Broken
Chapter 6: Split
A bright light shone through the window, breaking and comforting darkness that had filled the room for the last few hours. At first everything was foggy…but eventually he began to remember the series of events that preceded his current state. His life had been destroyed in what seemed like a rough second. He had nothing left, except for his family which…
"Hello!"
Guy straightened up on his bed with a jolt. At the same time another jolt ran up from his legs to his head, which brought him back down again, wincing in pain.
"You mustn't strain yourself. The wound aren't very bad, but you have to be careful. Otherwise they might reopen yet again."
The doctor placed a small tray on a little table beside the bed and helped Guy sit on the edge of the bed.
"When you're done gimme a holler okay?"
Guy nodded.
The doctor started toward the door.
"Wait, is mister Himura still around?"
"I'll send him in."
And then with a little bow, he left.
Some time later Kenshin entered the room. Guy was lying on the bed again, his legs bandaged and his gaze toward the distance. The sword still lay where he left it the night before, though neatly wrapped.
"You wanted to see me?"
Guy seemed startled for a moment, as if he had been dozing but composed himself real quick.
"Don't you want to know about the sword?"
There wasn't much to do anyway, so Kenshin just pulled a chair beside the bed and stared expectantly.
"A few weeks ago."
With a grunt, Guy pushed himself to a sitting position.
"We got an anonymous letter asking for our assistance."
"Who's assistance?"
"All those dead men you found me with, The Okiba Gang Shinobi."
The name didn't ring any of Kenshin's bells, except that it was either a super secret group of ninja mercenaries or a myth.
"We were supposed to make a simple delivery. However the item at question was a stolen item, a very valuable one at that."
Mercenaries, definitely.
Kenshin to a glance at the sword with the corner of his eye.
"Yes, that's it. A man named Oruku Saki was supposed to bring it to our rendezvous point, and then our group would take it to the highest bidder who lives in Tokyo."
"Why would he need a gang of ninjas to take it there.?"
"Oh…" Guy gave a little laugh, first one in a while. "Sorry I missed that. Thing is that this is one of a set of swords that were disappeared when an entire family of blacksmiths was killed, Clan Masamune. The man we were supposed to meet is a collector of sorts."
Kenshin just kept on nodding.
"Anyway, this is the last sword the Masamune made." He spoke as he picked the sword up and unwrapped it.
"The Masamune 100."
"You haven't answered my question yet."
Guy gave a louder laugh now. He even had to wipe some tears off.
"Sorry, got carried away. Thing is that one of the Masamune survived, the last heir to their legacy and…well, let's just say he's a bit cranky."
"So Saki needed a whole bunch of warriors to protect his item from one man?"
"One man that killed 20 trained and highly experienced shinobi in a single attack. Well, 19 actually, I'm still alive."
There were a few minutes of silence.
"Is he the one you were talking about the first time we met.?"
"Right, I almost forgot. After the attack he said something about looking for the Man Slayer. Maybe he thinks that your Sakabato is a Masamune as well or maybe…"
"Wait, how do you know so much about me?"
"Please, you can't know too much, especially in the underworld."
Kenshin had no choice but to nod at that last comment. Curious, he grabbed the Masamune 100 and held it in front of him. Way to heavy to hold for long, so fighting with it was completely out of the question. At one point the blade was hit by sunlight. A bright, steel blue colored light was reflected in all directions around the room, making it hard to see. It was almost as if the sword WAS meant to reflect it like that. Kenshin removed the sword from the light quickly as soon as it started hurting his eyes.
It actually HURT his eyes.
"So are you saying that it was Oruku Saki who owned this blade?"
Guy nodded.
Kenshin place the sword back beside the bed as he spoke.
"So it was my fault that your clan got killed."
Guy looked confused, but before he could speak Kenshin kept on talking.
"I was his bodyguard during the exchange. Maybe that assassin thinks that you guys were a decoy and that I have the sword."
"Maybe."
"You should rest; we still have a delivery to make."
That confused look returned to Guy's face.
"Why would you do that? You barely know me."
"The assassin would've killed Saki instead of your team if I hadn't been there."
"You'd help a criminal just because you feel guilty."
"You're no criminal. You were just in the wrong place at the worst possible time."
Guy's eyes watered slightly for some reason, followed by yet another moment of silence.
"I'll figure out a way for you to repay me later."
They both laughed at this and Kenshin left the room.
Many thoughts filled his head, replaying time and again the events of the last few days. He kept on wondering about it. That strange sword, why so heavy? Why make it so hard to use, not to mention that thing with the lights. What was the big deal with that assassin? The heir to the Masamune legacy. He was being targeted by a master swordsman. 19 men in a single attack? Looking for him.
Looking for him…
Kenshin Himura, the Man Slayer.
A few days since then. He'd probably in Tokyo looking for him right now.
In Tokyo.
Gasp.
"Kaoru!"
Author's Note: Whaddya think people? I know it wasn't much, but I kinda liked this chap, especially the ending. Anyway please review.
Thanx again Mimi! Really. smoochie