Well, this is a little shorter than usual, so I'm sorry for that. I promise I didn't leave out any sections this time either. At least the update was fairly quick, ne?
Kenshin heard his voice being called from somewhere in the midst of the darkness. It was so ethereal he ignored it at first, thinking he was dreaming. Then the voice grew louder, and as it did Kenshin became acutely aware that he was in a lot of pain. If he didn't know better, he would say it felt as if someone was trying to tear his arms from his body. That was odd, because he was fairly certain his arms had been somewhat close to his side when he'd passed out.
"Are you awake yet?"
Kenshin heard clearly that time, and an involuntary shiver ran down his back. The voice sounded very familiar but he couldn't place it.
"Come on, open your eyes."
Yes, that seemed reasonable. He wanted to know where he was anyway, to thank the man who had saved him from the horrors of Edo castle. Kenshin blinked several times, opening his eyes a little more each time. When he managed to focus on the sight in front of him he automatically grabbed for the nonexistent sword at his waist. His arm became a kaleidoscope of pain then, spiraling from his wrist to his shoulder, and he screamed.
"I wouldn't move. You're hanging by your wrists, and there's a very nasty sprain on the right one. Looks as if your shoulder might have popped out of joint for a time there too."
Tears blurred Kenshin's vision but the image of Kobori standing in front of him stayed sharp in his mind. How? Had they seen him jump through the window? He'd been so careful not to tear the paper, to close the window afterwards.
No. He'd fallen right outside of the Fujimi keep. Undoubtedly they'd simply searched the perimeter and found him lying there. If only he had landed right! If only he had been able to get his breath, to stay conscious!
"It seems Houjou was in league with this Hiko you told us about earlier." Kobori said.
Houjou? The guard who'd been helping Kobori?
"Unfortunately we weren't able to keep him alive for questioning. But his actions as much as prove your guilt."
It took a moment for Kenshin to understand what Kobori was saying. Then it hit him, like a well-placed bokken blow. Houjou had been the ninja. For some reason-pity, guilt?-he'd decided to try and rescue Kenshin, and had died because of it. Kenshin felt sick.
"So, little traitor, I've been given leave to continue questioning you. I feel certain you can give us something more than the name Hiko Seijuurou."
He must be having a nightmare. Maybe he was still lying unconscious on the ground. Wake up, wake up. Something rested gently across his left shoulder, tracing down his arm, and Kenshin stiffened at the site of the flail.
"Do we still have to do this the hard way, or can you put away your foolish pride? I think you know now that it's futile to attempt escape."
Kenshin relaxed as the flail was lifted from his arm. "I only said Hiko Seijuurou was my master. He teaches me kenjutsu, that's all. I swear!"
"Enough!" The sharp crack was followed by tendrils of fire raking down his chest. "If you choose to continue this obstinate approach, you will be tortured to within an inch of your life. Seeing as you're valuable enough for someone to try and rescue you, you will be allowed to heal, and then we start all over again. Is that what you want?"
"But . . . I don't even know why Houjou-san tried to rescue me!" Kenshin's voice cracked. He stared into Kobori's eyes, trying to will the man to believe him. Kobori met his gaze evenly, absently tapping the flail against his leg.
"You have a powerful will, boy," Kobori said finally, breaking Kenshin's gaze as he turned to pace the room. "But unless you have hard proof saying otherwise, all evidence shows you are guilty."
Something snapped inside Kenshin then, and the feelings of fear he'd harbored since he'd first met Kobori were overpowered by anger. "I'm not! You're just too stupid to see it!" It probably wasn't the smartest thing he could have said. Kenshin didn't even see the flail snapping towards him, only felt the lash across his face.
"It would be wise to show more respect." Kobori snarled.
Blood trickled into the corner of Kenshin's mouth, and as it did he felt a blind rage building inside him. How could this man not believe him? How could he possibly think a boy would be able to hold out under such torture? Kenshin felt his body shaking with the intensity of his feelings, his teeth grinding with frustration.
"Anger?" Kobori stopped pacing. "That's new. It's usually one of the first reactions we get. But it doesn't take long to break. Shall I show you?"
Kenshin felt the blood leaking through his lips and onto his tongue. It was still running steadily down the side of his face. Kobori stepped towards him, and on impulse Kenshin spat. Blood-tinged spit landed on the man's shirt, and Kobori glanced down.
"Hm. Turning into a fighting pup all of a sudden?" He moved behind Kenshin, and suddenly a line of fire traced down the middle of Kenshin's back.
Kenshin couldn't stop screaming, even after Kobori had finished raking his finger to the bottom of his spine. His world had coalesced into the mass of raw skin that now sang with pain. He was still screaming, more from helplessness and rage, when a door swung open and someone walked into the room.
"Kobori-san, the prisoner has been freed of charges! You're ordered to stop immediately!" The man had to shout to be heard over Kenshin.
"Who's ordered this?" Kobori demanded. "The boy's about to talk, I can feel it."
"The tairou himself showed up and demanded that the boy be brought to him." The man who had walked in now stood between Kenshin and Kobori, serving as a wall between them. "Be quiet!" He addressed Kenshin. "You're going to deafen me."
Kenshin felt hands moving at the rope around his wrists, then heard the unmistakable sound of a knife biting through hemp. He stopped yelling so abruptly he gave himself the hiccups. "What's h-happening?" His voice was hoarse.
"The tairou thinks you're innocent. You're free." For a brief moment Kenshin's body was lifted completely off the floor and he thought his right arm was going to snap off. But then the rope went limp and he dropped to the ground, wrists still bound together. He sat there, stunned at what he'd just heard. Was he really free?
As if to answer his question, the man bent down to work at the rope still around his wrists. Kenshin's right wrist stung madly but he kept his mouth shut until the ropes fell between his legs. "Come, boy, the tairou isn't patient." Kenshin staggered to his feet, keeping an eye on Kobori as he was led out the door. Kobori simply stood and watched, looking as if someone had stolen his most prized possession from him.
Kenshin found it hard to stand, let alone walk, but somehow he managed. He didn't want his newfound freedom to be taken from him due to a lack of mobility. As he struggled to keep up, Kenshin studied the man in front of him. He was dressed as a castle guard, with dark hakama and gi, his hair in a topknot and daishou at his side. "Is my shishou here?" Kenshin asked, finally catching up enough to trot alongside the man for a few scant seconds.
"Shishou?"
"Hiko Seijuurou."
"I don't know anyone by that name. You're to go with the tairou. He showed up only moments ago and said the man we wanted was Arimura Jisaemon and that you were only a distraction."
Kenshin didn't know how this tairou knew about Jisaemon, or why anyone other than his shishou would be coming to get him, but at this point he didn't really care. Just so long as he left this place.
Kenshin was brought into the same room he'd first entered at Edo castle, and although a half dozen men were there he immediately recognized the tairou. He had a stern expression, not unlike shishou's, and wore a long kimono with flowing sleeves. A thin strip of cloth tied to the sash at his waist hung down the middle of his body.
"The boy, sir." The guard bowed low, back flat as a table.
Following suit, Kenshin bowed his head to his chest, hoping that would be enough respect. There was no way he could make his back anywhere close to flat right now. After several seconds of silence, Kenshin looked up hesitantly. He felt a moment of panic as he saw the tairou staring at him with a disgusted expression. Maybe he wasn't coming for Kenshin after all. Maybe there was some other boy here, sitting in agony in a different cell, and by some mistake Kenshin had been brought out instead. Then the tairou spoke in a voice laced with disbelief.
"How could anyone think a child this young would be involved in matters such as this!" He indicated Kenshin. "How old are you, boy? Surely no more than nine."
"I'm almost eleven, sir." Kenshin replied, trying not to sound miffed.
"So he's ten. Look at him! A grown man wouldn't be able to withstand this and say nothing!" Kenshin could feel the discomfort in the room as the guards looked back and forth at each other, avoiding the tairou's gaze. "Tell Kobori-san to expect a meeting with me within the week." The tairou hadn't spoken to anyone in particular, but everyone in the room responded affirmatively.
"Tairou-sama," One man lifted his hand. "May I ask one more time if you're sure about this? We had strong evidence that this boy could be a part of the sonno joui faction."
The tairou swung his gaze at the man, staring him down. "I have already spoken my piece."
"But maybe this is some clever trick concocted by that man Arimura-san mentioned, Hiko Seijuurou. Have you-"
"Enough!" The tairou cut him off. "I assure you it is no trick. I've told you all I can about the matter, and you'll just have to trust my judgment. Or do you wish to contend my decision?"
The man hesitated, then bowed. "No, tairou-sama. As you say."
The tairou nodded sharply. "Good. Now you," He gestured at Kenshin, "what's your name again?"
"Kenshin. Himura Kenshin."
"Kenshin-kun. You come with me. There's someone who wants very much to know that you're alive, if I'm interpreting his horrible manner correctly."
Kenshin had felt like he might not be able to take another step but at the tairou's words a jolt of energy shot through him. "Really?" Kenshin didn't know many people who would be described as having a horrible manner.
"Yes. We're not traveling far, can you make it?"
"Who is it?" Kenshin demanded, only hearing affirmation.
"Later," The tairou said through clenched teeth, "can you walk or no?" Kenshin nodded firmly. If he was leaving Edo castle, he could do anything for a short period of time.
"Good. Follow me, and say nothing until I give you leave." Then the tairou opened the door and stepped out. Kenshin paused only for a second before following him.
Brilliant sunlight greeted him, its spring warmth pouring over him for the first time in days. Kenshin wanted to close his eyes and just stand there but the tairou's guarded words, and now his rapid pace, made it evident to Kenshin that they were in a hurry.
The tairou moved quickly across the castle grounds, and by the time they'd reached the outer wall Kenshin was dripping with sweat. He was following more on instinct than sight−his vision had become so blurred all he could make out was swirling colors, and now that the adrenaline had left his system his pain was returning tenfold, making it difficult not to collapse in a ball of agony.
"Not much farther," The tairou encouraged, falling into step beside Kenshin. Kenshin just nodded, unable to gather enough breath to reply.
He didn't know how much longer they walked−it could have been one minute or ten, his sense of time had deteriorated too much to tell. He did know that he was relying more and more on the tairou for support by the time they stopped.
"We're there now, just step up and come inside."
It was nice, Kenshin thought foggily, that he was being allowed to salvage his pride. The tairou could have saved a lot of time and just carried him the whole way. He'd been unendingly patient though and even now he only helped Kenshin maneuver the three inch step onto the porch rather than bodily lifting him.
The second Kenshin's foot scraped against the porch he became aware of something that he hadn't felt for what seemed like ages. A ki that was both reassuring and daunting, but always synonymous with safety. As the tairou slid aside the door Kenshin forced his eyes to stay open, desperate to have tangible evidence to prove his senses hadn't just gone crazy.
Even though he only saw the vague outline of a human clothed in a blur of white, there was no doubt in Kenshin's mind who the tall figure just inside the door was. He stood swaying for several seconds, letting reality sink in as the familiar ki surrounded him; letting the gratefulness he felt obliterate his underlying shame.
"Shishou . . . you came." He felt himself falling and braced for it but instead of hitting the ground as he expected he sank into something firm but yielding. And then, just before he completely lost consciousness, he heard two gruffly whispered words he never thought he'd be happy to hear.
"Baka deshi."
Alright, Hiko and Kenshin are finally united! Now there's just that pesky Jisaemon to take care of . . .
For anyone curious, the position of tairou was extremely high. The tairou is basically second-in-command to the shogun. If the shogun suddeny died, the tairou would take over. Ii Naosuke also happened to be a daimyo, so he was just one all-around powerful dude.
literaryrxn: I'm glad Kenshin is amusing you! :)
Althea M: Lol, haven't heard that one in a while. He was definitely out like the trash.
ZukoFlame: I'm glad my updates can elicit "yay's" from people! You know, I was kind of hoping Hiko would rescue Kenshin too, and after much thought, I decided it really would be crazy, even for Hiko, to invade Edo castle. And hey, I'm sure there are tons of people still interested in your story! I definitely am! Ganbare yo!
t42n242: Wow . . . I like your idea about the ninja being part of the shougunate way better than mine! Sorry if Houjou was a let-down for you!
Kaida Ukitake: True dat! But Hiko doesn't know Kenshin's still alive, so he can't be too proud of his teaching yet. ;) (and my vacay was tons of fun!)
Thanks for the reviews everyone! Keep r+r-ing, I appreciate it!