spear into battle position, threatening to attack.
Megumi tensed, afraid. The young man she was clinging to looked down at her, unsure of what to say to make her stop clutching him so darn hard. The circulation in his forearms was going to die completely if he didn't do something.
So, instead of speaking, the boy pulled Megumi from him and replaced her at his right. "You wanna fight? I'm in a badass mood right now, so bring it," he said, pulling his lip back into an intimidating sneer.
The pirates hesitated. "If we don't hurry back, Miss Shura will close the gates of the town without us," one muttered. "We were supposed to grab the girl and get back."
"Look, boy," one spoke up. "Hand over the woman and be done with it. She's nothing to you, and belongs to us anyways."
"Oh?" the fighter said.
"Yeah," the pirate replied, seemingly sure he was lying perfectly. "She's a geisha at our nearby village, and tried to run away when she was supposed to entertain our men."
"If these rest of you guys look anything like you three, I don't blame her," the man snapped back, looking disgusted.
Megumi was outraged. "I am NOT an entertainer!" she barked furiously, before the pirates could react to the man's taunt. "I am NOT a geisha and don't want ANYTHING to do with you! If you don't leave me alone this instant, I'll--I'll get Rufus here to pummel you!"
Rufus? wondered the young man, until he realized Megumi was talking about him. Looking himself over discreetly, he thought in irritation, Do I look like a Rufus!
The pirates snorted. "You don't even know who he is."
"I do, too!" Megumi cried stubbornly. "His name's Rufus, and he was the son of a friend of my fathers, who was the landlord of a fishing village. I haven't seen him in years, since my father died. We were the best of friends, right, Roofie?"
She gave the poor boy a sweet smile, and he sweat-dropped, but decided to play along. "Y-Yeah," he said, and stole a glance at the pirates. They stared at them, waiting for a chance to declare them liars. "Best friends!" he added in the best cheerful voice he could manage.
Megumi hugged his arm adoringly, grinning at the pirates. "Yes," she said, really beginning to layer on the lies. "Ooh, do you remember the time when Daddy took us to the festival in the Main City, Roofie? All the pretty lights and decorations! Or when your mother made those lovely sweet cakes and gave them to us to pass out? And people kept saying of how cute I was?"
'Roofie' had the deep urge to strangle the woman next to him, but he was pretty sure the act was going to sink to the sewers anyways. So he said, "Or the time when ya fell off the fence, and your kimono flew up higher than you'd like it to right in front of me an' my friends?"
Megumi's pretend sweetness melted into righteous anger, and she gave the stranger a shocking blow to the face. "No, particularly, I don't remember that," she hissed, watching the young man rub his cheek crossly.
The pirates looked at each other, and began to edge back into the forest. "On second thought," one said nervously. "I'm not even sure we want you anymore--we've got plenty of girls at home."
And with that, they turned and dashed out of sight.
Megumi sighed in relief once they were gone, but turned on the young man angrily. "What was in your mind, you idiot! That was the worst acting I have ever seen!"
"S'cuse me, but you weren't exactly a stage master, either," the man grumbled. "With the gush you chattered about, I don't blame 'em from deemin' you a freak of womanly nature."
Megumi jabbed him angrily in the chest. "Well, at least I didn't EMBARRASS you with perverted comments!"
"And to think you actually cared what those thugs thought," the fighter growled sneeringly, "Miss…uh…"
"Megumi," she replied. "And for your information, Roofie, I don't appreciate anyone saying or thinking those sort of things about me!"
The boy sneered. "My name's Sanosuke, and I swear if you call me 'Roofie' one more time, I'm goin' to--to…" he drifted off, unsure of what to say next. He wanted to say 'throttle you', but he barely knew Megumi enough to threaten her like that without the confidence she knew he wouldn't.
"...I'll get really mad," Sanosuke finished lamely.
"I'm already really mad," Megumi shot back, shouting, "And for Heaven's sake, put a shirt on, before you poke my eye out! Do you realize how cold it's getting! As a doctor--" she gasped, covering her mouth in horror.
Sanosuke raised his eyebrows. "A doctor, eh?" he said. "Well, that explains a lot. Bet you're on the run from Shishio's thugs now, huh?"
Megumi bit her lip angrily. "Maybe."
"It's kinda obvious, so you don't need to try to hide it from me," Sanosuke said loftily.
Trying to change the subject, Megumi noticed the layer of perspiration coating Sano's body, and asked, "What were you doing out here, anyways?"
"Training," Sanosuke announced, stretching proudly.
Megumi blinked in surprise. "Training? What for?"
Sanosuke gestured to a pile of broken rocks he had made a few feet away. "I gathered up some stones from the nearby river, and I've gotta crush 'em with the technique I'm learnin'. They've gotta crumble, though, not just break in half like those did. So far, I haven't been able to do it."
Sano sighed heavily. "My hands are beginning to bleed…"
He held up his knuckles for Megumi to see. Indeed, the skin was rubbing raw, and turning a healthy, fleshy red. It wouldn't be long before his hands were flowing with scarlet streams.
"In exchange for protecting me, I'll bandage them for you," Megumi offered, but then said, "Though it'd be of little use, since you're probably going to go back to your training soon, anyways."
"Yeah…" Sano mumbled, taking a moment to study the unfamiliar lady. She was tall, and stood up to about his shoulder, with long silky raven hair. Her sharp cinnamon eyes were edged with quick wit and determination. Something in those russet orbs, however, reflected extreme guilt and sadness.
Sanosuke allowed his eyes to wander down her neck and to her form. Megumi was slight of built, but certainly not frail or unhealthy, unlike most of the girls Sano had seen in the Fields. Her shoulders were perfectly round and her arms were delicately hidden in her sleeves, and as Sano's eyes fell further he found that his thoughts were becoming more and more detailed. It wasn't long before he found himself staring, his jaw hanging open slightly.
"Watch where you keep your eyes, Rooster-Head," Megumi snapped, and Sanosuke woke up with a blush.
"W-What'd you call me?" he cried indignantly.
"Rooster-Head," Megumi explained. "Your hair--it reminds me of a rooster."
Sanosuke swelled with a huff of exasperation, desperately trying not to think about Kyoko's past comment about his hair. "Well, I can't say much for you, Fox Lady!"
Megumi froze. "Fox Lady?" she repeated, scowling. "What precisely do you mean by that, Rooster!"
"I mean yer as mean and devious as a witchy vixen when she's PMS-ing!" Sanosuke yelled before he could stop himself.
The utter anger and shock that crossed Megumi's features was enough for Sano to snort in humor--even he had surprised himself. He had never allowed himself to talk to a woman that way before.
"Ohhh! Why you--! You good-for-nothing, rude, loutish, impertinent, perverted, double-crossing, unreasonable, ungrateful, dirty, little, procrastinating ROOSTER-HEADED BRAT!" Megumi yelled, enraged. She made to punch Sanosuke in the chest, but when her hit made contact, Sano did nothing but grunt slightly.
"What was that?" he asked right after, snorting mockingly; but soon regretted his chide.
SLAP.
"DAMMIT!" Sano yelled, covering his reddening face. Megumi had slapped him, obviously; and that hurt quite a lot.
Megumi seized Sanosuke by the shoulder, pulling him near so she could hiss menacingly into his ear. "Now, listen here, Sa-no-su-ke," she growled his name like she wished she could chew it up, spit it out into the dirt, and grind it in with her heel. "You're going to help me save my friend from those pirates, got it? If you slip up or try to betray me, I swear I will put you through so much torture that even Shishio's fire-breathing dragons will weep for your sorry sake, baka yarou!"
Sanosuke didn't quite see how he could back out of that one. This woman meant what she said. "Fine, if that's what it takes to get rid of you," he sneered.
"I'll be just as happy when I'm free of you," Megumi shot back, pushing him away. She held out her hand for Sanosuke to shake. "Deal, Sanosuke-san?" If it were possible, Megumi would have taken a knife and stabbed the word 'san' until it was as holey as Swiss cheese, for that was the way it sounded.
"Deal," Sanosuke said, shaking her hand. It took all his willpower not to attempt to crush it, with the spite he felt for this insufferable doctor. But he couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious. She's got...very soft skin...
End of Chapter Four
MadiSano: YES! The SM has officially STARTED! Now I just have to start the KK and I am on my way! I am happy, happy, happy, happy! Though...I have to admit; Shura vs. Kenshin was a little boring. Or, at least, I think it was. But I had fun doing the conversation between Sano and Megumi! As for Anji, he'll be back next chapter. So will Kenshin! Yay!
Also, Shura fans, sorry about her…um, downright evilness? She was actually a lot meaner, before I got sick of myself and went back to edit her. I don't hate Shura at all! I just couldn't make her evil-person-ish enough. I was a little disappointed, but Shura isn't evil at all...she's just trying to be strong.
So, now I hope you understand that the reason Sano's 'kids' were taken and Souzou died was because Sano needed motivation to inspirit him to help Anji revolt against Shishio. Will Sano's revenge be completed? And will he find his kids again? You'll have to wait and find out! Ohohohoho! (FOX EARS!)
I've already got the next chapter written up--ENTER KAORU AND YAHIKO! YATTA! Kaoru's so cool. Heh. To give you a bit of a hint, she beats the crap out of Sanosuke. Oo Yes, I know. But Yahiko's a little OOC...though I have a reason...he'll get intocharacter soon enough!
GUESS: Hi, Mackenzie! Long time no review, ne? I knew you'd be mad about what happened to Sano...gomen nasai! I'll bring RK #21 tomorrow, promise!
ANONYMOUS BUT VERY INTERESTED: FIREWORKS, INDEED! (Spinney eyed!) Oroo...the love squares (as Crewel calls them) will mash everything in the future...Megumi likes Sano, Sano likes Megumi, Sano likes Kaoru, Megumi likes Kenshin, Kaoru likes Kenshin, Kenshin likes Kaoru, but Kaoru also likes Sano!And Yahiko hates everyone of 'em. Lol! Thanks for my New Years Wish. (I will find him! I WILL!)
SHAUNTELL: I'm sorry I write so much about Sano. I have to get him and Megumi settled in the story, and then it's KK galore! YAAY! ...Anyways, thanks for the review, and Happy New Year to you as well!
:(: You seem very sad...you've never reviewed before so I guess I must have upset you greatly to push you to review for me! I'm sorry about Sano's angsty suffering...please forgive me, but thank you for reviewing.
CREWEL: I know, it's sad. I'm so happy you approve of Anji's switch (if I can call it that) in religion! But I kinda have a hard time seeing him doing a sermon on Sunday...Oo The giant, fistfighting PASTOR! AAH! Sorry, I'm a little hyper right now! Lol! SANOMEG FOREVER! THANKS!
STARSHIPDELTA: Thanks for the review! I'm so glad you like it! I'm really struggling with the plot right now, so your praise is quite motivating. I'm kind of glad that I could make my readers relate to Sano's agony, though...I wanted them to understand it was a serious, painful matter...but maybe I overdid it? I dunno. I've never done anything like that before! Thanks so much for your comments! Happy New Year!
PLUTOBABY494: Glad you liked it! I'll update soon. Thank you!
Well, that's it for now, y'all. COMING UP NEXT: CHAPTER FIVE: THE BEAUTIFUL BANDIT! (I didn't know what else to name it..."The Super-Kickbutt Gimme-Yer-Money Or Suffer My Awful Cooking Chick?" I didn't think so.)
See ya!