BANG! The door of the small hospital room swung open, admitting a raven hair boy with tanned skin. "Kaoru!" He exclaimed racing to her side.
Sano woke with a start at the sudden noise, nearly falling off his chair. He glanced slightly dazed around the room, spotting the child on the far side of the bed. "Yahiko keep your voice down. This is a hospital for crying out loud."
"How do expect me to react when I find out my sister's been hurt," snapped Yahiko but lowered his voice. He took a shaky breath trying to tame his temper. He glanced down at her again. "How's she doing?" Sano gave a shrug from where he sat on the far side of the bed.
"She has a few minor injuries. The main thing the doctors are worried about is the concussion she received, that they are." Kenshin informed them. Yahiko jumped a few feet in the air, not noticing the redhead sitting in the corner till then.
"Who are you?" demanded Yahiko staring at Kenshin. The fiery haired teen didn't respond.
"Relax Yahiko," sighed Sano. "This is Kenshin, he transferred to our school just last week. He's friends with me and Kaoru."
Yahiko studied the redhead suspiciously for a moment. Kenshin stared vacantly out the window, seemingly oblivious. Yahiko let out a huff as he turned his attention back to Sano. "How'd this happen?"
"Well," began Sano. "She was fighting this guy in the tournament, with a really creepy smile. He pulled an illegal move on her; I didn't catch what he did. Next thing I know, Jou-chan smacked her head against the floor because of him."
"What'd they do with the bastard," growled Yahiko eyes flashing with rage.
Sano shook his head sadly. "Everyone was too busy making sure she was taken care of. He disappeared somewhere, no one could find him." His eyes flickered over to Kenshin for a second. "His coach will make sure the guy gets suspended." Sano was sure he saw tension build in Kenshin's shoulders.
Yahiko growled, his hands turning into fists. "I wish I could have taken a shot at him. I'd have taught him not mess with Kaoru."
"You guys… are so noisy," muttered a voice. It took them a moment to realize where the voice was coming from. Sano and Yahiko turned, faces brightening as they looked towards Kaoru. Her deep sapphire eyes regarded them calmly. Kenshin turned away, to ashamed to look at her.
"Kaoru!" they exclaimed together.
She gave a tiny smile. "Hey guys," she greeted.
"How are you feeling?" asked Sano happy to see her awake.
"Head hurts a bit," she answered truthfully. She gazed around the room spotting Kenshin trying to conceal himself in the corner, eyes hidden from sight. "I'm sorry Kenshin," she apologized, sitting up slowly. "I should have listened to you."
There was a dead silence in the room as all eyes turned onto the redhead. "What are you talking about?" asked Yahiko anger edging into his voice.
Kaoru hesitated, glancing up at Kenshin for help but he wouldn't look at her. "He warned me not to go against that kid, asked me to forfeit the match." She answered quietly.
"Y-you knew that kid would do this?" asked Sano. All of them waited for an answer. The still air seemed to press down around them, trying to choke the response out of Kenshin. He couldn't answer, let alone bring himself to look at them. He sat there, his mind wheeling while his face remained a calm mask.
"Tell us what you know!" demanded Yahiko, advancing. Kenshin didn't move. Yahiko's temper got the better of him and he grabbed hold of Kenshin's ponytail. The child yanked the teen's head back, forcing the other to look at him. Kenshin's expression didn't change as he gazed up into Yahiko's blazing eyes.
"Yahiko!" cried Kaoru. "Let Kenshin go!"
Yahiko ignored her. "How can you be so calm?" he demanded from Kenshin. "Kaoru's hurt because of you." A flicker of guilt flashed through Kenshin's eyes.
"It isn't his fault," snapped Kaoru. "I was careless, I didn't listen to his warning. He told me that the kid was dangerous but… I wanted to show-" she stopped abruptly, biting her lip.
"Yahiko," warned Sano rising to his feet. "Let him go." Yahiko gave a final glare at Kenshin and released the crimson hair, taking several steps back. "Won't you tell us what's going on Kenshin?" Sano asked seriously.
"This one… w-will not let anyone get involved," whispered Kenshin.
"Please Kenshin," asked Kaoru. "This isn't just your problem anymore."
He hesitated, glancing at the door that stood open. Yahiko immediately closed it, thinking the redhead was going to bolt. Kenshin sighed, closing his deep lavender eyes.
"This one only asks that you don't press him for details if he does not wish to give." He turned slowly in his chair so he could face them. But made sure he didn't meet their gaze as he spoke. "The boy… who fought with Kaoru works for the Juppongatanna, that he does. As you know this one was at Mizuki High what he didn't say was…" He faltered struggling to say something that wouldn't come out. He shook his head, eyes drifting quickly over the three faces, lingering on Kaoru for a second longer. "This one has fought with Shishio once before. That battle is a lost memory though. This one only knows that no victor was clearly decided."
"How?" snapped Yahiko
"Both of us are alive," came Kenshin's hollow answer. The air seemed to go cold in the room then. Kaoru shivered pulling the bed sheets closer. "This one can only remember the feeling of an over powering anger and fire everywhere." She studied his violet eyes for any expression but found none. He was looking into a world of memories that only he could see. He blinked, coming back to the present as he brushed the muddled memory away. "Shishio wishes to finish the score."
"But," began Sano. "That girl in the park-"
"Who?" asked Yahiko confused.
"When Megumi was kidnapped," Kaoru told her brother. "There was a girl there who said Shishio wished to settle the score, but not with you." She looked up at Kenshin with confusion.
"She meant this one, but not as he is now," Kenshin answered tightly.
"I don't follow," Sano said bluntly.
Kenshin was quiet for a moment, thinking on how to explain it. "It is like he wishes to challenge Zanza, not Sanosuke Sagara."
There was a long silence, no one dared to speak. "What was your gang name?" Kenshin looked up at Sano who'd spoken. There was a deadly serious look on his face.
The redhead sifted slightly. "Shinta," he replied softly.
Sano raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Shinta? I've never heard that name before."
"This one wasn't very well known," Kenshin supplied.
Sano shook his head. "You'd think I'd have heard the fact that someone challenged Shishio to a fight."
"Why does he want to fight you?" asked Yahiko. "Don't give me the answer to settle the score, why'd he want to fight you the first time? If you were such an unknown person?"
Kenshin's hands tightened on his wet pants. "That is this one's business," he told them firmly.
"Not anymore, it isn't!" retorted Yahiko ignoring Kenshin's tone. "Kaoru and Megumi were-"
"Because of this one's carelessness!" The redhead snapped, startling the boy. "Don't lecture on what he has or has not done. He knows all to well what his past has done." His voice wavered, growing quiet. "Everything that has happened, all of it because he thought that the past could be left behind. It can't, it cannot be ignored, no matter how far you try to run. No matter… what you do." Kenshin fell silent looking out at the falling rain.
"What will you do then?" asked Sano quietly.
There was a long silence. "This one is not sure, that he isn't." Kenshin whispered.
"Will you go after him?" He was surprised by Kaoru's question. He could hear fear and worry in her voice.
Kenshin shook his head. "This one isn't that foolish. Shishio has an advantage over this one, that he does. Not only does he have Megumi but he also remembers the fight. While this one only clearly recalls starting to head…" He trailed off lost in his own thoughts for a moment. "Then…" he began again. "Waking up in a hospital room."
There was a knock on the door and they looked up to see Hiko in the entrance. Kenshin stiffened, turning away. "Hiko," greeted Kaoru.
"I heard what happened," he said calmly. "You alright?"
She gave a small smile. "I'll live. Why are you here anyway?"
"I brought someone, who wanted to visit," he answered stepping into the crowded hospital room.
Gasps circled around the room as the group gazed wide eyed in disbelief at who stood there. She regarded the stunned group with an amused, fox like smile playing on her face. "Hey," she greeted. Kenshin felt a strange tightness in his throat.
Sano could only manage to stammer one word, "…muh… Megumi."
----------------------
Cliff hanger Bwahaaaaaahaaaaa! This seemed like a beautiful place to leave it hanging. (grins evilly) Sorry the chapter's late, I was trying to post it on the weekend but I kept getting error messages and it refused to allow me to upload the document. TT.TT Why does computer stuff hate me soo much? But as you can see the problem was solved and the 9th chapter had been posted huzah!
New thing: I've added to my profile a list of all my stories and their status, so if you're ever wondering what's going on with this or any other story I've written you can have a look there.
Anyway, I just remembered recently that Sano always refers to Kaoru as Jou-chan… I think that's how it's spelled… I don't usually use Japanese words but with this case I thought I should stick with the term… heh…
Big thanks to my wonderful reviewers' midnite cherry blossomz and MikaylaMae I'm really glad you guys are enjoying this. I just love reading reviews! I was experimenting with the last chapter and I have to say I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. I'm really excited about the up coming chapters, I know guys are really going to like them! (squeals with excitement)
I'm going to have to start working on the next chapter right away!