A/N 'ello everyone.. sorry I'm late you can kick me if you want to. Well
anyway I hope you like this chapter.. it's a bit short .. sigh I need
to stop making short chapters. Thank you to all my reviewers many hugs and
candy will be passed around ok enough of me and on to the story!
Devotion
By
Melissa x
Karou woke the next morning with a feeling of dread. Kenshin would be leaving at any moment, if she wanted to say goodbye she would have to hurry and catch him. Jumping from her bedroll she flew into her kimono and ran a comb through her hair. It was the fastest she ever remembered getting ready. She found the small paper with the directions and tucked it carefully into the folds of her obi, that way she would always have it with her.
"Alright Karou, no crying." She told herself as she stood in front of her screen door, preparing herself to face Kenshin. When she got her nerves under control she took a deep breath and stepped out of her room. She felt as though she was walking to see an execution. No Karou stop thinking that way you baka She scolded herself, and shoved the thoughts away and continued into the kitchen where she could hear Kenshin and Sano talking, almost as if they never went to sleep.
"Good morning Missy." Sano called over his shoulder when he saw her walk in with nothing but a calm look on her face. He had to admit, he was impressed by the strong front she was putting up. He knew as well as everyone else about how she felt about Kenshin going off to a battle without her tagging along. But she knew better than to tag along anyway, that would only put them all in that much more danger.
"Good morning Sano, Kenshin." She replied, she looked over at Kenshin to see that he was already prepared to leave, as was Sano. She took a seat at the table next to the teen and kept her eyes on her hands as Kenshin brought her breakfast to her.
"Good morning Karou-dono." He said in his usual cheerful demeanor as he set the bowl down in front of her along with two chopsticks. "I hope you slept well last night." He added as he kneeled at the table next to her. Karou started picking at her food and ate a little, she wanted to play up the fact that she was not at all happy that she was being left behind. However, she knew that she was not going to be treated like Yahiko any longer, she was not a child. As soon as things calmed down, she too would slip out and help rescue Tanako.
"Yes Kenshin, I did sleep well; though I had some horrible dreams last night." She said, adding a hint of fear in her voice. With her eyes still glued to her food, she did not catch the sad look that Kenshin gave her. She didn't want to see it; for truth was that she had no such dreams.
"I'm sorry to hear that Karou, but don't worry, things will turn out all right in the end." He didn't know if that was for sure, but he had a feeling that at the end of all this, their lives would never be the same, but changed for the better.
Karou nodded, "I know Kenshin, but I can't help but worry." No playing went into that, it was the truth. She would always worry. "About you, Sano, and Tanako; you're going right in the middle of a gang. In their home, there must be over a hundred of them...two hundred maybe!" Karou caught the look in Kenshin's eyes and knew that she was letting on more than she should, so she relaxed but kept the solemn tone and look. "So you can understand why I would be so worried."
"Yes Karou I do understand, that I do." He whispered, moving around the table and drawing her into one final embrace. "Just have faith in me Karou."
Tears burned in her eyes and she didn't want them to fall but she let them anyway. "I have the strongest faith in you Kenshin, and it will never leave." Her voice was shaky and threatened to crack.
"That's all I really need Karou." He said simply.
Sano looked at the two and felt very, very out of place and uncomfortable with the fact that he was sitting two feet away from them. He would have left them alone but they were already burning daylight. He cleared his throat. "Um, Kenshin.... It was about time we were leaving." He said softly, hoping that Karou wouldn't turn on him for interrupting their goodbye. Kenshin sighed and pulled away from Karou and stood up. Karou looked up at him with wide eyes and tears still trailing down her face.
"You're going already?... So soon?... But Yahiko isn't even up yet. He'll be upset that he was not able to see you off." She said weakly, knowing that nothing would stall them now.
"He'll understand, that he will." Kenshin said taking up the small traveling pack, full of water and food for the three day trip. "Besides I talked with him last night about everything and he knows how important this is and that we must be off as soon as we can." He added. Sano stood to join him and said his goodbyes to Missy before he grabbed his own pack and headed out the door. He was never really good with goodbyes and he knew that he should at least give the two lovebirds a few moments alone. Kenshin emerged from the kitchen a few moments later with the look of heartache showing on his face.
Kenshin felt horrible for leaving Karou like this, knowing how much she worried for him and how much she wanted to help. However, there was no alternative, she had to stay. Kenshin touched his lips where Karou left a good luck kiss with such fiery passion that he regretted having to leave. They didn't turn around when Karou came out to watch them walk away; nor did they turn when Megumi joined her after just waking up herself. The two young women shared silent tears over the two as they faded in the distance, then vanishing all together as they turned a street corner.
"Well that wasn't so bad eh Kenshin?" Sano said as they hurried to exit the city. "I mean she didn't even cry as much as I thought she would." He looked down at Kenshin but couldn't see what he was thinking for he had his bangs covering his face, only his voice betrayed him.
"That she didn't, at least tears that we could not see." Was all he would allow his tormented voice to say and he fell into silence, the kind of silence that was final. Sano knew not to talk to Kenshin for a few hours, by then he would be back to normal and have his mind totally on his mission.
Karou knew better than to wait around for the right amount of time to pass before she too would leave. If she sat around and did nothing then the time would crawl by slower than she could stand. So she kept herself busy, doing chores and helping Megumi out with the patients as best she could. She was careful not to wear herself out, or Kenshin would be right about her not having the strength to make the three day trip and then fight. Yahiko woke and as Karou had thought, was upset that he had allowed himself to sleep in and miss Kenshin and Sano. But the boy understood and got right to his training to keep his mind off the dangers that his friends where walking into.
Three hours had past and Karou was dying to get on her way, but three hours was not enough of a head start; she wouldn't want to get too close to the pair and then be discovered. So she changed into her training gi and joined Yahiko, warming herself up to the battle that was to come. Yahiko noticed the intensity in which Karou was practicing, and the new moves that he had never seen her do before, but he shrugged it off, knowing that she must be a hundred times more upset than he and was only venting, girls, bah. He would never understand how they thought.
After another hour had past Karou stopped her practicing and made her way back to the dojo and into her room. There she changed into a fresh gi and got ready for the few days of travel. She fished the directions out of her obi, took a look at the first few lines and tucked it into her gi. With her wooden sword strapped to her back she suddenly got an idea. She should take a few of Tanako's weapons, this way, when they reach her, she would not be completely unarmed. Kenshin kept Tanako's daggers in his room after they had found them outside when she was taken.
Karou quickly and silently slipped into Kenshin room and found them resting quietly in a small pile near the window. Karou picked a tanto, found the sheath that went with it and tucked it away. She them grabbed a pocket containing four throwing daggers and tucked that away as well.
Now for the hard part; she had to make her way into the kitchen to gather supplies and do all this without being spotted by Yahiko or Miss Megumi or anyone else. She slipped back in her room to grab her traveling pack, which she already had water in from the night before, and slipped back out and into the kitchen. She gathered a little more than she thought she would need because, well they would have to make the journey home and who knew if this gang hideout had anything that they could use.
With her traveling bag riding high on her back, she edged up to the door of the dojo. She looked around the door to see Yahiko still practicing near the side of the house. If she left now she would surely be spotted by the boy. So she waited, hopping that Yahiko would get tired and go into the kitchen, she also hoped that Megumi would not spot her standing by the doorway. Time seem to inch by, precious time that she needed. The fifth hour was fast approaching and Karou growled softly, she was thinking of tossing a rock out there to distract the boy, but knowing her, she would end up aiming for his head hopping to knock him out.
She didn't have to do anything, for finally Yahiko grew tired and trudged off and headed right for the kitchen to get his afternoon snack just as she had hopped he would. As soon at the boy was gone and she was sure no one could see her, Karou bolted and headed right for the dojo gates, it was now or never. Shutting the gates behind her as quietly as she could, she ran down the street Kenshin and Sano took five hours earlier and didn't stop till she was out of sight of the dojo.
Karou shifted the pack on her back and paused to catch her breath. This was it, she was really doing this. Even after Kenshin had all but begged her not to, she was heading out to fight along side them and rescue Tanako. She never made such a journey alone, she always had at least Yahiko by her side. There was many dangers out there, people she could run into, what if she got hurt halfway there? But there was nothing she could do, she was wasting time standing there thinking the whole thing over. If she thought about it too much she might end up frightening herself and she would turn right back around and go back to the dojo and she would never forgive herself if she did.
So with all fears shoved to the back of her mind she headed off, remembering the first few lines of directions so she knew just where to go until she hit the forest. Yet as she walked at a fast pace, she couldn't help but have one fear work its way back into her mind. The same fear that had bothered her for the past five hours, what would Kenshin do when he found out that she had followed? She never did make a promise but Kenshin trusted her, she would hate to lose that trust but she would get it back in time if she had to; this was something that just had to be done.
Gah! So Karou did it, she's going after them. Poor girl, if she only knew what awaited her. Mwahaha.... Ok next chapter will be much better and hopefully be much longer. And please don't forget to tell me what you want to see happen, I love trying to work them into the story... x
Devotion
By
Melissa x
Karou woke the next morning with a feeling of dread. Kenshin would be leaving at any moment, if she wanted to say goodbye she would have to hurry and catch him. Jumping from her bedroll she flew into her kimono and ran a comb through her hair. It was the fastest she ever remembered getting ready. She found the small paper with the directions and tucked it carefully into the folds of her obi, that way she would always have it with her.
"Alright Karou, no crying." She told herself as she stood in front of her screen door, preparing herself to face Kenshin. When she got her nerves under control she took a deep breath and stepped out of her room. She felt as though she was walking to see an execution. No Karou stop thinking that way you baka She scolded herself, and shoved the thoughts away and continued into the kitchen where she could hear Kenshin and Sano talking, almost as if they never went to sleep.
"Good morning Missy." Sano called over his shoulder when he saw her walk in with nothing but a calm look on her face. He had to admit, he was impressed by the strong front she was putting up. He knew as well as everyone else about how she felt about Kenshin going off to a battle without her tagging along. But she knew better than to tag along anyway, that would only put them all in that much more danger.
"Good morning Sano, Kenshin." She replied, she looked over at Kenshin to see that he was already prepared to leave, as was Sano. She took a seat at the table next to the teen and kept her eyes on her hands as Kenshin brought her breakfast to her.
"Good morning Karou-dono." He said in his usual cheerful demeanor as he set the bowl down in front of her along with two chopsticks. "I hope you slept well last night." He added as he kneeled at the table next to her. Karou started picking at her food and ate a little, she wanted to play up the fact that she was not at all happy that she was being left behind. However, she knew that she was not going to be treated like Yahiko any longer, she was not a child. As soon as things calmed down, she too would slip out and help rescue Tanako.
"Yes Kenshin, I did sleep well; though I had some horrible dreams last night." She said, adding a hint of fear in her voice. With her eyes still glued to her food, she did not catch the sad look that Kenshin gave her. She didn't want to see it; for truth was that she had no such dreams.
"I'm sorry to hear that Karou, but don't worry, things will turn out all right in the end." He didn't know if that was for sure, but he had a feeling that at the end of all this, their lives would never be the same, but changed for the better.
Karou nodded, "I know Kenshin, but I can't help but worry." No playing went into that, it was the truth. She would always worry. "About you, Sano, and Tanako; you're going right in the middle of a gang. In their home, there must be over a hundred of them...two hundred maybe!" Karou caught the look in Kenshin's eyes and knew that she was letting on more than she should, so she relaxed but kept the solemn tone and look. "So you can understand why I would be so worried."
"Yes Karou I do understand, that I do." He whispered, moving around the table and drawing her into one final embrace. "Just have faith in me Karou."
Tears burned in her eyes and she didn't want them to fall but she let them anyway. "I have the strongest faith in you Kenshin, and it will never leave." Her voice was shaky and threatened to crack.
"That's all I really need Karou." He said simply.
Sano looked at the two and felt very, very out of place and uncomfortable with the fact that he was sitting two feet away from them. He would have left them alone but they were already burning daylight. He cleared his throat. "Um, Kenshin.... It was about time we were leaving." He said softly, hoping that Karou wouldn't turn on him for interrupting their goodbye. Kenshin sighed and pulled away from Karou and stood up. Karou looked up at him with wide eyes and tears still trailing down her face.
"You're going already?... So soon?... But Yahiko isn't even up yet. He'll be upset that he was not able to see you off." She said weakly, knowing that nothing would stall them now.
"He'll understand, that he will." Kenshin said taking up the small traveling pack, full of water and food for the three day trip. "Besides I talked with him last night about everything and he knows how important this is and that we must be off as soon as we can." He added. Sano stood to join him and said his goodbyes to Missy before he grabbed his own pack and headed out the door. He was never really good with goodbyes and he knew that he should at least give the two lovebirds a few moments alone. Kenshin emerged from the kitchen a few moments later with the look of heartache showing on his face.
Kenshin felt horrible for leaving Karou like this, knowing how much she worried for him and how much she wanted to help. However, there was no alternative, she had to stay. Kenshin touched his lips where Karou left a good luck kiss with such fiery passion that he regretted having to leave. They didn't turn around when Karou came out to watch them walk away; nor did they turn when Megumi joined her after just waking up herself. The two young women shared silent tears over the two as they faded in the distance, then vanishing all together as they turned a street corner.
"Well that wasn't so bad eh Kenshin?" Sano said as they hurried to exit the city. "I mean she didn't even cry as much as I thought she would." He looked down at Kenshin but couldn't see what he was thinking for he had his bangs covering his face, only his voice betrayed him.
"That she didn't, at least tears that we could not see." Was all he would allow his tormented voice to say and he fell into silence, the kind of silence that was final. Sano knew not to talk to Kenshin for a few hours, by then he would be back to normal and have his mind totally on his mission.
Karou knew better than to wait around for the right amount of time to pass before she too would leave. If she sat around and did nothing then the time would crawl by slower than she could stand. So she kept herself busy, doing chores and helping Megumi out with the patients as best she could. She was careful not to wear herself out, or Kenshin would be right about her not having the strength to make the three day trip and then fight. Yahiko woke and as Karou had thought, was upset that he had allowed himself to sleep in and miss Kenshin and Sano. But the boy understood and got right to his training to keep his mind off the dangers that his friends where walking into.
Three hours had past and Karou was dying to get on her way, but three hours was not enough of a head start; she wouldn't want to get too close to the pair and then be discovered. So she changed into her training gi and joined Yahiko, warming herself up to the battle that was to come. Yahiko noticed the intensity in which Karou was practicing, and the new moves that he had never seen her do before, but he shrugged it off, knowing that she must be a hundred times more upset than he and was only venting, girls, bah. He would never understand how they thought.
After another hour had past Karou stopped her practicing and made her way back to the dojo and into her room. There she changed into a fresh gi and got ready for the few days of travel. She fished the directions out of her obi, took a look at the first few lines and tucked it into her gi. With her wooden sword strapped to her back she suddenly got an idea. She should take a few of Tanako's weapons, this way, when they reach her, she would not be completely unarmed. Kenshin kept Tanako's daggers in his room after they had found them outside when she was taken.
Karou quickly and silently slipped into Kenshin room and found them resting quietly in a small pile near the window. Karou picked a tanto, found the sheath that went with it and tucked it away. She them grabbed a pocket containing four throwing daggers and tucked that away as well.
Now for the hard part; she had to make her way into the kitchen to gather supplies and do all this without being spotted by Yahiko or Miss Megumi or anyone else. She slipped back in her room to grab her traveling pack, which she already had water in from the night before, and slipped back out and into the kitchen. She gathered a little more than she thought she would need because, well they would have to make the journey home and who knew if this gang hideout had anything that they could use.
With her traveling bag riding high on her back, she edged up to the door of the dojo. She looked around the door to see Yahiko still practicing near the side of the house. If she left now she would surely be spotted by the boy. So she waited, hopping that Yahiko would get tired and go into the kitchen, she also hoped that Megumi would not spot her standing by the doorway. Time seem to inch by, precious time that she needed. The fifth hour was fast approaching and Karou growled softly, she was thinking of tossing a rock out there to distract the boy, but knowing her, she would end up aiming for his head hopping to knock him out.
She didn't have to do anything, for finally Yahiko grew tired and trudged off and headed right for the kitchen to get his afternoon snack just as she had hopped he would. As soon at the boy was gone and she was sure no one could see her, Karou bolted and headed right for the dojo gates, it was now or never. Shutting the gates behind her as quietly as she could, she ran down the street Kenshin and Sano took five hours earlier and didn't stop till she was out of sight of the dojo.
Karou shifted the pack on her back and paused to catch her breath. This was it, she was really doing this. Even after Kenshin had all but begged her not to, she was heading out to fight along side them and rescue Tanako. She never made such a journey alone, she always had at least Yahiko by her side. There was many dangers out there, people she could run into, what if she got hurt halfway there? But there was nothing she could do, she was wasting time standing there thinking the whole thing over. If she thought about it too much she might end up frightening herself and she would turn right back around and go back to the dojo and she would never forgive herself if she did.
So with all fears shoved to the back of her mind she headed off, remembering the first few lines of directions so she knew just where to go until she hit the forest. Yet as she walked at a fast pace, she couldn't help but have one fear work its way back into her mind. The same fear that had bothered her for the past five hours, what would Kenshin do when he found out that she had followed? She never did make a promise but Kenshin trusted her, she would hate to lose that trust but she would get it back in time if she had to; this was something that just had to be done.
Gah! So Karou did it, she's going after them. Poor girl, if she only knew what awaited her. Mwahaha.... Ok next chapter will be much better and hopefully be much longer. And please don't forget to tell me what you want to see happen, I love trying to work them into the story... x