A/n 'ello everyone!!.... How are you today eh? Well sorry about the short
chapter but I think My writer's block as lifted for the time being so lets
all hope that it stays this way. I have most of this story planed out but
the ending has got me stumped... but I'm not going to worry about it until I
get there... or else the block will spread and I'll have another dry spell
like last time.
I want the thank all my reviewers... Shadow_girl- Hold on... don't go off whimpering just yet... and Kohan I think you may want to get some ear plugs eh? ^_~. Kagome-Kogas-dream-date... hehe I'm glad you like it and yes I do hope to finish it before the school year it out... I hope. * blinks*... so hey you're reading my other stories too?.. I hope you like them ^_^. Satu-chan- * whistles*... you're the only one who hates Tanako, but hey that's ok... She's messing with Kenshin's mind I totally know what you mean... but don't worry... she only has eyes for one person... the question is... how will Kenshin react? ^_~.. Koishii sweet - lol sorry about the last chapter being so short... forgive me.. Britanie love- thanks ! Kenshin's girl whoa whoa!!... ^_^;;;;;;;;;;
Ok now on to the story!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin ...I have another red-head with his own awesome sword to take care of me ^_^ .. ( nah to the rest of you!)
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Tanako was startled awake many hours later and jerked to her feet. She could not believe that she had slept the entire night. The dreamless sleep had done wonders for her. She felt rested and ready for the day, things would have been perfect. But they were not; hunger pained her, and her arms ached from being tied behind her back for so long, and her hands had long gone numb. The gang member stayed close around her as they started to long march home.
She took her first good look around as they walked; Tanako realized that they were closer to home than she thought. If all went well they would make it there before the day was out. She kept her eyes to the ground to make sure that she didn't trip; with her arms tied behind her back it would not be good if the tripped and fell. Not one person said a word to her as the relentless march continued on. And all she had was her mind to keep her company.
She thought of her family, wondering why had she not seen nor heard from them... they had swore to protect her yet they had not found her yet. Where they hurt?... where they needed? She was surprised to find her eyes stinging with tears from her worry. Tanako didn't dwell on these thoughts for very long. It pained her greatly not knowing what was going on.
Her thoughts then wandered to an area that made her grow nervous and edgy. She was to see Toshiki again. If all went well with the journey she would see him before the day was out. They where wandering though forests instead of taking the road, and they were using the much-used short cuts. They were covering ground fast than she thought possible. How would Toshiki act when he saw that she had been brought back. He had ordered her to run away and never return and she still could not do such a simple task.
Would he cry when she was executed? Would he stand there, stone faced until he was alone, then and only then would he allow his tears to fall? Or worse yet... would he not shed a tear over her death. Perhaps he didn't feel as strongly towards her as she had come to believe. They did seem to be more like siblings than friends to each other. But that still didn't stop her worrying that he would not feel a thing over her death.
She mulled over these thoughts and feeling for so long and for so deeply that she didn't notice that the day was almost gone... and that they were getting ever closer to their destination. It was not until she heard a scout that she realized that they where almost home. She wondered what kind of greeting she was to get when she arrived.
~~~~~~~~~
She did not receive the greeting that she thought she would. Everyone acted almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Some greeted her as if she had just returned from a long mission... other just stared. It was plain to see that not everyone understood what had happened. They thought her to be dead, but here she was before them... alive and as well as can be.
She was quickly led though the small village and placed in a small one room building. The room had a wooden pole in the middle of it to help hold up the roof. She was forced on her knees and tied with her hands behind her to the pole. Then.... She was left alone. Tanako took a look around at the small building. This was not the first time she had seen it. She herself had tied up many hostages and people set to be executed here. Yet this was the first time that she had seen the building through the eyes of one of the prisoners.
The room was dark, for there were no windows or anything to let in a single ray of light. And as the sun continued to set the room would get darker and darker until the person would believe that they must be struck blind. Not a speak of moonlight or star light would be able to comfort them.
Knowing that her end was near; that she had but hours left before she would be dead. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts and memories; each one fighting to be replayed to comfort her. She didn't know what to think about first. Her childhood... her friends... family... her fate... the one she loved...?
~~~~~~~~~~
Toshiki was kneeling next to his leader when the search party had returned. He sat there with a calm face; his clenched fists the only thing that gave away his true feelings. When they had first entered he had hoped that they had not found her; but with the smiles that where on their face despite the wounds that they had confirmed that they had indeed caught her... and that she put up a fight. He bowed his head ever so slightly to allow his hair to fall to curtain his face and mask his emotions. There was still a slight chance that he would be able to get Tanako out of here... but he would have to act slow... be cautious... and take his time... but her knew that time, was something that Tanako didn't have.
"She was with who?!" Sasorie could not believe what he was being told.
"She was with the Battousai leader. He was with her when she had spoke to us in the jail room... he seemed to be protecting her." Muko repeated calmly with a slight smile on his face.
"The Manslayer... The Master Assassin himself." Sasorie didn't know why he was so surprised. They were from the same mold those demons. The female version of the one that brought fear in the hearts of all men hardly over a decade ago. Now she was with him and his close circle of friends it seems. "If she is now a friend of his... why did they not come rescue her?"
"We do not know sir; we thought perhaps something must have happened during the earthquake, ether to him or to one of the others. But we traveled in peace."
"Hmmm..." Sasorie suddenly got an idea, it seemed far fetched but if it went well... then he would be known throughout Japan. "You have her locked up?"
Muko nodded "Yes sir. She is weak, her spirit is lost. She will not be escaping."
"Good, good," he pulled a lock of his white hair behind his ear and turned to Toshiki who immediately looked up at his leader. "I do not know why she ran when your team was attacked last week... but I intend to find out... and she will be killed for her misdeed."
Toshiki sat still as he heard his master's plans. He gave a slight nod in agreement to his words. Though he would attack first before he let Tanako come to any harm. Sasorie continued.
"However, she will not be killed just yet. I wish to wait it out to see if the Battousai comes for her. If she is truly his friend now, I don't see why he won't."
"Are you planning something for the Manslayer sir?" Toshiki asked in his powerful voice, he made sure to keep any emotion out of his voice, wanting only to sound curious.
"You will see Toshiki. You all will see in time." He added to the others that where watching him. "Now, I'm sure my poor Tanto is starving, I know that you haven't fed her in the two days that you had her in your possession."
Muko shrugged and smiled. "Naturally, why give her the strength to fight us. Even without her weapons she is a deadly assassin."
'Of course you fool' Toshiki thought. He had trained her himself to be skilled in fighting even without a weapon. One must always be prepared.
"Naturally." Sasorie repeated, "Well as much as I know hunger would make it much more easer to get what I want from her... She is like a child to me, as you are Toshiki." He looked over as his stone faced companion. 'He will make a great leader when I am gone' Sasorie thought 'It's too bad that Tanto will not be around to enjoy such an honor.' "Muko. Send someone to feed her; I will let her rest this night, I will talk to her in the morning."
"Leader, allow me to take care of her." Toshiki spoke up before Sasorie could take his leave to his room. Sasorie turned to look back into the piercing ice blue eyes of the man before him.
"Why would you want to take it upon yourself?"
"I've been responsible for so many years." Toshiki started, locking his eyes on his leader, refusing to look away and risk being suspicious of lying. "I see it only fit to be with her these last few days she has left." He was relived to hear his voice keep its powerful demanding sound, and not fall to the sound of desperate begging.
Sasorie smiled, "You are an honorable man Toshiki-san... go... take care of her."
Toshiki bowed low to his leader as he walked by. "Thank you leader." When Sasorie was out of the room Toshiki took his leave and went to fetch the things he was sure to need. Muko and part of the search party went with him. Toshiki had to figure a way to be alone with Tanako if only for a few moment. He wanted to see her so badly, but with the eyes of the others around him... he would have to hide everything he felt for his childhood best friend.
**************************************************
A/N...EEP!.... Toshiki is heading off to talk with Tanako!. What's going to happen..... ( hehe I always ask that ... forgive me) So will he be upset?... will he tell her how he feels... and will Tanako tell him of her own feelings?... and what does Sasorie have in store for our red head?.... Please leave a review and let me know what you think should happen... I've already started the next chapter.. but I can always fix it ^_^X...
I want the thank all my reviewers... Shadow_girl- Hold on... don't go off whimpering just yet... and Kohan I think you may want to get some ear plugs eh? ^_~. Kagome-Kogas-dream-date... hehe I'm glad you like it and yes I do hope to finish it before the school year it out... I hope. * blinks*... so hey you're reading my other stories too?.. I hope you like them ^_^. Satu-chan- * whistles*... you're the only one who hates Tanako, but hey that's ok... She's messing with Kenshin's mind I totally know what you mean... but don't worry... she only has eyes for one person... the question is... how will Kenshin react? ^_~.. Koishii sweet - lol sorry about the last chapter being so short... forgive me.. Britanie love- thanks ! Kenshin's girl whoa whoa!!... ^_^;;;;;;;;;;
Ok now on to the story!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin ...I have another red-head with his own awesome sword to take care of me ^_^ .. ( nah to the rest of you!)
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Tanako was startled awake many hours later and jerked to her feet. She could not believe that she had slept the entire night. The dreamless sleep had done wonders for her. She felt rested and ready for the day, things would have been perfect. But they were not; hunger pained her, and her arms ached from being tied behind her back for so long, and her hands had long gone numb. The gang member stayed close around her as they started to long march home.
She took her first good look around as they walked; Tanako realized that they were closer to home than she thought. If all went well they would make it there before the day was out. She kept her eyes to the ground to make sure that she didn't trip; with her arms tied behind her back it would not be good if the tripped and fell. Not one person said a word to her as the relentless march continued on. And all she had was her mind to keep her company.
She thought of her family, wondering why had she not seen nor heard from them... they had swore to protect her yet they had not found her yet. Where they hurt?... where they needed? She was surprised to find her eyes stinging with tears from her worry. Tanako didn't dwell on these thoughts for very long. It pained her greatly not knowing what was going on.
Her thoughts then wandered to an area that made her grow nervous and edgy. She was to see Toshiki again. If all went well with the journey she would see him before the day was out. They where wandering though forests instead of taking the road, and they were using the much-used short cuts. They were covering ground fast than she thought possible. How would Toshiki act when he saw that she had been brought back. He had ordered her to run away and never return and she still could not do such a simple task.
Would he cry when she was executed? Would he stand there, stone faced until he was alone, then and only then would he allow his tears to fall? Or worse yet... would he not shed a tear over her death. Perhaps he didn't feel as strongly towards her as she had come to believe. They did seem to be more like siblings than friends to each other. But that still didn't stop her worrying that he would not feel a thing over her death.
She mulled over these thoughts and feeling for so long and for so deeply that she didn't notice that the day was almost gone... and that they were getting ever closer to their destination. It was not until she heard a scout that she realized that they where almost home. She wondered what kind of greeting she was to get when she arrived.
~~~~~~~~~
She did not receive the greeting that she thought she would. Everyone acted almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Some greeted her as if she had just returned from a long mission... other just stared. It was plain to see that not everyone understood what had happened. They thought her to be dead, but here she was before them... alive and as well as can be.
She was quickly led though the small village and placed in a small one room building. The room had a wooden pole in the middle of it to help hold up the roof. She was forced on her knees and tied with her hands behind her to the pole. Then.... She was left alone. Tanako took a look around at the small building. This was not the first time she had seen it. She herself had tied up many hostages and people set to be executed here. Yet this was the first time that she had seen the building through the eyes of one of the prisoners.
The room was dark, for there were no windows or anything to let in a single ray of light. And as the sun continued to set the room would get darker and darker until the person would believe that they must be struck blind. Not a speak of moonlight or star light would be able to comfort them.
Knowing that her end was near; that she had but hours left before she would be dead. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts and memories; each one fighting to be replayed to comfort her. She didn't know what to think about first. Her childhood... her friends... family... her fate... the one she loved...?
~~~~~~~~~~
Toshiki was kneeling next to his leader when the search party had returned. He sat there with a calm face; his clenched fists the only thing that gave away his true feelings. When they had first entered he had hoped that they had not found her; but with the smiles that where on their face despite the wounds that they had confirmed that they had indeed caught her... and that she put up a fight. He bowed his head ever so slightly to allow his hair to fall to curtain his face and mask his emotions. There was still a slight chance that he would be able to get Tanako out of here... but he would have to act slow... be cautious... and take his time... but her knew that time, was something that Tanako didn't have.
"She was with who?!" Sasorie could not believe what he was being told.
"She was with the Battousai leader. He was with her when she had spoke to us in the jail room... he seemed to be protecting her." Muko repeated calmly with a slight smile on his face.
"The Manslayer... The Master Assassin himself." Sasorie didn't know why he was so surprised. They were from the same mold those demons. The female version of the one that brought fear in the hearts of all men hardly over a decade ago. Now she was with him and his close circle of friends it seems. "If she is now a friend of his... why did they not come rescue her?"
"We do not know sir; we thought perhaps something must have happened during the earthquake, ether to him or to one of the others. But we traveled in peace."
"Hmmm..." Sasorie suddenly got an idea, it seemed far fetched but if it went well... then he would be known throughout Japan. "You have her locked up?"
Muko nodded "Yes sir. She is weak, her spirit is lost. She will not be escaping."
"Good, good," he pulled a lock of his white hair behind his ear and turned to Toshiki who immediately looked up at his leader. "I do not know why she ran when your team was attacked last week... but I intend to find out... and she will be killed for her misdeed."
Toshiki sat still as he heard his master's plans. He gave a slight nod in agreement to his words. Though he would attack first before he let Tanako come to any harm. Sasorie continued.
"However, she will not be killed just yet. I wish to wait it out to see if the Battousai comes for her. If she is truly his friend now, I don't see why he won't."
"Are you planning something for the Manslayer sir?" Toshiki asked in his powerful voice, he made sure to keep any emotion out of his voice, wanting only to sound curious.
"You will see Toshiki. You all will see in time." He added to the others that where watching him. "Now, I'm sure my poor Tanto is starving, I know that you haven't fed her in the two days that you had her in your possession."
Muko shrugged and smiled. "Naturally, why give her the strength to fight us. Even without her weapons she is a deadly assassin."
'Of course you fool' Toshiki thought. He had trained her himself to be skilled in fighting even without a weapon. One must always be prepared.
"Naturally." Sasorie repeated, "Well as much as I know hunger would make it much more easer to get what I want from her... She is like a child to me, as you are Toshiki." He looked over as his stone faced companion. 'He will make a great leader when I am gone' Sasorie thought 'It's too bad that Tanto will not be around to enjoy such an honor.' "Muko. Send someone to feed her; I will let her rest this night, I will talk to her in the morning."
"Leader, allow me to take care of her." Toshiki spoke up before Sasorie could take his leave to his room. Sasorie turned to look back into the piercing ice blue eyes of the man before him.
"Why would you want to take it upon yourself?"
"I've been responsible for so many years." Toshiki started, locking his eyes on his leader, refusing to look away and risk being suspicious of lying. "I see it only fit to be with her these last few days she has left." He was relived to hear his voice keep its powerful demanding sound, and not fall to the sound of desperate begging.
Sasorie smiled, "You are an honorable man Toshiki-san... go... take care of her."
Toshiki bowed low to his leader as he walked by. "Thank you leader." When Sasorie was out of the room Toshiki took his leave and went to fetch the things he was sure to need. Muko and part of the search party went with him. Toshiki had to figure a way to be alone with Tanako if only for a few moment. He wanted to see her so badly, but with the eyes of the others around him... he would have to hide everything he felt for his childhood best friend.
**************************************************
A/N...EEP!.... Toshiki is heading off to talk with Tanako!. What's going to happen..... ( hehe I always ask that ... forgive me) So will he be upset?... will he tell her how he feels... and will Tanako tell him of her own feelings?... and what does Sasorie have in store for our red head?.... Please leave a review and let me know what you think should happen... I've already started the next chapter.. but I can always fix it ^_^X...