A/N OMG!! I updated!!. Can you believe it??? Gah I feel so bad about leaving you guy like that but this year of college blindsided me. I'm so busy I'm about to go up the wall. sighs. The updates will slow down a bit, I hope not as slow as this one was. Well enough of my excuses I'm sure y'all want to know what happens now.

p.s. falls at reviewers feet, crying. I love you guys!!.. I swear that if it was not for you I would not finish this story. I know everyone says this but I need to know that at least someone is reading. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews!!.. hugs everyone in one big group hug

Devotion

By

Melissa

Karou was led into the village and stashed away in Sasorie's hut. Then one of her captors was sent out to tell the leader what they had found. If all went well she could be used to their advantage. The gang member made his way though the crowd of men still waiting to fight the Battousai and walked up to his leader and whispered the news in his ear. A smile crept over Sasorie's face; the girl must belong to the Battousai. It was rather careless of him to bring her along to a battle such as this. He should have known that the demon would have two women at his side, seems that this woman was stupid to have let herself get caught alive.

Tanako eyed the gang member that slipped though the crowed to whisper something in the leader's ear. Something was going on behind the scenes and whatever it was it could not be good. She peeked further out from the forest but couldn't see a thing different. Toshiki stood watching the conversation as well, but the look on his face showed that he had no idea what was being said.

"Sano... Sano something is up." She whispered over her shoulder, her eyes never leaving Sasorie's face as an evil smile showed itself. Tanako felt very uneasy, things it seemed where about to go very wrong, she just had no idea what it could be. Sano was about to reply to Tanako's comment when he felt the same uneasiness come over him. He paused just a moment to figure it out but that pause was the worst thing he could do. By the time he realized what was going on... it was too late.

Tanako sensed the sneak attack and turned around in time to see Sano take a sword to the back of the neck. Thankfully, the sword was still in it's sheath; but the wood was hard enough to deliver a crushing blow. Sano had turned slightly to face his attackers but he was not fast enough. The blow knocked the teen into darkness and he fell to the forest floor limp as a doll. Tanako was not going to stick around long enough for the attacking gang member to descend upon her, but before she was even able to turn around to flee, she too was struck across the neck with an unsheathed sword, the new attacker came from behind, and she didn't even see who it was. It was not a knock out blow like Sano's and Tanako stumbled along before falling to her knees.

Starbursts of light flashed in Tanako's vision and her limbs went numb. She tried to call out to Toshiki who was only yards away but her mouth wouldn't work. An arm wrapped around her neck and breathing became difficult. She tried to pull the arm away but her body was suddenly too weak to do anything. She was hauled to her feet and roughly led around Sano's body and back into the village to be stashed away with Karou. Stopping only so that the gang member that had her could talk to another who was already starting to tie up the knocked-out fighter. Tanako couldn't hear a word that was being said; all she could hear was the rushing sound of her own breathing as she struggled for easer breath.

Sasorie thought that things were starting to look up; then he got word that Tanako had been caught in the forest and was at that moment being taken to the hut where they put the girl they had just caught. Now Sasorie knew that things where going to go his way. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him as he thought over this new bit of news. His cold eyes focused back on the Battousai, who was standing with his sword up in front of him.

Kenshin gasped for breath, his heart raced as he scanned the area. A crowd of gang members were still waiting for a chance to fight with him, but the numbers were few now. The land was thick with the scattered bodies of the men he had knocked out. He was taking the momentary pause to recover. He was out of breath but not weak, already he felt his strength flow back into him as his body recovered from the action. The small cut on his chest had long stopped bleeding, his gi stuck to his body where it had been soaked from his blood. Were the Hell was Sano? Didn't he want to get in, get out and go home? Kenshin growled softly, the boy had better not be fighting for the fun of the fight.

He heard a soft chuckle coming from the leader of the all but fallen gang. Kenshin's hard purple eyes narrowed; what was this leader up to now? The young man standing next to his leader was also giving him a strange look. He had no idea what was going on, Kenshin realized. This situation could quickly get out of hand. Now that he had the upper hand on the gang he would be foolish to drop his guard now. He had yet to see any sign of Sano or Tanako. For all he knew she could still be in their custody. He could not risk injury to her. The leader was watching him; he knew he was planning something. Kenshin could see him thinking something up; it showed in his eyes.

"Battousai!" Sasorie shouted out over the crowd. The gang froze and looked back at their leader. Sasorie waved them back and signaled to them to surround the Red-haired demon but to stay far away. The gang knew this sign well and slowly backed away until they all stood behind the leader and ever so slowly crept along the edge of the forest to slowly surround Kenshin.

"What?" Kenshin spat out, he was well aware that the gang's plan had suddenly shifted. He was no fool, he could see them inching along to encircle him, but they were staying so far away that even at a sprint it would take them more that a moment to reach him, by then Kenshin would be ready. Something was going on and he didn't like it. His eyes darted around trying to find Sano. But his white clothes where no where to be found.

"Have you had enough Battousai?" Sasorie shouted out. He watched as the bodies of the fallen members were carried away by other members to leave a wide clear path between him and the Battousai. Some of the fallen were already stirring back to life. But Sasorie didn't think that they would be able to hold a sword again for some time.

Kenshin snorted. "No! I haven't gotten what I came here for... The girl... I want her back!" Kenshin's voice dropped slightly lower. "Now."

Sasorie only smiled and turned to Toshiki, who had been standing there this whole time, silent and unsure of what to do. "Toshiki my boy," He whispered to him, "Go to my hut and tell them to bring the captors to me."

Captors? What captors. Toshiki had no idea about any captors in the leader's hut. He didn't want to leave the fight but apparently it was over for the moment. Kenshin had proved to be a phenomenal fighter. He could not believe that the man had lasted as long as he did. Toshiki had gone though plan after plan during the fight, anything to help Tanako escape. He nodded silently to his leader and turned on his heel and stalked back to the center of the village. Things were going well so far, if they kept up they all might get out of this unharmed.

Though, his happy thoughts were shattered as he opened he hut to his Leader's home and found Tanako bound by the wrists on the floor surrounded by three gang members. He stumbled back a step in surprise and almost stepped on Karou had he not been held back away from her by an arm of a fellow gang member. Toshiki gazed down at the new girl. He had not seen her before; she must have been with the Battousai.

Why would he bring a woman to a battle? Toshiki thought, though he was not biased, it was only that they young woman didn't look like the kind to be in a battle such as this. She was staring off in an apparent stupor, covered in blood and pale as Tanako.

"What happened? Who is this?' Toshiki pointed down at the new girl kneeling silently on the floor.

"She belongs to the Battousai sir." One man said. "She was sneakin' around in the forest taking out our men. Then she killed one sir. Slit him open from ear to ear."

Tanako, who had been trying to recover from the paralyzing blow to the neck gasped silently at this news. Karou had killed a man, but she thought that her fighting style went against killing. Tanako blinked until she could see clear and gazed over at Karou as she sat there by Toshiki's feet. Gah!! When had Toshiki walked in?!? Gosh she must be out of it, she looked back at Karou. She didn't look well at all, it was her first kill and she looked the same after she killed her first person too. She felt sorry for Karou, but what's worse; it was her fault she was brought into this and.... Tanako shook her head. Now was not the time for her to be blaming herself, She had to get out of there.

Toshiki knew that Sasorie was up to something new and he had no idea what it was. He wanted Tanako and this new woman. What was he going to do? Use them against the Battousai?... he wasn't sure but he felt that would be the worst thing to do. The demon seemed to be unnatural, and would do anything to get what he wanted. What did Kenshin say?.. He wanted the girl, he wanted her back. But which girl? Did he know of the second girl caught in the forest knocking out the men and killing one? Well whatever was going on he was going to have none of it. Now was his chance to grab his Love and run.

Yet before the young man could take a step further in the room, another gang member burst into the hut and skidded to a stop in front of them all.

"Toshiki-san! Leader told me to tell you to hand off the new girl to a smaller group and present her to him and for Tanako to be taken to the forest." The messenger leaned over to rest his hands on his knees and gasped for air after the sprint. Toshiki spat a silent curse; his plan was ruined before he was even able to develop it. He grabbed desperately to a new plan.

"I'll take Tanako to the forest." He said authoritatively as he reached and picked up the still dizzy Tanako. However she was quickly taken out of her arms by the messenger.

"No Toshiki-san, they must take her." the man handed her off to a waiting group. "Leader wishes for you to be back at his side at once sir." In a whirl of action Karou was brought to her feet and everyone dashed out of the hut and left Toshiki standing there alone.

"Damn!" He had just lost what might have been his only chance of getting Tanako out of there safely. He cursed his hesitation in his plans; he should have taken the risk while Sasorie had his eyes on the Battousai. While he stood there and grumbled Toshiki heard a thumb and then muffled curses coming from behind the screen door to another room. Not wanting anymore surprises he stalked over to the screen and slid it open. He was surprised anyway. He found a gagged and bound young man struggling on the floor. The teen stared up at him, hatred burning in his brown eyes. He was the young man he saw with Kenshin, the teen had darted away into the village just as the battle started.

"Calm down Boy, I'm going to get you out of here." Toshiki whispered as he knelt down by the young man. He untied the gag and was suddenly assaulted with shouts and curses.

"I'm no boy!" Was all he said at first as he fought the ropes that held his wrists behind his back. "Wait until Kenshin finds out that you have Karou, you don't want to hang around for that buddy. And I can't believe you let them take Tanako like that, I thought you two were friends, damn you!"

Toshiki froze, wide eyed and surprised. "You know who I am?"

"Yes I know who you are! You're Tanako's best friend, and you fed her to the wolves! I knew you gang members couldn't be trusted, even with your own kind! I should have known better than to think-" He was cut off as the gag was replaced over his mouth.

"Hush!" Toshiki hissed as he pulled out his short sword to cut the ropes that bound the boy. "You want to get us both caught? I'm trying to get Tanako out of here safely. Understand?" he let the sword slip through the ropes like water and pulled the cut ropes away from the boy. The young man jumped to his feet and removed the gag. Toshiki stood as well, standing two inches above the young man, if you didn't count the spiky hair. "I'm Toshiki." He said, sheathing his short sword and bowing.

"I'm Sano," he was not about to show respect to someone who had yet to earn it. "You may know me better as Zanza."

"The Fighter for Hire?" Toshiki was surprised to find that Zanza was younger than he.

"Yes, so you know me, then you must know that I'm the best fighter around these parts." He rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that there was a bruise there the color of ink. "When it's a clean fight that is." Suddenly he remembered Tanako and Karou and the strange change of plans he had heard. "We have to warn Kenshin, They're going to use the girls against him, how I don't know, I just know that if something bad happens to any of them I'm dead.. Lets go!" And with that Sano rushed past Toshiki and threw open the screen door. Toshiki paused for a moment, slightly confused by the teenager's words but he did understand what he said about the two girls being in danger. He dashed out of the room and followed the white jacket as Sano darted behind a hut to hide. Toshiki calmly walked though the village, not fearing being seen until he reached the same hut and then he quickly joined Sano.

"So do you have a plan Sano-san?" Toshiki asked as he looked out from behind the hut to see Sasorie and Kenshin still shouting back and fourth to each other.

"Yeah, get the girls and get out." Sano mumbled.

"That's it?!"

"Hey you got a better plan buddy? Cause if you do I would like to hear it right about now." Sano snapped back as he looked around the other side of the hut to watch Kenshin. He didn't look too happy at all, Sano had seen that look enough times to know that Battousai was getting ready to show himself, Kenshin was losing his patience. "So do you have a plan or not?"

"We have a plan." Said an unfamiliar voice and both Sano and Toshiki turned to find a half dozen fighters with their sword points inches from their bodies. The young men gasped and pressed their backs up against the hut. "Toshiki-san... I can't believe you would turn your backs on us." One of them said his voice full of joy that they had caught a turn-coat. Just wait until the leader hears about this."

A/N... ok so recap....(1) Karou has been caught...(2)... Tanako has been caught...(3). Sano's been caught ... again! and (4), now Dear Toshiki has been caught. Hmmmm, this can't turn out well.. :P Review please and let me know you all are still reading so I can keep going.. bye! waves and dashes off to her next college class