Hi guys, I'm back. Sorry for the delay. Thanks to all who reviewed! I didn't mean to be mean with the cliffhanger, please read on!

When You Meet Your Match

Chapter Fourteen

The stitch that was forming in Tasuki's abdomen was starting to sting him. In fact, it had been stinging him since he had sprinted the entire five miles from the foot of the mountain to the village below.

"Genrou, slow down!" shouted Kouji behind him, but he didn't hear. Right now, there were things that are far more important.

Mayumi, get to Mayumi.

He could sense that something was horribly wrong. He imagined the worst things when he thought of what that snake of an uncle of hers was doing to her, and it only infuriated him more and made him run even faster. He wished that none of the things that he was thinking of would ever come true.

And none of it would ever happen, not if he could help it.

He only stopped when he saw the outskirts of the village. It was quite a small village, there weren't any people around the road, probably because most of the houses had been abandoned. Right now, he didn't care to know why. He just needed to get to Mayumi.

There were a few houses in their midst and Tasuki was looking at each one when Genrou had finally caught up with him.

He was panting loudly, catching his breath in big gulps. "How," he said, slowly, then stopping again to catch his breath. "How are we - gonna - find where they're hiding her?"

Tasuki looked around. There were a few houses. Most of them were identical, save for the one near the end of the road. It was a large house, and it didn't have signs of delapidation like the rest of the homes in the village. He squinted to the house. He saw signs of movement in there.

"That one," Tasuki pointed to the farthest house. "That's where she is."

"How do you know?"

"I just do," he insisted. There was such a determined finality in his voice that Kouji didn't question him any further.

Tasuki was beginning to move forward when Kouji held him back. "What?" he asked impatiently.

He hesistated for a moment before he spoke. "We have to think this through, Genrou." he said reasonably.

Tasuki looked incredulously at Kouji. Did he just ... what the hell ... is he insane? "Kouji," he said menacingly, "just in case you didn't notice, Mayumi needs me. NOW."

"Mayumi needs me too!" said an indignant Kouji, "but if we get caught on the way there, who's gonna save her then, huh?"

The rest of the bandits were coming out of the forest.

"Especially with them on our tail?" added Kouji.

Tasuki looked at the bandits behind. He cursed inwardly, wondering why he let them come along anyway. Kouji had convinced him to do it, reasoning that they could use the backup. Having a large group with him virtually made it impossible for them to sneak inside, but thinking about things like this right now was costing them time, time that they didn't have and desperately need. He looked impatiently and irritably at Kouji. "What do we do then?"

"Don't worry," said Kouji, "I have a plan."

Mayumi, despite being weak and terribly exhausted, still trashed around. She wasn't about to be raped by this lug, no, never, not if she has anything to say about it.

Her trashing had finally caused the chains in her ankles to break loose from the cement wall. When it did, she didn't scream in triumph, but instead kicked the big guy on top of her in the groin.

He gasped in pain and stumbled backwards. Mayumi then gasped for much needed air in the semi-darkness, and looked at her attacker and smiled victoriously.

"You're gonna pay for that, you bitch," he snarled, and started to approach her again.

She gulped hard and wondered what kind of torture was going to be imposed on her again when she saw him grab for the whip again and thus begun to lash at her with all his might.

At first she didn't make any sound, biting her tongue so hard that she felt blood coming out. She swallowed that blood and continued to bite her tongue, until she could take it anymore and started to gasp out in pain. The whip had caused her clothes to come off her torso, as it had already been ripped by her attacker. She felt the raw whip on her chest, her waist, her gut...

Her eyes were unfocused, and glazed as she stared at the wall. Her unfocused disposition had caused her cries to stop, but the pain was still there. Fresh blood was beginning to ooze from her chest and stomach, down to her thighs and legs. She vaguely saw the deep cuts in her chest caused by the whip and heard the laugh of the big man, though it sounded as though it came from a far away place.

Is this what it's like to die? she thought, It doesn't seem to be so bad. The pain starting to leave, I can't feel it anymore. This must me dying. Did Akira feel this way when he died? Then he didn't suffer, that was good. Though, still, I wish I could have seen Tasuki again.

I really thought he would save me, maybe he will, but I'm dying now. But ... won't he save me? I really thought he would, he wouldn't let me die like this, would he? I thought he liked me, I like him, I guess I'll never no, if I die... In her hallucinations, she could see Akira, and she wasn't really surprised, she expected him to be there. Akira, brother...

No. Don't die, said Akira

"What?" she croaked out loud. The lasher didn't seem to notice that she spoke.

He's coming, he said again. Don't you dare die.

The pain was starting to increase in intensity again. But, she protested, I can't handle this any more, and I want to see you and mother, and father.

It was as if granting her wishes, her parents were right next to Akira, one on each side.

You can't join us yet, honey, her mother said.

Handle the pain, her father added. Just don't die. He's coming for you.

He's not coming.

Yes he is, said Akira. He's coming. You'll let him down in you die.

I can't take this anymore...

Yes you can. Hold on. He loves you, he's coming.

He loves...me?

He'll be here any minute. Do not die.

We love you, honey...

Mayumi barely registered the sudden amount of light that was pouring in from the door. Akira and her parents were gone. She didn't registered the sudden halt from the lashing she was receiving. Just one single thought kept her alive now.

I can't die. He's coming.

"Mayumi!"

Someone was calling her from somewhere far away. She didn't know who it was, or why they were calling her. She blinked slowly. Her unfocused eyes were painful. A shadow was then cast over her body. She looked up, but didn't know who the man was. He was covered in some sort of metal thing. It must be one of the guards, she thought, they've come to kill her in front of Kito.

Her hands flopped down to the side. She tried to stand up but she couldn't. She tried again. It didn't work. They've come to kill me, she thought, I'm free, I have to get out of here.

"Mayumi!"

No, they can't take her. Hands gripped both her arms, as she began to trash about. "No," she said weakly, "I can't die."

"Mayumi!" the voice cried again. "Snap out of it!"

"Huh?" she asked weakly. She blinked, her unfocused eyes shut at the light pouring into the room. "What the -"

"Mayumi," the voice was the same still, but much more softer now. Mayumi looked at the person in front of her, her trashing had now ceased as she blinked into focusness.

"It's okay," said Tasuki, "Kouji's here, I'm here, you're gonna be okay, I promise."

Mayumi felt tears running down her face. Tasuki had loosen his grip on her, and when he did, she used what remaining strength she had and flung herself onto Tasuki, holding onto him for dear life, like she was drowning and the only means of survival was him.

"Don't let go," she begged, "please, don't let go..."

Tasuki kissed her neck as he held her tight. "Don't worry," he said, "I'll never let you go ever again."

Not the end! Remember, Kito's still alive!