Chapter Seven: United At Last
"This one is but a rurouni...a swordsman traveling with no destination." -Himura Kenshin, Rurouni Kenshin Volume 1
"Sakabatou Shinuchi," Kaoru corrected, crawling closer to Kenshin. "It can't slay a single person, unless the user flips the blade on purpose...it has never tasted death once."
Kenshin stared at the reversed blade, entranced. Kaoru looked at the injured man, about to say something, when she heard a footstep. She twirled around, throwing up the sakabatou just in time to block a massive attack from a huge man.
The pirate stood about six foot eleven; towering over Kaoru and Kenshin like the pinnacle of a townhouse. Kaoru gritted her teeth in outward expression of her difficulty countering the attack. To Kenshin's surprise, the sakabatou didn't even crack slightly from the powerful blow.
Smirking, the pirate used his free hand to sock Kaoru soundly in the stomach, breaking her hold on the reversed-blade sword. She flew backwards, into the tree next to Kenshin. Kaoru make an odd choking sound, clutching her stomach and moments later, coughing up blood.
"M-Miss Kaoru!" Kenshin stammered.
Kaoru breathed in slowly. "I'm okay...Kenshin-san..." she huffed, "...but I don't think...I can defeat him...like this..."
The pirate came closer, raising his sword to take Kaoru's life. Kenshin, his eyes narrowing in determination, posed (trying not to groan in pain) himself so that his body shielded Kaoru. He would die before Kaoru, to give her a better chance to live, Kenshin was sure of that.
Anji was someplace else, fighting the oncoming forces. Yahiko was closer, but he had no clue of what was going on. Kaoru and Kenshin were on their own; and Kenshin was determined to shield Kaoru with the strength he had left.
A flash of light ricocheted from the giant's blade as it sliced the air, blood spattering the air as it sliced through human flesh.
Kaoru gasped, and Kenshin's eyes widened in confusion. There stood a man in white short pants, slipping slightly under the weight of the sword. His brow wept with sweat, and his bandaged hands bled a bit as the fighter used the blade-catch maneuever to block the attack from the giant pirate. The ends of his red bandanna stuck to his sweating back.
Megumi came running out of the woods, gasping when she saw the scene of battle.
"Sanosuke!" Kaoru mumbled, wide-eyed. Kenshin looked at the shirtless boy, realizing that this was Megumi's 'friend' that Kaoru had told her about, her protector after they had been seperated.
"Mrraah!" Sanosuke twisted the blade sideways, wrenching it out of the pirate's grasp. Simultaneously, Sanosuke lashed out with a kick; stretching his long leg upwards and landing the hit on the giant man's chin.
The pirate stumbled, utterly surprised. Sanosuke flicked his palms slightly like a samurai would his sword, causing the blood to fling off his hands. Despite that Sanosuke had caught the side of the blade in the way Anji had recently taught him, Sano got away with only two small cuts.
"Heh," Sanosuke snorted to the befuddled pirate. "That all you got?" He looked at Megumi then, giving her a look that meant, 'Get Kaoru and what's-his-name outta here before something else happens.'
Megumi nodded, running to Kaoru's side as Sanosuke leapt into a fistfight. "Sir Ken!" Megumi gasped, observing the wanderer's bloody state. "Look at you! Kaoru, you've got to help me carry him back to camp. If I don't get him out of here, he could bleed to death!"
"R-Right!" Kaoru stammered. "Will you take his feet?"
"Hai!" Megumi replied; and together, they lifted the half-concious Kenshin into the air. "Now, go!" And they ran off, careful not to move in a way that would pain Kenshin to a further extent.
Sanosuke was slammed into the huge oak tree seconds later with a cry. His fists were restrained, concealed by the tall pirate's strangling hands. Sanosuke furiously tried to either squirm from his captivity, or somehow get an attack in. He was failing in both options.
"Tch. You're just a kid!" sneered the pirate with spite. "You really expect to put up a fight, don't you? Boy's don't fight men--"
Sanosuke did not hear the rest. His mind focused simply on the retort of this mountain of a pirate calling him "just a kid". Memories flashed before his eyes.
"ANJI!"
Sanosuke screamed in rage, his voice echoing like a scream from the bowels of Hell itself. He punched the nearby wall, as soldiers stepped around the hole in the stairs, carrying crying kids, one or two unconscious.
Sanosuke was petrified when he heard the noise of a gunshot. Blood spattered from the ceiling, dripping down onto Sanosuke's face. His father's blood. It trickled down Sanosuke's mortified features, and in the low light, it appeared as though Sano's own skin had split.
"DAD!" Sanosuke howled, tears of anger, frustration, and grief racing down his cheeks and melding in with the blood.
I told you. They'll all die, because you couldn't protect them. You didn't love them enough.
As if in reply, the voice of a child; Sanosuke couldn't tell which one; screamed his name. "SANOSUKEEEE!"
"URAAAAAH!" Sanosuke lashed upwards again in a kick, managing to knee the pirate in the elbows, freeing Sanosuke from his helpless position.
Sanosuke found that his body had taken control of itself, no longer listening to him. Before he could fall, Sanosuke's feet pushed off the bark of the oak, and sent him flying towards the giant. The pirate came to punch him, but Sanosuke flew right past his fist near to his chest.
The words left his lips unbidden, as Sanosuke's own fist curled into the formation he had been taught. "FUTAE NO KIWAMI!" The simple will to protect those from the rage and pain he felt swelled in the muscles of his arm and fist. Tears broke from his eyes as Sanosuke swept his arm around and slammed his Two Layers into the center of the pirate's chest.
The pirate's entire body shook from the impact, and before he could even register his expression of shock, the Kairyuu giant was blasted backwards. He hit the ground, unconcious.
Sanosuke landed roughly on the forest floor, allowing himself to catch his breath. I...I did it! he realized, watching as the Futae No Kiwami took toll on his own body. His right hand was bleeding furiously from the wound he had received from catching the blade from earlier. I did it! I've gotten the hang of the Two Layers! I've--!
Suddenly, footsteps approached him. Sanosuke faltered, and looked up at the approaching person with wary brown eyes.
He knew her immediately; from the description Megumi had given, the Kairyuu leader Shura was unmistakable. She held nunchakus abroad, looking down at Sanosuke as though he were nothing but an annoying bug.
Swallowing, Sanosuke stood; making it clear that he was indeed taller than Shura and would not have it to be looked down upon. "Huh," Sanosuke dared to be the first speaker. "You...must be Shura..."
"And you are?" Shura snapped back with unhesitating confidence.
Sanosuke smirked proudly. "Sagara Sanosuke."
Shura stared at Sano with expressionless, intimidating slate eyes. Sanosuke looked back with his battle spirit unhidden, ready for her to spring at any time. "Sagara-san... you're not from around here...I suggest you leave while you can."
Tossing his head slightly, in order to cast his bangs slightly out of his eyes; Sanosuke replied, "I don't think you quite understand me, here, Shura-san. I'm just as prideful as you, and I'm not gonna ditch my friends. You..." Sanosuke transformed his gaze into a glower. "You're the one who gave free orders for those Kairyuu to hurt Megumi. For that, I won't back down."
Shura smirked. "Infatuation. It means..." Her smirk disappeared. "...that you are weak."
Sano started. "W-What?"
"Infatuation isn't real. Neither is love," Shura said, as though she had recited this many times before. "All that exists is the will to survive. And for that, there is no room for the strong to love. It makes them unfocused, and breaks their will if their so-called loved one dies. Love is a poison...a lie."
Rebellion built up in Sano. "Th-that's the cruddiest peice o'bullshit that I've ever heard in my entire life!" he snarled, angry. "You don't know what yer talkin' about, Shura! Love is what's kept me alive...love's why I'm here right now! If love isn't real, what's the point of living? And if love isn't real, why do women exist?"
Not feeling the slightest bit silly, Sanosuke waited impatiently for Shura's answer.
"Well..." Shura sneered. "Someone has to do things right around here."
Sanosuke barked back, "You are insane! I..." He stopped a moment, and then said, "Hey...Shura...why is the sky blue?"
"What?" Shura said, glaring at Sano as though wondering if she had heard him right.
"Why is the sky blue!" Sano yelled at her, as though it was the most important question of his life.
Shura looked confused, and slightly angry. "Why, I...I...why would I care!"
Giving her a sharp look, Sanosuke said in an even voice, "I had a friend, who told me something that I've never thought deeply enough about. But now that I've heard your messed-up version of the human heart, you should know.
"She told me that the reason the sky was blue was because when Kami looks down on us, he weeps for our sake, because we're going through so much pain. His tears collect on the outside of the sky, and they color it blue. Also, she said, that in a way, the blueness of the sky is a promise to us that God would send someone to help us one day."
Glaring at Shura continuously, Sanosuke went on. "And I'm alive now to avenge that person, and others, because I loved them. Without that, I would have died long ago...as I see it, Kami gave me a chance to save and avenge them, to find my happiness again even though evil took it away."
"And that," said Sano, glaring at Shura with all of his might, "I think, is love, in the truest sense I know. 'Cause I know that it should take a lot to make someone like that cry, Shura--expecially over an idiot like me who don't deserve help or second chances, anyways. You may think love is a lie, but I don't agree. Love is everywhere, and you can't escape it. Just like I can't escape my fate of revolting against Shishio with Anji, or having feelings for the evilest wench on the planet."
Sanosuke turned from Shura in disgust. The Kairyuu leader stared at him, agape that he had dared to speak so brazenly.
Sano commented over his shoulder, before taking off, "I ain't a big God person, but I know that much. It's what I live for, now. And knowin' that it's love that got me here, and that it's everywhere I go; I think it's good enough to trust in, to believe in. That it'll give me a second chance at what I don't deserve. That somethin', that now I know for sure, you don't have. And you'd better find it...and soon."
He then walked off into the forest without another word.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shura saw a giant man and a wolf run into the forest, in a direction so to meet Sanosuke further on someplace. Turning about, she saw her surviving and concious men staring at her, red-eyed and angry. Many of their comrades were dead or injured, and from the looks of their faces, Shura knew who they were going to blame.
Shura ran off into the forest, in the same direction Sanosuke had. If she didn't, it would be her taking Kenshin's place in execution.
-
Kenshin winced as Megumi tightened the bandages on his chest. She had sown together his wounds, and made sure the rest of him was intact before finally sitting back with a relieved sigh.
Kaoru watched nervously, fingering the hilt of her sheathed sakabatou. "He'll be okay, then?" Kaoru asked softly.
"Yes," Megumi said happily. "Yes, he will. Sir Ken, you should be up and about, normal as ever, in a short time. But for now, you must keep your body in close check, do you hear?"
Kenshin nodded. "Hai, Megumi-san."
Megumi smiled in satisfaction, nodding in return. "Good," she said softly.
Anji and Yahiko came from the forest, looking tired. Anji had several minor cuts, and Yahiko sported a lovely slash across his right arm.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru cried, "Are you--?"
Yahiko cut her off. "I'm fine, onee-san. Really." He gave her a small smile to convince her of so, and that seemed to pursuade Kaoru. With so many men around, that seemed to affect his older sister in ways Yahiko had never seen before, the idea had occured to Yahiko that he now had to make sure Kaoru's attention stayed focused on him alone. He wouldn't have her marrying one of these...people. Especially someone like that idiot Rooster.
"Where's Sanosuke-san?" Kaoru asked, and Megumi tried her best not to scowl.
Anji and Yahiko exchanged glances. "We haven't seen him yet. We thought he might be with you," Anji replied.
Kaoru's eyes widened. "You mean, he could be hurt? We have to go find him! The Kairyuu could have him!"
"Calm down, Miss Kaoru," Megumi said placidly. "I'm sure the Rooster-Head is just fine." Despite her words, there was an obvious flicker of worry in Megumi's cinnamon eyes. "I'm sure."
Kenshin remained silent, focusing his ears on the melodies of the forest.
-
Sanosuke cursed softly. He was lost. Looking around miserably, he tried to percieve of which direction he should go. Shoot...all the trees look exactly the same! Sanosuke thought, as though he expected otherwise.
Suddenly, Sano found himself being tackled to the ground. His back hit the turf, causing him to grunt slightly when the bruise on his back was struck. He squeezed his eyes shut in pain; and seconds later, his wrists were pinned to the ground. Sanosuke was sure that whoever had him was to kill him. There was no way Sano could fight in his condition.
"H-Hey--" Sanosuke yelled, but was cut of seconds later when soft lips covered his own. He froze in surprise, managing to open his eyes.
Eyes widening, Sano was shocked to see the one kissing him. When his lips had been freed, he stammered, "S-Shura...? What--"
"Sanosuke-san," she said, gripping his wrists tightly. "Sanosuke...y-you're right...I was wrong. Please forgive me for my actions and words...I've never realized how weak I am until I've met you...please..."
Sano tried to push her off, but Shura held him fast. His muscles protested at every twinge of movement, begging to stay still. "Shura...I think you should get off me..."
"Why?" Shura said. She seemed almost desperate. "When you left, all of my men...they hate me, now...I have to stay with you...wherever you go. I have to learn what you know, so that ...so that I can have what you do."
Sanosuke frowned. "What?"
Instead of answering, Shura put her head in the curve of Sanosuke's neck, her soft green hair tickling Sano's throat. He swallowed, very uncomfortable. Shit...she thinks she's in love with me! Sanosuke realized, and said softly, "Shura...I understand you're scared, but..."
"I'm not when we're like this," Shura replied pointedly.
Sweatdropping, Sano stammered, "Shura, I think you're r-readin' your emotions wrong. I mean...w-well...y'know..." It was getting harder and harder for Sano to concentrate, as Shura fiddled with the collar of his jacket, as though considering to take it off of him.
Just think of what the Fox would say if she caught you like this, a voice observed in the back of Sano's head. Blushing, Sanosuke almost wanted her to do so...her intrusion would force Shura to get off of him. "I...I don't think this is meant to be," Sanosuke sputtered, but Shura was only half listening to him. "Sh-Shura...um...please..."
"What?" Shura asked, crossing her arms over his chest and looking up directly into his eyes.
Finding the contact unnerving, Sano mumbled, "I really think... that you are a very strong person, and... so maybe you weren't fit to lead the Kairyuu... but, um, traveling with me or... whatever you planned on doing...isn't the right decision to make... I'm not the great guy y'think I am... I've got a lot on my hands right now...I won't be able to provide you with what you want...I...um..."
A look of horror overtook Shura's expression. "You mean...you're...you're gay?"
"N-NO!" Sanosuke shouted, turning even redder than before. Shura look immensely relieved at this, but Sano said, "What I mean to say, is that I'm not the person you're waiting for... my fate lies elsewhere, while yours...well, I dunno. But...ano...I think I would probably anger you more than give you happiness. I'm sorry."
Shura didn't know what to say. "But...I thought you...what about what you said earlier?"
"That was because I couldn't just walk away without making you understand your wrong," Sano replied sheepishly. "I...um, know that you still have your second chances of love... but Shura, I'm not one of 'em. I'm sorry..."
Hesitating, Shura released the young man, slowly getting off of him. She was extremely ashamed--Sano could tell, as he sat up. "Don't feel bad," Sano told her, feeling like he had just murdered something as Shura's hurt expression appeared. He took her hand as he stood, ignoring the twinge of muscles. "I'm not angry..."
"I...I know," Shura stammered, tears filling in her dark eyes. "But, I...I was so sure..."
Feeling sympathetic, as though he were dealing with one of his kids at home, Sanosuke gave Shura a comforting hug. Shura buried her face into his shoulder, crying softly. "Hey," Sano said, trying to be as soothing as he could figure. "It's okay... there are better guys out there than the likes of me...don't cry."
Shura's tears slowed. "What am I to do, then...?"
"Tell ya what," Sanosuke said, and Shura looked up at him. "I have something I need to give you..."
Reaching into his pocket, Sano brought out the golden necklace that he had found in his home on the day of his family's doom. Shura gasped as she observed the gorgeous piece, astounded when Sanosuke handed it to her.
"You keep that, got it?" Sanosuke told her, putting his hand over hers and gently forcing it to close over the amulet. "It'll be a Promise, okay? I'll give this necklace to you, and in return you have to promise to because the best pirate ever to sail the seas. You go and buy yourself a ship using the money this necklace is worth, and you work until you can hit the open sea. You raid those merchant ships, and you make yourself a name by using your prodigy as a fighter and a leader."
He smiled as Shura's tears began to dry. "I'll...become a real pirate..." Shura said softly, gripping the necklace tightly. "I'll become a true seafaring pirate, and I'll rear the most fearsome crew..."
"I'll keep an ear out for ya," Sanosuke said softly, winking. "You keep strong, right? I'll be disappointed if you don't keep the Promise."
"Shura never breaks a Promise," she replied, looking up at Sanosuke. "Goodbye... Sagara Sanosuke."
-
Sanosuke stepped from the undergrowth into the camp. He was bruised, and his hands were bleeding on the palms; the right hand more so than the left. Sano pressed the palm of his hand against a nearby tree to keep his balance.
"Sanosuke!" Anji inquired, looking up suddenly. "What happened?"
Kaoru started, looking worried at Sanosuke's health status. "The last Megumi, Kenshin-san, and I saw of you was when you took on that giant pirate...I was almost sure you would be unconcious when Anji brought you back...or worse."
"Hmph," Sanosuke said, staggering into the clearing to sit down by Kaoru. "No way I'd die like that...after I've got the hang of the Two Layers...not when they still need m..." But his words drifted off into silence, as though Sano were unwilling to share them.
Everyone was silent for a moment, before Kenshin spoke up in his soft voice. "I heard that you protected Miss Megumi from the Kairyuu after I was abducted, Sanosuke-san. Megumi-san and I are indebted to you."
Megumi was offended. "The last thing I am is indebted to that obnoxious punk! Hmph! The way he's treated me since you've been gone, Sir Ken--!"
"Yer such a suck-up, Fox," Sanosuke commented.
"And you're an ingrate!" Megumi shot back. "Treating me like you have when I've been kind enough to look after your wounds! You practically kidnapped me earlier, you know!"
Everyone looked at Sanosuke.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I 'kidnapped' her to the battle so that she could help Kaoru get what-his-name back to camp, where they could patch him up."
Everyone turned their eyes to Megumi.
"Yes, you 'kidnapped' me like a petty thug by throwing me over your shoulder like you would a wretched prostitute!" Megumi yelled back, infuriated.
All eyes returned to Sano.
Sanosuke replied, smirking. "Well, you know...it'd be believable considering you were staring at my butt for the entire time I carried you."
All heads quickly turned to Megumi for her reaction.
"I MOST CERTAINLY WAS NOT!" Megumi shouted, flushing scarlet.
Snickering, Sanosuke smiled lazily as he flopped backwards on the ground. "I'm taking a nap!" he announced, and promptly fell asleep.
There was a momentary silence, until Kaoru remarked, "That was an interesting way to end a conversation." Looking around, she found that she was not the only one smiling. Anji had an amused expression, while Kenshin had a rather confused but humored look on his face. Yahiko looked disgusted, and Megumi downright enraged and embarrassed.
"He is unbelievable..." Megumi scowled, and then spotted his bloody hands. "...and the biggest, clumsiest idiot on the face of the earth."
Kenshin smiled slightly, looking at Megumi. He knew what she was really thinking, but said nothing aloud.
Kaoru let her eyes drift to Kenshin, who was lying on his back upon the turf. Even when injured and bandaged, Kaoru percieved his unbeatable handsomeness. Those kind, sad violet eyes peeked out from behind his scarlet bangs; and even though they weren't looking at her, Kaoru saw what set him apart from the rest of the men she had met: personality.
Maybe that's what Kaoru saw in Sano as well, but simply not as brazen as in Kenshin. Something about this mysterious man...something was so different...
Kaoru sighed, ducking her head to hide her blush. Would he ever bother with someone like me?
End of Chapter Seven
MadiSano: Sigh...one thing...I AM SO SORRY! The whole Shura jumping Sano thing was kind of...stupid (I think)... but I had to get rid of her somehow, and I wasn't going to let her slobber all over Kenshin. I knew Sano could deal with her (he's nice when he has to be, I suppose!), and since Kenshin was injured and with Kaoru and Meg at the moment, Sano was the only one left. Unless you preferred Anji or Yahiko...yeah, that's what I thought. Mm-hmm.
Also, are my chapters annoyingly long? Or is it okay? I know this chapter was a bit of a letdown (tell me if I'm wrong...), but it's my belief that the rest is better. The next chapter won't be as long as most of them have been...and then after that, SAITOU AND AOSHI! YAAY! (freaks out)
STARSHIPDELTA: I knew that if you liked the idea of Aoshi being a bartender, everyone else would. And according to my other reviews...they did! Thanks so much for your support. I'm trying to keep up a good plot, but for some reason this story is a lot harder to write than usual...hmm...but no way am I discontinuing :P Thanks again!
ANONYMOUS BUT VERY INTERESTED: What I meant about Megumi was that whenever there is bad news or something that definately needs to be said, she is straightforward about it. Sometimes, people think she's mean because of it, but I think that her harshness originates from being a doctor. Kaoru is more of a kinder girl, and in those moments I like her more than Megumi. Hmm...to reply of the possibility of Shura/Kenshin before Kaoru/Kenshin... I'm pretty sure Kenshin would still stick with Kaoru. Kaoru's much more loving and understanding of Kenshin's broken soul, and Megumi once said that the best medicine for Kenshin's sadness and scars was Kaoru's smile. Kaoru's love and smiles were why Kenshin chose Kaoru over Megumi...though, I never really thought Meg was really "in love" with Kenshin. Also, since Shurahas been affected by trauma and so has Kenshin, it would require Kenshin taking more time to comfortShura than deal with his own problems. Kaoru can focus on Kenshin, because she has had no dramatic, heart-shattering incidents in thepast.I own nearly all of the RK manga that are out in English, and am flat broke because of it!They're great!Lol. And yes, the characters in the anime are sorta the same as in the manga, and Kaoru does make these "Ohhhh, I'm gonna kill ya!" faces. Sometimes, the anime stretches their personalities, though...and with all those episodes that were never in the manga...and sometimes, they even changed the storyline. I prefer the manga over the anime, though I do like their voices on TV! Thanks so much for your reviews...it means a lot! I hope I haven't been too confusing...feel free to ask any more questions! THANKS!
BEANS: I'm so glad that you liked my summary! I wish I could put more in, but I had restricted space to write my summary...Oh well. And yeah, I totally agree. Jesus would have been able to save Sano's kids...but then I wouldn't have a story! And...well...yeah. Another thing: I notice you capitalize the H on "Him" when talking of God. THAT IS SO COOL! I have such a hard time finding people who type God with a capital G and stuff! I just appreciate that, and I think it's cool. I'm almost surprised to hear that everyone's in character in Rev. & Res...I have such a struggle trying to make everyone keep in line! Like the whole Shura thing in this chapter...I think I mangled her. Sigh. Rats. But Sano was a sweetie, just like with Megumi...but Megumi's special. And isn't a pirate. And doesn't have green hair. Mwaha. Sorry if I'm scaring you...I'm a little hyper and haven't updated in a while. Thanks so much, and I look forward to hearing from you again!
Also, out of curiosity, does anyone have an idea of what I could put into my summary to give people a better idea of what it is about? This has been bugging me a bit, but I know you people probably could give me some helpful phrases.
THANKS SO MUCH! 44 reviews, and counting! To you experienced writers, I might sound a little pitiful...but I've never got so many reviews on any of my stories! Please review this chapter. It makes me feel good inside, and I have an easier time continuing the plot and so on. THANKS AGAIN, ALL OF YOU! JA NE!
By the way...I've just realized that I forgot to say for the last six chapters...I DON'T OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN! Feh. Don't sue.
I have the oddest urge to start violently typing "DIE SHURA!" over and over again in large, bold, underlined, and italic over and over. -.- Sigh...SanoMeg and KenKao, FOREVER! ROWR! ...Bye, bye.