A/n Egads I completely forgot all about this alternative ending!.. I thought I posted it already. . Then I got an e-mail a few months back when I started my new Kenshin fic, asking to post the alternative ending and I was like. " Wha..? OH!" gezz. Then college got all tough and forgot about it AGAIN!... then… I'm like driving from the gym and something reminded me of it! so I get straight home and pulled it up before I forgot again and find I had it half done. Hehe. So I sat here and didn't move till I finished it. So here it is. The alternative ending. Now no one can say I didn't finish a story. Mwhahaha! Okay enough of my excuses, I'm sure a few of you will have to go back and re-read a few things to remember .
Disclaimer. I don't own RK.. just Tanako.
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Chapter 34..
Alternative Ending.
"Tanako!.. Tanako please." Toshiki begged as he held the small woman in his arms. She was leaving him, already her breathing was shallow, with an almost gurgle sound. Her wounded lung was filling with blood, soon it would spill over to her other lung and she would drown. The chocolate haired man clutched Tanako to him, he refused to let her go, refused to let her die. He wasn't even aware of the three new friends standing feet from him.
Kenshin leaned heavily on Sano, with Karou's arms wrapped around him. Karou was weeping silently, tears tore through the filth on her face, leaving behind clean streaks. Sano stood tall, holding on to Kenshin firmly with one arm. His brown eyes were down cast, mouth set in a thin line, free hand clenched in a fist.
"If we wish Tanako any way to survive…" Kenshin's weak voice stated. "We must get her to a doctor."
"The village doctor fled long ago." Toshiki struggled to say. His voice cracked and ended in an almost forced whisper. He knew the doctor didn't want to be around when a battle such as this was to happen.
"Then we must take her home! Megumi or Dr, Gensi will help her!" Sano glared at the body of the dead leader not five feet from them. Tanako gave another cough that turned their attention back to her
"No Sano." She reached out with her hand and Toshiki promptly took it in his own. "No, it is not necessary." Her green eyes tried to focus on her friends but it was useless. So she instead focused on her Love. "Toshiki, please don't beg for what you know will not happen." She whispered through blood tainted lips.
"W-what do you mean Tanako, Love?"
"You want me to live."
"Of course I want you to live!" Toshiki shouted, his grip growing stronger on her. "I want to take you away from all this." His voice started to crack despite his struggles to stay calm. "I want us to get married, to start a family….To.. to live in peace." Tears finally broke free, flowing down his cheeks to land on his love. She slowly reached up with one hand to wipe them away. Her action seemed to take all her energy from her. Her hand came crashing back down to her and she grew very, deathly pale.
"I wanted those things too my Love… I've loved you for so long. Even as a child." Her eyes closed for a heart stopping moment before opening again, her eyes now very unfocused. "I'm at peace now, truly… I feel no more pain." Toshiki sobbed freely as he held Tanako tightly to him. Karou cried softly on Kenshin's shoulder, as he held her tightly with his free hand. Sano, hands shoved deep in his pockets, struggled to keep his face stone hard.
Tanako gave a half attempt at a cough before whispering out to Toshiki, her eyes still rooted to him, even though her vision had long blinked out. "I love you…. And, I… Always will. Thank you,…. Thank you for giving me the chance to run away and… find peace, even if it was for a short week." She wheezed loudly, her mouth coated in blood and made it very hard for her to speak. " It.. was the best,… week I ever had… and the three days tied up…. With you…. By my side… where the best three days…. of, my… life." She gave a soft sigh, her mouth forming her last silent words for only her love to see before her body relaxed and her green eyes half closed.
"Tanako?" Toshiki cried out as the life flickered away. His body racked with sobs.
"Enough of this!" Kenshin suddenly blurted out. Crying was not going to do anything to help his friend. He tore himself from Karou's grasp and kneeled down with Toshiki. "She's not dead, we can still save her if we try. First we must stop the bleeding." Kenshin ripped at his gi, shredding it and balling the fabric to press against the wound. Karou leapt into action and tore the headband from around Sano's head and handed it to Kenshin. He used the headband to tie the ripped gi tightly to her thin form.
Toshiki refused to let the tired red-head carry Tanako, Instead he lifted her into his own arms. "If we are going to save her, we must go now." Fear squeezed at his heart, she was already growing so very cold, even as he held her.
"Right," Sano agreed. He and Karou helped the now exhausted Kenshin into the forest and in the direction of home. Sano all but ran and soon, in order for them to move faster, Sano had Kenshin ride on his back in a piggyback hold and took off. Toshiki would have held Tanako the same way, but he held her in his arms to keep pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. He was not at all upset that he had to run to keep up with them.
The sun fell suddenly and the night wrapped around them. The moon soon started to climb the sky and peek though the forest branches. Tanako looked to have improved some during the journey. Toshiki could hear her breathing now; it was soft, but even and steady. Kenshin's gi was sopping in blood but it was all dry now, leaving it a dirty brown color. Yet the bleeding had stopped, and that was the good thing. Toshiki was almost too afraid to stop for a rest. But even he needed a breather. Karou looked about ready to drop. Shock was the only thing that was keeping her on her feet and moving. But it wasn't going to last long.
Toshiki hardly slept. Every time he found himself nodding off, he would jerk awake and check on Tanako in his arms. But sleep slowly took him away from all his worries. Sleep was good for his wounded body and emotions. Though his sleep was a bit fretful, he was healing. A few hours later, before the sun tossed off the cloak of night, He was shaken awake by Kenshin, who was also doing much better after his night of sleep. Fear lashed though him, thinking maybe Tanako had died in the night and he never knew. But his fear was for naught when he saw Tanako breathing just as before. She wouldn't wake though, but that was just as well. She would feel pain with every step.
Kenshin had Karou in hand as they stated off again into the darkness. As soon as the sun hit the sky and lit their way, their brisk walk turned into a run as before. Time was against them, but strangely, they made excellent use of it. They ate the ground at an amazing speed and soon the city could be seen off in the distance. They were almost home. They sent Sano ahead, being the least wounded and the fasted of all of them at the moment. The teen dashed ahead of them and vanished in the quickly thinning forest. As soon as the four stepped into the city streets, Miss Megumi was already rushing to them with Sano close behind.
"Don't just stand there!. Come on you fools. We have to get her to medical attention right away." She all but turned on her heal and heading in the direction of her hospital. Toshiki didn't ask any questions as he followed almost at her heels. Lady Doctor or no, help was help. And if these people trusted her, then by god he would trust her too.
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Karou took great care as she applied the soothing salve that Megumi had given her to rub on the bruises of both Kenshin and Sano. Sano had whined worse than Ayame or Susume. But Kenshin, as always, sat very still, and very silent. He had his back to her, head bowed to hide his haunted eyes. He had seen yet another battle, more death. And there had been nothing he could do to stop it. But what was worse, he wanted to cause the deaths.
Toshiki refused to have any sort of treatment until he was sure that Tanako was going to be safe and well. He paced all over the hospital. Though he knew that Megumi and Dr. Gensai (as he had been told).. was with her, he still felt a bit uneasy. As he walked, he caught sight of Sano sitting outside. His shirt was off and the dark marks on him were gleaming under the sun. Seemed he was treated with something. Toshiki kept walking, lifting his ice eyes again as he spotted Karou and Kenshin. The poor girl had her head resting on Kenshin's back, she was muttering to him, and he was speaking back to her.
Though he could not hear their words, Toshiki couldn't help but feel he was prying into something very private. But he couldn't help but watch, almost fascinated with the way the "demon" was handling the woman. He didn't seem to be the demon that everyone had made him out to be. Even as he watched, Kenshin turned and wrapped his arms around the woman. The samurai then placed a soft kiss on her lips to silence her soft yet almost hysterical mutterings. Toshiki couldn't watch anymore.
Turning, he left the building and joined Sano in the small yard and turned his closed eyes to the sunlight. Sano gazed over at the swaying man and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you think that perhaps you should get some rest my friend?" he muttered to him.
Toshiki slid open his suddenly heavy eyes and looked over at him. "Perhaps, but at the moment, I find rest impossible to even think about."
Sano nodded, he could understand that. He knew that the man had a host of emotions bubbling in his mind. His whole way of being was just taken away from him. Sano hopped that he would never have to find himself in that sort of situation.
Toshiki was relieved when Sano didn't push the subject of him resting. Toshiki closed his eyes and turned them back to the sun. The golden warmth was the only thing his body was feeling. He was numb, he didn't even want to think about what he would do if Tanako died, he didn't even want to think about the fact that she was being cared for a few yards away. All he wanted the feel was the soft breeze and warm sun.
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(4 months later)
Kaoru stretched her arms a little as she walked outside the dojo. The sound in the air made her wince. Tokyo would never be the same after the earthquake. Nether would it sound the same. Everyday for the past few months there had been nothing but the sound of construction in the air. The sounds of the birds were almost always drowned out but the racket. Kaoru would be glad when Tokyo finally finished rebuilding itself.
One good thing about it though, there was a surplus of jobs. Even Yahiko and Sano took full advantage of it. For once they worked for money and for awhile they weren't freeloaders at all. Kenshin quickly did the minor repairs the Dojo needed and moved on to help neighbors rebuild. He flatly refused any sort of payment but that didn't stop the people from sending him home at the end of the day with arm loads of vegetables, fruit, fish and sometimes even bolts of cloth.
"Kaoru, could you help me for a moment."
Kaoru turned to the soft call and smiled to Tanako as she reached out for help. Kaoru quickly walked back into the dojo and wrapped an arm around the smaller girl .
"I'll be so glad once I can move around again on my own. I hate to be such a burden to you Kaoru." The girl said as they slowly shuffled outside.
"Don't be ridiculous." Kaoru said happily. "How many times have I told you about how serious your wounds were? If it had been anyone else with those wounds, I'm sure they would have died. You are very lucky Tanako. Besides, you're teaching me to cook, that alone is payment enough." She added as she helped Tanako sit on the porch. The girls laughed softly as Kaoru sat next to her.
"Still, I'll be glad when I'm healthy enough to travel."
"Tanako! You aren't thinking of leaving us are you?" Kaoru gasped. Tanako laughed and batted at her shoulder length hair.
"We won't be gone long." Tanako let her eyes wander over to where Toshiki was cutting wood into more manageable sticks for the bathhouse fire and for cooking. Because Kenshin was gone most of the day to help rebuild, Toshiki had gladly taken over the household chores. Besides, no one would have been able to pry him from the dojo while Tanako was healing. He insisted he be at her side the whole time. It took days before he allowed Kenshin and Sano to drag him from her sick room and throw him in the bath to snap him back to his senesces. After that he had all but dedicated his new life as an ex-gang member to helping the Kenshin-gumi.
"Oh?... you're going to come back?" Kaoru asked.
"Hai. Toshiki and I just want to see a bit of Japan before we settle down and start our family." Tanako blushes softly. She kept her eyes on Toshikis' well defined bare back as he worked to keep from looking at Kaoru with her knowing smile. "We'll find a place not far from the Kamiya Dojo. And we'll visit often."
"You better." Kaoru nodded with a threatening look on her face. "Or I'll drag the whole bunch to see you." She added with a smile. Tanako laughed as she looked down at her dark gi. She couldn't move very easy in a kimono and stuck to the gi until she was comfortable in them again. She still remembered how they had hindered her so much in the attack. It would be awhile before she would put one on again. She had given the rest of her kimonos to Kaoru but the girls refused them and offered to keep them for her till she was at peace of mind.
"And if that happens, you might get a few freeloaders."
The girls turned and smiled as Sano sat down to join them.
"You think so?" Tanako asked with a smile.
"Oh sure. You cook a hell of a lot better than Missy here. At least we won't starve for lack of decent food." Sano ducked under the bucket Kaoru threw at him.
"Shut up Sano you freeloader. Where is Yahiko? It's getting late." Kaoru glanced up at Toshiki walked over to them.
"He's in the dojo training, he refuses to let his work get in the way of his skill." Sano answered
"He's a good student Kaoru-dono." Chimed Toshiki as he sat next to Tanako and slipped his gi back on over his shoulders, letting it hang un-tucked and open. He reached and took Tohiski by the hand and set a kiss on her wrist before resting both their hands in his lap.
"Hai, He is a good student. But still difficult." Kaoru muttered softly.
"All students are difficult Kaoru. Even I was a difficult student once, that I was." Kenshin seemed to have appeared from nowhere and sat between Kaoru and Tanako. He handed Kaoru a small wooden tub of water and two block of tofu. "They insisted I take this as payment. These sure are gracious times, that they are."
"People are closer now. Neighbors are helping neighbors." Sano added. "These are peaceful times. I hope it lasts."
"Yeah you're making money now and actually pay for your meals." Kaoru snapped.
"Now, now Kaoru." Kenshin raised his hands to keep Kaoru from going after the teen. "Why don't you start dinner?" Kaorus' eye lit up.
"Good idea Kenshin, you worked so hard today, and I can cook up this tofu. Come on Tanako, you can teach me about cooking tofu." The girl jumped up.
"Thank god." Sano muttered and received an elbow in the chest from Kenshin . Thankfully. Kaoru didn't catch it.
Toshiki helped Tanako to her feet and watched carefully as Kaoru helped her into the dojo. Once she was inside he scooted over to join Kenshin and Sano. As they took the girls' places.
"She is healing well Toshiki, that she is." Kenshin commented.
"Yeah, it shouldn't take long till she is up to par again." Sano added, sticking a long blade of grass in his mouth.
"Well I have you, all of you to thank for it." Toshiki paused as Sano raised a white bandaged hand.
"You thanked us more time that I care to count Toshiki. We understand." He said with a smile.
"That's true, no need to thank us forever. You are part of the family now." Kenshin added. "Besides, if you want to keep thinking someone, thank Miss Megumi or Dr. Gensai. They did all the hard work with Tanako, that they did." The red-head watched as Toshiki closed his ice blue eyes and turned his head to the setting sun. "You two will be leaving soon?"
"Tanako gets better everyday. Soon she will be walking without help. I'm sure we will be gone by the end of the month." Toshiki kept his eyes to the sun. Kenshin nodded.
"We will miss you."
"Yeah, I've finally gotten to where I like you two." Sano added with a grin.
Toshiki cracked open one eye and gazed at the two from the side before turning his head and opened both eyes. "Tanako and I have talked. We will settle back here close to Kamiya dojo when we are finished traveling."
"There will always be a place for you two here." Kenshin nodded with a large smile. "We wouldn't mind children in the dojo."
Sano coughed to hide his laughter.
"Well I'm sure you'll have your own children to worry about." Toshiki grinned down at Kenshin who dipped his head to hide his blushing. Sano snorted in laughter.
"Kami, Kaoru and I won't be married for another 2 months." The red-head stuttered, rubbing the back of his head. Sano grabbed Kenshin in a head lock. "Oro!"
"Come off it Kenshin, do you really think we believe that you're going to wait the whole 2 months to get married. I think you two will get married sooner than that." This time Toshiki fought laughter.
"Hey! Will you guys stop playing around out there and get Yahiko and wash up for dinner already! It's half finished and we are not going to sit around while you four wash up! " Called Kaoru from the kitchen.
"Yes Kaoru." The three of them muttered.
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A/n wow that wasn't so hard. So do you like this ending better? You can leave a review if you like. Oh and take a look at my new Kenshin fic that I started. thanks for reading.