Pride Vs. Desire
By:: Melissa
Italics- Flashback
Disclaimer:: I do not own anything from this story. Everything belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki. Constructive criticism is welcome. No flames please.
Chapter 7
"Kenshin, I think I found it!" Sanosuke turned to his friend and pulled back the bushes to a small house, hidden in a forest.
"What's this?" Sanosuke pulled out a slip of paper from a tree, his eyes catching the strange thing. Kenshin came to stand behind him and read the note as well. Sanosuke unfolded the tightly wrapped piece of paper.
Sagara Sanosuke and Legendary Hitokiri Battosai,
I have your friend, Takani Megumi. If you ever want to see her alive, you'll come to the house in the forest you're currently in. Keep going west until you come to a clearing. I'll be waiting for you.
"So, this guy is waiting for us and knows who we are." Sanosuke crumpled up the note, a fire blazing in his eyes.
"Calm down, Sanosuke. We'll catch him." Kenshin set off west. Sanosuke followed, the sun reflecting in his eyes.
Kenshin stared at the lowering sunset and contemplated. They know who he was. Who he used to be. Then it must be someone that he fought against. He thought more about it and watched the sky turn shades of red and orange. The handwriting looked so familiar….but Kenshin couldn't place his finger on it. He just kept walking, hoping to find the house before night fell.
They crept up silently on the house and quickly saw the fire burning in the back. Sanosuke motioned forward to Kenshin that they should keep going. They tiptoed quietly and turned the corner, facing the back of a tall, skinny man, his slick black hair running down to the middle of his back. His long, slender fingers grasped around a sword at his side. He turned his head just the slightest when he heard Sanosuke and Kenshin make their appearance.
"It's good to see you again, Battousai. It's been awhile since I've seen your disgraced face." The man turned and faced them, his pale skin illuminating in the fire. He had cold, small black eyes, reflecting years of determination and hate. His thin mouth pursed into a line. Kenshin gasped slightly and Sanosuke looked at him with surprise in his eyes.
"You know him, Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked, looking fully now at his friend.
"From long ago, when this one still went by Battousai." Kenshin stared at the man, standing there with a smirk on his face now.
"Yes, Battousai, I had heard that you had gotten weak. That you had left your assassin ways and became a rurouni. Well, I just had to find out myself. And when I spied on you, I also met a long time friend I met back in Aizu." The man smirked again and pulled out from the trees and gagged and chained Megumi. She looked at Sanosuke with fear and anxiousness in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Megumi, we'll save you." Sanosuke gave her a weak smile. He turned to the man and glared at him.
"What do you want with Megumi?" Sanosuke asked, spitting the words out.
"Oh…I knew Megumi a long time ago….we were very good friends…and I fell in love with her. But she didn't feel the same way about me. And then I saw her falling in love with that rooster head. And I couldn't have that happen. So I had to take her. Besides, I have to get my revenge on Battousai, anyways." The man sneered at both Sanosuke and Kenshin. He grabbed Megumi's hair and laughed at her.
"Never thought you'd be caught like this by me! Never thought you'd have to listen to every command and very wish and desire I had just so you could live to see that bird head! Ha! Never imagined you see me again." He threw her down to the ground. Megumi groaned in pain but unable to help her wounds.
"You stop hurting her! She doesn't deserve that!" Sanosuke yelled, making a move forward.
"Sanosuke, calm down. Don't let your emotions get ahold of you. Let me handle it," Kenshin said quietly, whispering into Sanosuke's ear. He turned back to the man and addressed him finally.
"Kento, this one knows why you're still upset with what happened. You've been cheated out of love for the second time. First with Tomoe and now with Megumi. But that doesn't give you any right to hurt her or hurt others around you. You…"
"Don't you tell what I can and cannot do, Battousai! You were a murderer and you killed the woman that I loved! You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do!" Kento screamed, pointing a long white finger at Kenshin. Kenshin stopped, stunned into silence. Kenshin slowly turned to Sanosuke to whisper into his ear again.
"Sanosuke, I'll distract him, you get to Megumi and save her. Get her untied and somewhere safe. Then come back and help me. He's tougher than he looks." Kenshin moved slowly away from Sanosuke and faced Kento.
"If it's a fight that you want, this one will not object. But please, if you will, leave Megumi-dono out of the fight. She doesn't belong on a battlefield." Kenshin put his hand on his sword and motioned with his other hand toward Megumi.
"Fine, take her." Kento picked her up and threw her into the forest. Sanosuke ran after her, glaring back at Kento with a violent look.
"Shall we finish what was started so many years ago, Battousai?" Kento asked, drawing his sword.
"If this is the only way, then, yes." Kenshin moved forward to finish the battle that was started many years ago.
To Be Continued...
Whew! finally got another chapter written. This story should be finished in about two more chapters. I might even have an epilogue, i'm not sure yet. Or have an alternate ending. One that's completely different from the ending I'm going to write. Should have the next chapter up in the next week or so. Please bear with me, it's almost finished! Thank you and please review! 3