A/N hey every one!! * waves * Well I know that I took a heck of enough
time updating... I think it's been over a week @_@ gezz . Anyway I want to
thank y'all for waiting this long wait and for reviewing. Ok enough of my
chatter...on to the story. P.s Kill all the typos for me.
Disclaimer: I don't own the red-head.....though I have another nearby ^_-
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Tanako woke the next day to find that she had slept in and all alone; the only person who was around was Yahiko. The boy was fast finishing up his practice swings so that he may catch a few lessons from her as she practiced herself. Though Tanako didn't know why she still felt compelled to practice. Her life was starting to go just the way she wanted it, and she didn't have to worry anymore. However, the doubt still lingered in her mind, she could never really be sure if she was really safe. The years of training had conformed her into the monster that she was. Never really being able to relax and live a normal life, always looking at a stranger and finding all his weak spots if ever he decided to attack.
She knew she shouldn't think such a way any longer, but as she sat at the table finishing up her breakfast that Karou had left for her and watching Yahiko practice a few new moves outside; she couldn't help but feel that something was in the air... something strange. Sighing she shoved the thoughts away as she shoved her half eaten breakfast away.
"Tanako will you teach me a few things about throwing knives?" The boy chirped up from outside, he was still trying to catch his breath and he was dripping with sweat but the light in his eyes showed Tanako that he was more than willing to learn anything new, And she could not help but smile.
"Are you sure that's a good idea Yahiko?" She stepped outside and stepped into her sandals. "You know you shouldn't be learning about how to attack people." Tanako paused as she stepped into the yard, something was not right the earth, it was to quiet. There was hardly a sound in the air and not even the songs of birds could be heard. It was an unnerving silence that was suddenly smashed away but the chirp of the young boy's voice.
"Come on Tanako, you never know what'll happen, and I may need to use a throwing knife one day, don't you think I should be prepared for that day? And besides Karou and Kenshin went into town today and won't be back for a few hours." Yahiko grinned like a mad man knowing that Tanako could not argue his point and seeing the weakness in her eyes to teach him. She had a kind heart, Yahiko knew this, and she loved nothing more than to help others out. "You may have trouble showing me in that kimono you have on." He added.
Tanako looked down at herself, true she was wearing a deep blue kimono with waves of water cascading from her waist to the bottom of the kimono. She thought it was a very lovely design and bright colored obi went perfect with it. She had not expected to do any real practicing but know that Yahiko wanted some pointers there was no way she was going to do anything with the clothes she had on at the moment.
"Alright Yahiko...let me go and change out of these clothes." She said with a small sigh of defeat and turned to head back into the dojo. Yahiko grinned in triumph, it was not everyday that he won an argument with anyone. And what was good about this argument was that he got to learn something new and cool, and perhaps Tanako would get out of that depressing slump she had seemed to be in.
Turning, he went to put his bokken away and make sure that the dojo was in good shape just incase Kenshin and Karou decided to return home early and he had yet to start his chores. But when he looked around he saw that even with the new training he was going to do, he would have enough time to clean things up. Heading back out into the yard he suddenly felt something wrong. Yahiko froze in the middle of the yard and took a look around.
"Hmmm that's strange...." He said to himself. "Feels like I'm being watched... Ha! I must be training a little too much." He added. However, not a moment after he said that did a pair of strong arms wrap around him pinning his arms to his side and a large hand clamped over his mouth. The boy was lifted off his feet and held so tightly he could hardly breathe. Oh man I knew someone was watching me and now look. Grrr I'm so stupid! He thought as he struggled as much as he dared. A few people wandered into his line of sight and what he saw made his eyes grow wide and he thrashed even harder than before.
There were a handful of men in the same uniform as Tanako. It was obvious to Yahiko that these where members of her gang; they had come to get her. They were silently making there way into the dojo to catch the girl unaware! Yahiko was not about to let that happen, but no matter how hard he struggled, the man holding him would not let go. If anything the man held him tighter, Yahiko relaxed lest he get crushed to death and be useless to help. The man felt Yahiko grow limp and slightly relaxed his grip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tanako already had her daggers strapped to her, so all she needed was to change into her old uniform on to allow her freedom to move when she was teaching Yahiko. She was just about to untie her obi when she felt the hair on the back of her neck started to tingle. She froze in mid action and held her breath; now she knew something was not right. She silently slid open the screen door and stepped out side into the hallway, pressing her back against the wall and inching slowly along it.
She was going to feel really stupid if there was nothing there at all. She had just started to relax and now this, she must be paranoid or something. But her training forced her to be safe than sorry and she took every chance she got to protect herself. Steeping into the kitchen she saw nothing amiss everything was just as she had left it a few minutes earlier. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yahiko knew this was going to be his only chance, the men were already stepping into the dojo and if they caught her cornered in the building there would be no way she would escape. The man had relaxed his grip enough that Yahiko knew he would be dropped in surprise. So, taking a deep breath, he kicked back and caught the man square in the stomach. With the air knocked out of him the man dropped Yahiko and coughed and gasped in vain for air.
"Tanako!! Look out, get out of the dojo! There's-" Yahiko couldn't finish his warning for the man had kicked the boy in the stomach in return to shut him up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tanako jerked in direction of Yahiko's shouts, and the sudden cut off told her that he was attacked. Suddenly the dojo exploded in noise and confusion. Knowing that they had been caught the gang members ditched their idea of sneaking in and barged in as fast as they could to catch her before she got outside. Tanako turned to sprint down the hall but her first step was cut short by her kimono and the fell face first onto the floor.
"Damn it!" Turning on her back she lifted her feet and kicked away the man who had first reached her. The kick sent him stumbling back and into the arms of his fellow gang mates. Tanako reached in her obi and pulled out a tanto the weapon she was named after. It was larger than a throwing dagger, but too short to be a sword of any kind. Casting away the sheath, she cut a slit in her kimono from hip to foot. She leapt to her feet and faced the now wary band of men. They knew better to go at her head on. She had her best weapon out and ready and her clothes no longer hindered her movement.
Tanako also knew it would be a bad idea for her to face her brothers, so she tuned on her heal and ran. Stunned at the cowardly act of their ex gang mate the men stood at a loss for words.
"Don't just stand there ya fools go in and get her!" Muko shouted as he once again held the fighting boy in his arms. Yahiko had a bleeding lip from the slap he had received for another struggle he put up. But he was not going to give up, he had to help Tanako, it was over seven to one....and he swore he would help protect her. The men snapped out of there stunned state and ran down the hall after her. There were only three places she could have gone but as the searched all three rooms they found nothing.
Tanako held a still as she could; she was clinging to the rafters of the dojo. The small and hardly exposed beams of wood were difficult for her to grip, and her right hand was still clutching her tanto. She held back a snicker of disgust; she couldn't believe that not one of them had thought about looking up. She waited until most of them had disappeared into the room before jumping down, aiming for the last man in the hallway. The startled and pain filled cry of the man she brought down alerted everyone and she sprinted down the hall before they could scramble out of the rooms.
She headed straight for the dojo's practice room, knowing that she would have a better chance in the open room if she could not get outside. However, there already was someone in there, sword drawn and ready. She only took a few running steps into the room when she felt the dull side of the sword hit her in the back of the knees, sending her again sprawling to the floor and swearing worse than a drunk man. Turning, she blocked the sword as it was about to slap her in the side of the head to drop her cold.
"Tanto, come on, we can not do this if you just come with us." The young gang member said and he recovered from the block and stood with his sword pointed to the ground and a cocky smile on his face. Tanako leapt to her feet again just as the rest of the men gathered into the room and circled her. Her eyes darted back and forth around at the gang members; a sudden lost memory returned as she recalled her father in almost this same predicament.
"Oh you all would just LOVE it if I let myself be caught wouldn't you?" She spat at the men, glaring at each of them. Suddenly two made their move, Tanako leapt in the air to avoid them only to find a third who had anticipated this move and jumped as well. The third man caught her by the right wrist to prevent her from gutting him open with her tanto. Falling to a heap on the floor, Tanako took hold of the hand that had her and twisted her body around. The sudden shriek from the man told her that she had indeed twisted his arm out of place and she was immediately let go.
No sooner did she jump to her feet when two more took hold of her. The young gang member that tripped her in the way in the room darted up and used the flat side of his sword to slap her across the wrist. Swearing in pain Tanako felt her tanto slip from her hand as it became useless, she would be lucky if it was not broken. But she still had a lot of fight in her and she struggled like a mad woman taking down the two that had her and a third. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop them from coming. They ended up crashing through the screen door of the dojo and landed in a heap outside.
"ENOUGH!" Muko shouted. Tanako looked up and felt her heart stop at the sight of Yahiko at the end of Muko's sword point. "Tanto! That's enough. If ya don't come quietly I will run the boy through and well take ya anyway. It's up to you." The men scrambled off her and left her on the ground to make her decision. Tanako lay on the ground, her wrist throbbing in pain, a black eye already starting and more cuts than she cared to count...she could not keep up with all of them, and Muko had Yahiko. If she could not save herself, then at least she could save the boy.
"NO! Tanako don't let them use me against you!" Yahiko shouted, his warning earned him a slap in the back of the head with a sword. The force dropped the boy and he lay on the ground out cold.
"Yahiko!" Tanako struggled to stand and when she got to her feet she was again surrounded by the men. Too weary to go on...and with Yahiko's life at stake, she could do nothing to hope for a getaway. "Alright Muko...I'll go with you, just don't harm the boy....please." Muko stuck the sword in the dirt and picked up the limp boy and walked into the dojo practice room.
"Ya did the right thing girl....yes I knew you had a heart in that cold body of yours." He turned and called over his shoulder. "Make sure she's unarmed." Tanako was again talked before she could make a move and she felt dozens of hands on her looking for anything that could be a weapon. But the time the search was over they had found every dagger and throwing knife. She was tied at the wrists and marched away, she looked over her shoulder in time to see Yahiko lying silently on the floor of the dojo, he too was tied to prevent him from running off to warn anyone when he came to from the hit.
Tanako lost all the fight that was in her... there was no way she would have been able to live a normal life...and she trusted Muko with his promise.... But they had somehow escaped and somehow had found her. She should have known...and she almost put all she cared about into danger...and poor Yahiko. Sighing she followed the men as the crowded her in the middle of them all to prevent anyone from seeing her and coming to her aid. She didn't try to escape... she didn't even call out for help... she only hoped that when she was brought in front of Sasorie....that he would take her life, for she would never be able to have a life at all.
************************************************************** A/n.....aw crap.... Look what happened...and boy did I have to leave it off right there?...yes I did! Hahah Well Tanako lost all hope and Kenshin and Karou are no where to be found and now it's too late... Hmm I wonder how this is going to turn out. And what of Yahiko and Sano?....I know Yahiko will be ticked that he could not help out... well Leave a review and let me know what you want to happen!... any suggestions are welcome. Bye! * waves * ^_^x
Disclaimer: I don't own the red-head.....though I have another nearby ^_-
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Tanako woke the next day to find that she had slept in and all alone; the only person who was around was Yahiko. The boy was fast finishing up his practice swings so that he may catch a few lessons from her as she practiced herself. Though Tanako didn't know why she still felt compelled to practice. Her life was starting to go just the way she wanted it, and she didn't have to worry anymore. However, the doubt still lingered in her mind, she could never really be sure if she was really safe. The years of training had conformed her into the monster that she was. Never really being able to relax and live a normal life, always looking at a stranger and finding all his weak spots if ever he decided to attack.
She knew she shouldn't think such a way any longer, but as she sat at the table finishing up her breakfast that Karou had left for her and watching Yahiko practice a few new moves outside; she couldn't help but feel that something was in the air... something strange. Sighing she shoved the thoughts away as she shoved her half eaten breakfast away.
"Tanako will you teach me a few things about throwing knives?" The boy chirped up from outside, he was still trying to catch his breath and he was dripping with sweat but the light in his eyes showed Tanako that he was more than willing to learn anything new, And she could not help but smile.
"Are you sure that's a good idea Yahiko?" She stepped outside and stepped into her sandals. "You know you shouldn't be learning about how to attack people." Tanako paused as she stepped into the yard, something was not right the earth, it was to quiet. There was hardly a sound in the air and not even the songs of birds could be heard. It was an unnerving silence that was suddenly smashed away but the chirp of the young boy's voice.
"Come on Tanako, you never know what'll happen, and I may need to use a throwing knife one day, don't you think I should be prepared for that day? And besides Karou and Kenshin went into town today and won't be back for a few hours." Yahiko grinned like a mad man knowing that Tanako could not argue his point and seeing the weakness in her eyes to teach him. She had a kind heart, Yahiko knew this, and she loved nothing more than to help others out. "You may have trouble showing me in that kimono you have on." He added.
Tanako looked down at herself, true she was wearing a deep blue kimono with waves of water cascading from her waist to the bottom of the kimono. She thought it was a very lovely design and bright colored obi went perfect with it. She had not expected to do any real practicing but know that Yahiko wanted some pointers there was no way she was going to do anything with the clothes she had on at the moment.
"Alright Yahiko...let me go and change out of these clothes." She said with a small sigh of defeat and turned to head back into the dojo. Yahiko grinned in triumph, it was not everyday that he won an argument with anyone. And what was good about this argument was that he got to learn something new and cool, and perhaps Tanako would get out of that depressing slump she had seemed to be in.
Turning, he went to put his bokken away and make sure that the dojo was in good shape just incase Kenshin and Karou decided to return home early and he had yet to start his chores. But when he looked around he saw that even with the new training he was going to do, he would have enough time to clean things up. Heading back out into the yard he suddenly felt something wrong. Yahiko froze in the middle of the yard and took a look around.
"Hmmm that's strange...." He said to himself. "Feels like I'm being watched... Ha! I must be training a little too much." He added. However, not a moment after he said that did a pair of strong arms wrap around him pinning his arms to his side and a large hand clamped over his mouth. The boy was lifted off his feet and held so tightly he could hardly breathe. Oh man I knew someone was watching me and now look. Grrr I'm so stupid! He thought as he struggled as much as he dared. A few people wandered into his line of sight and what he saw made his eyes grow wide and he thrashed even harder than before.
There were a handful of men in the same uniform as Tanako. It was obvious to Yahiko that these where members of her gang; they had come to get her. They were silently making there way into the dojo to catch the girl unaware! Yahiko was not about to let that happen, but no matter how hard he struggled, the man holding him would not let go. If anything the man held him tighter, Yahiko relaxed lest he get crushed to death and be useless to help. The man felt Yahiko grow limp and slightly relaxed his grip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tanako already had her daggers strapped to her, so all she needed was to change into her old uniform on to allow her freedom to move when she was teaching Yahiko. She was just about to untie her obi when she felt the hair on the back of her neck started to tingle. She froze in mid action and held her breath; now she knew something was not right. She silently slid open the screen door and stepped out side into the hallway, pressing her back against the wall and inching slowly along it.
She was going to feel really stupid if there was nothing there at all. She had just started to relax and now this, she must be paranoid or something. But her training forced her to be safe than sorry and she took every chance she got to protect herself. Steeping into the kitchen she saw nothing amiss everything was just as she had left it a few minutes earlier. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yahiko knew this was going to be his only chance, the men were already stepping into the dojo and if they caught her cornered in the building there would be no way she would escape. The man had relaxed his grip enough that Yahiko knew he would be dropped in surprise. So, taking a deep breath, he kicked back and caught the man square in the stomach. With the air knocked out of him the man dropped Yahiko and coughed and gasped in vain for air.
"Tanako!! Look out, get out of the dojo! There's-" Yahiko couldn't finish his warning for the man had kicked the boy in the stomach in return to shut him up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tanako jerked in direction of Yahiko's shouts, and the sudden cut off told her that he was attacked. Suddenly the dojo exploded in noise and confusion. Knowing that they had been caught the gang members ditched their idea of sneaking in and barged in as fast as they could to catch her before she got outside. Tanako turned to sprint down the hall but her first step was cut short by her kimono and the fell face first onto the floor.
"Damn it!" Turning on her back she lifted her feet and kicked away the man who had first reached her. The kick sent him stumbling back and into the arms of his fellow gang mates. Tanako reached in her obi and pulled out a tanto the weapon she was named after. It was larger than a throwing dagger, but too short to be a sword of any kind. Casting away the sheath, she cut a slit in her kimono from hip to foot. She leapt to her feet and faced the now wary band of men. They knew better to go at her head on. She had her best weapon out and ready and her clothes no longer hindered her movement.
Tanako also knew it would be a bad idea for her to face her brothers, so she tuned on her heal and ran. Stunned at the cowardly act of their ex gang mate the men stood at a loss for words.
"Don't just stand there ya fools go in and get her!" Muko shouted as he once again held the fighting boy in his arms. Yahiko had a bleeding lip from the slap he had received for another struggle he put up. But he was not going to give up, he had to help Tanako, it was over seven to one....and he swore he would help protect her. The men snapped out of there stunned state and ran down the hall after her. There were only three places she could have gone but as the searched all three rooms they found nothing.
Tanako held a still as she could; she was clinging to the rafters of the dojo. The small and hardly exposed beams of wood were difficult for her to grip, and her right hand was still clutching her tanto. She held back a snicker of disgust; she couldn't believe that not one of them had thought about looking up. She waited until most of them had disappeared into the room before jumping down, aiming for the last man in the hallway. The startled and pain filled cry of the man she brought down alerted everyone and she sprinted down the hall before they could scramble out of the rooms.
She headed straight for the dojo's practice room, knowing that she would have a better chance in the open room if she could not get outside. However, there already was someone in there, sword drawn and ready. She only took a few running steps into the room when she felt the dull side of the sword hit her in the back of the knees, sending her again sprawling to the floor and swearing worse than a drunk man. Turning, she blocked the sword as it was about to slap her in the side of the head to drop her cold.
"Tanto, come on, we can not do this if you just come with us." The young gang member said and he recovered from the block and stood with his sword pointed to the ground and a cocky smile on his face. Tanako leapt to her feet again just as the rest of the men gathered into the room and circled her. Her eyes darted back and forth around at the gang members; a sudden lost memory returned as she recalled her father in almost this same predicament.
"Oh you all would just LOVE it if I let myself be caught wouldn't you?" She spat at the men, glaring at each of them. Suddenly two made their move, Tanako leapt in the air to avoid them only to find a third who had anticipated this move and jumped as well. The third man caught her by the right wrist to prevent her from gutting him open with her tanto. Falling to a heap on the floor, Tanako took hold of the hand that had her and twisted her body around. The sudden shriek from the man told her that she had indeed twisted his arm out of place and she was immediately let go.
No sooner did she jump to her feet when two more took hold of her. The young gang member that tripped her in the way in the room darted up and used the flat side of his sword to slap her across the wrist. Swearing in pain Tanako felt her tanto slip from her hand as it became useless, she would be lucky if it was not broken. But she still had a lot of fight in her and she struggled like a mad woman taking down the two that had her and a third. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop them from coming. They ended up crashing through the screen door of the dojo and landed in a heap outside.
"ENOUGH!" Muko shouted. Tanako looked up and felt her heart stop at the sight of Yahiko at the end of Muko's sword point. "Tanto! That's enough. If ya don't come quietly I will run the boy through and well take ya anyway. It's up to you." The men scrambled off her and left her on the ground to make her decision. Tanako lay on the ground, her wrist throbbing in pain, a black eye already starting and more cuts than she cared to count...she could not keep up with all of them, and Muko had Yahiko. If she could not save herself, then at least she could save the boy.
"NO! Tanako don't let them use me against you!" Yahiko shouted, his warning earned him a slap in the back of the head with a sword. The force dropped the boy and he lay on the ground out cold.
"Yahiko!" Tanako struggled to stand and when she got to her feet she was again surrounded by the men. Too weary to go on...and with Yahiko's life at stake, she could do nothing to hope for a getaway. "Alright Muko...I'll go with you, just don't harm the boy....please." Muko stuck the sword in the dirt and picked up the limp boy and walked into the dojo practice room.
"Ya did the right thing girl....yes I knew you had a heart in that cold body of yours." He turned and called over his shoulder. "Make sure she's unarmed." Tanako was again talked before she could make a move and she felt dozens of hands on her looking for anything that could be a weapon. But the time the search was over they had found every dagger and throwing knife. She was tied at the wrists and marched away, she looked over her shoulder in time to see Yahiko lying silently on the floor of the dojo, he too was tied to prevent him from running off to warn anyone when he came to from the hit.
Tanako lost all the fight that was in her... there was no way she would have been able to live a normal life...and she trusted Muko with his promise.... But they had somehow escaped and somehow had found her. She should have known...and she almost put all she cared about into danger...and poor Yahiko. Sighing she followed the men as the crowded her in the middle of them all to prevent anyone from seeing her and coming to her aid. She didn't try to escape... she didn't even call out for help... she only hoped that when she was brought in front of Sasorie....that he would take her life, for she would never be able to have a life at all.
************************************************************** A/n.....aw crap.... Look what happened...and boy did I have to leave it off right there?...yes I did! Hahah Well Tanako lost all hope and Kenshin and Karou are no where to be found and now it's too late... Hmm I wonder how this is going to turn out. And what of Yahiko and Sano?....I know Yahiko will be ticked that he could not help out... well Leave a review and let me know what you want to happen!... any suggestions are welcome. Bye! * waves * ^_^x