Author's Notes: I am baaaaaaack! Well, because I've been gone for so long, I certainly hope returning readers won't be disappointed. I'm definitely working on updating more often... It will be my New Year's resolution. I am determined!
Anyways, enjoy enjoy enjoy! Please don't forget to review!
(Where oh where has Megumi gone? You'll have to review to find out.)
Disclaimer: RK is not mine.
chap. 12 - silence
"What was that?" Hoji paused, abruptly halting all action as he sat in the shadowed gambling house of where they first met, staring blankly at Sanosuke.
"I think you heard me," Sanosuke replied irritably, "I'm going to form an army to rid China of opium, and I'm asking you to join me."
A cricket chirped distantly, and a fly buzzed somewhere in the room, filling the abrupt and apparent silence that had ensued, as both Hoji and Sanosuke continued to stare at eachother -- Hoji in complete disbelief and Sano in clear determination.
"Are you crazy?" Hoji gaped, his voice skeptic, "Do you know what could happen? Do you know all the crap that's going to be put into this so-called mission of yours? You need weapons and the right men and horses...damn, I don't even know what else." Hoji ticked off everything on his fingers, holding them up as a visual demonstration of the effort that Sanosuke was, in his opinion, throwing himself blindly into.
Sanosuke threw Hoji an annoyed look, "You're the one that gave me the idea."
"And I'm sorry I did," Hoji muttered to himself, "It's going to get us killed."
Sanosuke huffed impatiently, "Listen, you and I are living proof that there are people out there who don't like where China's going. We could get rid of opium, and if you're afraid of dying to make this country just a little better than what it is now..."
"I never said I was afraid of dying," Hoji snorted, tossing his head distractedly to rid his brown bangs from his eyes, "But you have to think of the consequences of your future actions, Sano, and I doubt all of it's going to be that happy ending you're looking for."
Sano stared back at Hoji, "If we don't do anything, then China will surely die. If we don't do something to stop opium, it's going to spread throughout China, and people are going to be dying...do you want that on your conscience, Hoji? You have the ability to try, and if you don't do something, won't that be a heavy burden to carry?"
"You're going to be carrying it right along with me," Hoji countered, tossing two dice in his right hand absentmindedly.
"No, I'm not."
Hoji looked up at these words, immediately ceasing action in his right hand. He felt the two white cubes fall heavily into his hand, and he gazed at Sanosuke, wondering how far Sanosuke was actually willing to go.
"Look, Hoji," Sanosuke sighed, "Whether you join me or not isn't an issue. I'll go ahead and do whatever the hell I want and I'm sure you will too --" -- Hoji's eyebrows quirked at this -- "But I thought..." Sano trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
"You thought I'd join you?" Hoji inquired, "That I'd believe in everything you stand for and follow you to the depths of hell? -- 'cause I swear, that's where we're going."
Slowly, but surely, Sano nodded.
"Well then you're right," Hoji sighed, "I'll join you and your stupid cause to make sure you don't die, you stupid moron. I'll join you because you need someone there to look after you so you don't start making rash and moronic mistakes."
Instead of being offended by this, Sanosuke smiled broadly, laughing at the stupidly serious expression on Hoji's face.
"It's not funny, you know," Hoji stated, though there was a hint of a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth, "Though I have to ask you something." Hoji's face was suddenly pulled back into an imploring look, "China ain't your country, you don't have to save her. So why are you going to?"
"Simple," Sanosuke replied, with the same clear tone, "I didn't take the name 'Sagara' for nothing. He was a Captain himself and --" Sanosuke halted, unwilling to utter the words outloud. The same fly buzzed as it flew through the dense silence once more.
"Captain Sagara," Hoji said loudly, filling the uncomfortable silence, "It's gonna be weird calling you that."
The glowing orb lingered hesitantly over the horizon, peeking through the smallest gaps in the heavy grey clouds. The wisps barely touching the sun's edge were dyed crimson, while the rest of the thick blanket glowed an eerie green, touched with the palest hint of the color. Heavy bullet-fast raindrops pierced the air, landing squarely and with heavy impact upon the surfaces of Captain Sagara's camp, soaking every surface within the minute the water arrived.
The thundering rain created a steady beat upon the canvas of Hoji's tent, where he lay within the shadowy caverns. The material of the tent was soaked thoroughly, and although it was created to withstand such terrany, there was a musky and humid scent that filled the tent, much like the smell of a warm swamp. A single flame burned within the tent, the fire burning precariously thin on a string soaked in oil which was captivated by a low porcelein dish much like a sake cup.
The flame flickered as a drop of water gathered and fell from the tent's roof, barely missing the orange glow. In doing so, for the briefest moment, Hoji's face was illuminated, revealing his face that was covered in a slick, thick layer of sweat, glimmering beneath the momentary glare of the flame. He moaned in pain, watching the world spin behind closed eyes. Dizzyingly, he turned to his side, clutching his abdomen in a vague attempt to ease the pain. Prickles of green and blue flared as his eyelids shut tighter, nauseating effects swirling his brain. A sickening taste retched in the back of his throat, flooding into his mouth and suffocating him. He let the taste go, feeling white-hot liquid seep between his lips.
Somewhere in the subconsciousness of his mind, Hoji could hear someone enter the tent, then sigh in exasperation. Subconsciously, Hoji knew who it was, for he was the only person who visited so frequently, and subconsciously, he knew what that person was there for.
Captain Sagara stood at the entrance of the tent, soaked through-and-through to the bone with the chilling rain that had swept without mercy and so suddenly. His brown hair was patted down at the back of his neck, and he shivered slightly at entering a warmer atmosphere, though the difference in temperature was actually quite little. He watched noiselessly as Hoji lay in his futon, the wrinkled covers thrown back and soaked with sweat. He observed wordlessly as his friend was tormented by the agonizing effects that would take place once Hoji stopped taking in the drug.
But seconds after he entered, Hoji suddenly began to violently thrash where he lay, most unlike the usual mild shaking that would occur.
Hoji was caught completely off-guard, though he was distracted by the abrupt terror that had caught him and had little time to notice. He felt as if he was drowning where he lay, the water pulling over his mouth, his nose... He couldn't breathe, and the heavy, black water pulled over his entire body, dragging him under. His eyes were now open wide, but he could see nothing except for the liquid that was seeping into his mouth, suffocating him with an endless sea. He kicked at the water in an attempt to pull himself upwards, panicking as he found himself pinned by two strong hands.
It was Sanosuke who stared into Hoji's open and blank gaze, and it was he who held down his friend, although all the while Hoji's slick skin slipped against Sano's grip and he fought to hold Hoji still. Sanosuke struggled against Hoji, attempting as much as possible to keep his friend still until his violent outburst subsided. The flame situated near the two men trembled at the sudden and quick movements, the light swaying dreamily across the tent.
Hoji's hallucinating... The thought entered Sano's mind as he held down his friend, until finally the thrashing and kicking dulled into a quivering shake that never seemed to go away.
Hoji trembled beneath Sano's hand, and hesitantly and carefully, the Captain loosened his grip and stepped back. Slowly, Hoji's eyes cracked open, the world blurred black at the edges of his vision and he could not clearly comprehend what had happened. His breathing steadied, and apparently satisfied Hoji would not break into another fit, Sano sat himself down on an upturned wooden bucket next to Hoji's futon. Sighing tiredly, he grabbed the cloth soaking in a nearby tub of cold water, wringing out the excess water, and dabbing Hoji's sweat-covered face before laying it on his forehead.
"I can't believe I'm acting like your mother now," Sanosuke muttered, frustrated. Hoji's eyes shut tight and he moaned again, his expression twisted into that of pure agony.
"You realize what's happening, right?" Sano asked, though not entirely sure he would receive a response from Hoji, "In two days Britain's coming with ships, and Canton's going to get crushed...we're going out there, and you would be going too if you weren't stuck in this crappy situation." Sano's voice turned bitter, pronouncing words dripping with disappointment.
"I'm going...with you..."
Sano looked up at Hoji, surprised to have heard a response. "Are you kidding me?" Sano laughed in disbelief, "You aren't even in any position to stand, let alone fight."
Sano pulled the now-warm cloth from Hoji's forehead, dunking into the cold water once more before wringing it and placing it back on Hoji's face.
"Doesn't matter..." Hoji coughed in a rasp voice, "...won't stop me..."
"Stop kidding yourself," Sano scoffed in disgust, "You're staying right here with Giichi...He ain't fighting either, on account of his broken leg."
"But that's...only going to be...eleven men...including you..." Hoji murmured brokenly, taking deep gulps of air between fragments of words.
"Yeah, well, that can't be helped," Sano pronounced curtly.
There was a nasty silence as Sano once more lifted the warm cloth from Hoji's heated skin, wetting, twisting, and placing it upon Hoji's skin once more. The only noise filling the emptiness was the occassional trickle of water drops of the roof of the tent and the consistant pounding of the rain.
Finally, Sano's voice broke through, barely at a whisper, "Remember when we first met? That day when I had nothing but made the biggest gamble anyways?"
Sanosuke thought he saw the faintest twitch of a smile at Hoji's lips, "You betted snake eyes..."
"Yeah..." Sanosuke said quietly, "You weighted those dice, didn't you?"
Silence.
Then...
"What..?"
"You weighted those dice. There was a weight on one side of each die. You let me win."
"I...yeah..." Hoji admitted, slowly closing his eyes, "You came in...like the biggest loser with nothing...and make the stupidest bet...it was pity...or maybe sympathy..."
"Same thing," Sano said, "In any case, I'll show sympathy -- or pity -- to you. I'm not going to let you die from this drug. You're going to stay here with Giichi, and you're going to live, because when I get back, I'd better be able to see that you're alive and breathing."
"No...I'm going with...I'm not going to be weakened by this drug..." As if to prove that he was well enough to fight, Hoji attempted to sit up, the cloth from his forehead falling onto the ground. In effect, Hoji began breaking into a series of wild coughs, causing his throat to vibrate with each violent retch.
"You're staying here," Sano replied, picking up the crumpled, damp cloth.
"I already told you --" Hoji managed through his coughs.
"And I'm telling you!" Sano's voice suddenly burst into a loud threatening tone, reverberating across the tent's damp walls, and completely drowning out the beat of the heavy rain. Dark had fallen, and shadows cast across the Captain's face, giving his expression a fierce edge. His voice bellowed loudly and angrily, unleashing compressed torment and rage, and feeling the emotions tear through them as the words echoed in Hoji's ears,
"You think I don't want you to go! You think I'd rather have one of my strongest fighters laying here weak instead of out there, fighting! You think I appreciate the fact that the reason you can't fight is because of the one thing I thought you detested! Tell me this, Hoji -- Who's really at fault here? I'm suffering, certainly, but I don't think you have anybody else to blame except for yourself. You got yourself blown into this mess, and now you're going to have to suffer, too. So when I say that you're staying here, I mean it, because you won't be any good out there if you couldn't even prove to me which side you're on."
Hoji looked up at Sano in the most unreadable expression, before slowly rasping, "So when do we leave to fight again?"
Sanosuke yelled loudly in frustration, and in pure anger, he reached out as his fist contacted with the side of Hoji's face, sending his friend sprawling back to his futon in a crumpled heap, still conscious, but shocked into such a stillness that could be mistaken as unconsciousness. Hoji could feel his left cheek throb, and could feel the flush of blood that rushed there, knowing that his skin was already dyed a sickly black-and-blue.
Captain Sagara threw the cold cloth into the water bucket, the liquid sloshing as he headed through the tent's flaps into the pouring needle rain.
The next morning brought less rain, and by noon the water had completely dispersed, leaving behind only traces of damp remnants. There was still the sticky, muggy smell of humidity lingering in the air, but other than that and the drenched tents and drying horses, the weather couldn't have been more uncomfortable.
Sanosuke felt a lingering guilt laying in the pit of his stomach at hitting Hoji so suddenly and so irrationally. But also, buried even deeper within him was the part of him that argued that he was keeping more than just his anger towards Hoji surpressed.
However, the thought of the task at hand was more than enough to deter him from the direction of Hoji's tent, and he decided that he would give a thorough and deeply humble apology when he returned from the fight in the heart of Canton. Though the thought of apologizing to Hoji after coming back from the fight Hoji wanted most made his insides squirm, he knew that it was for the better. Hoji didn't realize the reality of the situation and was being too damn stubborn for his own health.
The Captain kept his mind busy with the preparations of the coming battle. After having announced that they were going into the fight, the majority of the day was devoted to the preparations. Men sharpened their weapons and swords, and Sano saw many calmly meditating before training and honing their skills. The horses were fed a little less than usual, so as to insure their speed and agility for the upcoming fight -- of course, the animals were still given enough food to be adequately fed.
Sano could never have been more proud and his heart swelled knowing that he would be apart of the War or die trying. He had begun to walk, but stopped abruptly as he discovered that he was unconsciously heading in the direction of Hoji's tent. He turned and veered left instead, pretending that he needed to check up on one of his group leaders.
"Ayako," he said crisply, approaching one of his soldiers.
"Sir." The soldier saluted, and unlike every other member of Sano's army, she was a woman. In fact, Ayako was the only woman in Sano's army and the only one that would probably ever be. Her long black hair was highlighted with many light brown strands, pulled back into a long, sweeping ribbon -- her long bangs often fell into her black eyes. Her talents lay within throwing knives and daggers as well as close-combat, and at times, she reminded Sano of Misao, despite Ayako's serious, monotonous manner.
There was also the fact that Ayako harbored feelings towards Captain Sagara himself, a piece of information known to all the men in Sanosuke's army and Sanosuke himself -- he found it best to overlook this knowledge when talking to her. She also did an awfully well-done job of concealing this, and Sano often forgot entirely.
But perhaps the reason why Captain Sagara let in a woman was because of the state he had found her in. She had been left homeless, penniless, and without family and had the misfortune of attempting to rob Sanosuke of the little money he had at the time. Only after getting to know her did he realize her talents with weapons and her desire to find something to live for.
Drawing himself out of his thoughts, Sanosuke commanded, "We have to go over our plan of action for tomorrow -- get the other leader in my tent within the next five minutes." With that, he began walking away before Ayako could finish her "Yes, Captain Sir."
Moments later, Sano found himself within his tent, the day dying fast with the last bits of daylight glimmering through the soggy canvas of the tent. On either side of him stood Ayako and Matashi, waiting with passive faces for their orders. Because Sano's army was not structured like one of the actual military, he had appointed leaders that helped lead two seperate sections. Sano often received his assistance from his leaders, whether it be for tactical advice or simple commanding orders.
Hoji had been one of the two, but, as Sano thought with a flinch, Hoji proved to be both incapable and unreliable -- Matashi had been given the honor in his place.
"What are your thoughts?" Sanosuke asked inquiringly, his shadow falling over a worn, sketched map of the shores of Canton.
"Sir," Ayako responded promptly, leaning in to point at the map, "According to Matashi's information, the British will attack by ship --" She traced her finger along the black ink lines.
"Now this proves as a disadvantage for us," she continued, "because most of our men have strengths within close combat."
Sanosuke nodded while Matashi remained both wordless and motionless.
"That being the case," Ayako said crisply, "I believe that our best bet is to work our way to close battle. Because they will attack by ship, we can somehow fight our way onto one of the British ships and take it down from the inside. However, we will need a ship, fighting our way onto a ship from land will be quite difficult..."
"I believe Matashi has already taken care of that," Sano commented, turning to the other leader.
"Is that so?" Ayako asked in surprise.
"Yes, it is a Chinese junk ship that I...er...bought off a merchant," Matashi responded, rather in a tone quite unlike his character.
"Very well," Sano interjected, seeing Ayako's mouth opening, "I need both of you to ask who can steer a junk. Assign archers' positions on the ship where you think best."
"Captain," Ayako said forcibly, not attempting to hide her deep frown, "With all due respect, do you have any plan of strategic action?"
Captain Sagara stared back at her blankly, his expression clearly asking the black-haired woman to elaborate.
Ayako half-smiled, understanding the blank look, "Sir, I believe war to be a bit like women. You can't always win them by sheer force. Of course, I'm not implying that women are to be won...However," she smiled, "you have to know how to think like the enemy and know where they're coming from. You lack a woman's touch, Sir." She grinned, the orange glow of the tent glimmering in her black eyes.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he twitched, trying to push aside the emotions fighting to surface. He was unsure of why Ayako's words affected him so much, and he knew that he shouldn't be reacting in this way.
"Well, Ayako, what do you request we do?" Sano asked, keeping his voice as clear as he could.
"The British have to have a blind spot in their ship. I know for a fact that they have a ridiculous amount of sails tied to their masts. We could hide several men within just the material of the sails and work down from the top. ...All we have to do is find other weaknesses and use it to our advantage."
The Captain turned to Matashi, "What do you think?"
Matashi shrugged, "If we can find any other weaknesses."
"I leave it to you two, then," Sano breathed heavily, "I want you to go over the plans with your group and report back any feedback they may have to offer. I want a complete and full meeting tonight before we turn in."
The two nodded, saluted, and bowed, turning their backs to rush forth and tell the others.
Firelight flickered and danced in the eyes of ten men (and one woman), adding a slight heat to the already humid weather. Blue-black clouds rolled noiselessly overhead, shrouding the half moon with wisps. Horses neighed and stomped restlessly in the background, whilst Captain Sagara's army remained seated before a monstrous fire, the silence indicating that all were waiting for their leader to speak.
Sanosuke faced them, his face calm and ready, standing while the others sat. He could feel the heavy air stick to his skin, and he shifted his position slightly before addressing them,
"Well. Tomorrow's going to be one hell of a day."
There were a few "hear, hear's" that flew among the crowd.
Sanosuke pressed on, "As you know, Matashi's already got us a ship. A war junk, and I believe you all know your jobs. The weapons are ready, I assume?" He arched a brow at Ayako; she nodded in response.
"In which case, if everyone knows what they're going to do, I don't see why we should go over it, as Ayako and Matashi have no doubt countlessly gone over everything."
A few men nodded, while others remained motionless.
"Commissioner Lin believes that China's ships are superior to the British. But I don't believe he knows what he's talking about. He doesn't know what he's up against, which is exactly why we're going in," Sanosuke said, his strong voice ringing through the restless night, confident and prideful enough to silence the horses to quiet huffs. The men (and woman) stared back at their Captain, their eyes concentrated, focused and at the ready.
"We may be wanted...we may have rewards on our heads...but I don't believe that should stop us from wearing aku on our backs. They may know it is us, and they may come after us...but we will not hide in cowardice from them." Sanosuke's eyes reflected the fighting flames in his deep brown eyes, giving notice to the intangible fire that burned within him.
"Of course, we may die...whether it be at the hands of the Chinese government because they are pointlessly after our heads...or whether it be at the hands of the British...there is that chance..." Sano paused; a strange thought had entered his mind: if he died tomorrow, there was someone he'd never be able to talk to again... He mentally shook his head, bringing himself back to the present.
"You all joined me for a reason: to help China demolish opium. Well, here's our chance, and we're going to take it."
The long silenced crowd erupted in a series of cheers and boasts, the effect of Sanosuke's speech filling their veins with a fighting spirit that burned raw through their entire bodies.
Captain Sagara smiled, filled with the content and pride that had been absent for too long. He waited until the ruckus died down, and his soldiers ushered themselves into a dulled silence once more, clearly aware that Sano had one last statement to make.
"Now get some rest."