FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination
| FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination |
|
| Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search | Login Register Extras |
Title: White Oleander
Chapter eight: For the Sake of Love
“Sou-chan! Where were you?” She cried, and hugged him around the neck.
The door was sucked in by the wind, and slammed shut behind Soujirou. Tiredly, he slumped forward in her arms and fell against the floorboards.
Kaoru gasped in shock as she saw a blood splattered all over the front of his gi. Frantic, she lifted his shirt, but saw no wounds but a few bruises and scratches on his face.
“Soujirou! Soujirou what happened?” she held his face in her hands, crying.
Soujirou dropped the stolen sword from his waist, and smiled with a perverted sort of glee. With a pale, bloodied hand, he pulled a sack from his pocket. As he set it in Kaoru’s hand, the coins scattered across the floor. Instantly, Kaoru realized what he had done.
“No! No Soujirou! How could you!” she cried, but held him anyway, feeling him shiver against her.
Her sobs were muffled against his shoulder, and her nostrils flooded with the acrid scent of blood. It hurt her; although she had a distinct feeling it hurt Soujirou even more.
“I can’t do this…” Kaoru groaned in frustration as she practiced swings and thrusts with her old sword, her hands shaking with every move.
She dropped to her knees and stared into the sky. Somewhere she knew Soujirou was about to strike. He was hurting others again…but not for her anymore. For himself.
Kaoru pressed her ear to the earth and closed her eyes, desperate for any sign, any calm she could find. However, in the back of her mind, she knew nothing of the sort would come tonight.
“I remember when I was with you Soujirou….you promised me you’d make everything better…” she dug her fingernails into the dirt and lifted her head.
“You promised me a lot of things, but look where I’ve ended up,” she seethed.
“It’s hard not to blame you…but…” Kaoru’s eyes softened and she rose to her feet once more.
“I don’t. I just…can’t. You did protect me the only way you knew how…and…I fell in love with you used to be.”
Slowly, she raised her sword level with her eyes and focused on her target. The tree in front of her made a nice start, and Kaoru wasn’t going to mess up this time.
“So I’m fighting to bring you back. For the sake …”
With two quick steps and a downward strike, the tree split from top to bottom and crumbled at Kaoru’s feet. A slow smile spread over her lips, and she lifted her head towards the moon once more.
“…of love…”
“What’s the use waiting for her?” Misao snapped. “She’s not coming.”
Soujirou averted his eyes to the clock, and glared at the table with a frustrated smile.
‘I never should have told her…’ he thought angrily.
Misao put her feet up on the dinner table, flashing her thighs from underneath her outfit. She gave Soujirou a smirk but he was unresponsive. It was evident she was treading on thin ice, but she was desperate for attention.
“She’s probably out whoring or something. You can’t trust people like that. I could tell from the moment I--,”
“—would you shut the hell up and let me think!” Soujirou cut her off, and with the same sick smile on his face.
Misao’s breathing quickened, but she simply looked away, blush staining her cheeks. It was so hard…remembering how much she meant to him. It pained her to see him so distraught over another…the man who was supposed to bear no emotions.
“I’m sorry,” Misao mustered, tears stinging her eyes.
Soujirou watched her cry guiltily, but didn’t show it. Instead, he gave his normal smile, and brushed a lock of hair from his eyes.
“I’ll look for her later,” the words stung as he said them, but seemed to perk up Misao.
“Right,” she wiped at her eyes in excitement.
“The sooner we take care of this, the better. Let’s go,” Soujirou walked out in front of Misao, checking back every few minutes as they headed through the woods.
“The tip said they’d be in the market, let’s lay low and stick to the back streets,” Misao suggested, as she peeked through the trees to see families moving up and down through the markets, trying to get deals before they closed.
Soujirou nodded silently, and shook his head to eliminate all thoughts of Kaoru. However, it was quite obvious to him where she was, and he couldn’t help but wonder about her health.
“You’re not moving. Are you okay?” Misao asked gently, placing a hand on Soujirou's shoulder.
Soujirou found it hard to respond. There was a plethora of emotions swirling around inside him that were getting harder and harder to control. It was as if…
“Yes, I’m fine,” he smiled, lying again. “Let’s go.”
‘For the sake of…her.’
“He’ll murder tonight. There’s been a buzz around the markets that the Yakuza will be in town,” Kenshin sheathed the sword at his waist and headed for the door.
Tomoe rushed to meet him, a calligraphy brush and paper in her hands.
“Please…reconsider taking this into your own hands,” she begged. Her usually calm demeanor had been discarded, and desperateness was clearly visible in her eyes.
“The best place for attack will be as he’s about to strike. He’ll be distracted, and it will give me the necessary advantage.” Kenshin held her tightly, whispering his words into her ear.
Tomoe tensed.
“But what if he’s as good as they say?” She whimpered.
“Don’t worry, I’m better,” Kenshin planted a kiss on her forehead and smiled reassuringly.
“I’ll do anything to protect you. You are the one most precious to me.” With that, Kenshin stepped out of the house, and took in the night air.
His fight would be difficult, but he would return to Tomoe.
‘So this is it…I’ve picked up my sword once more, but this time to protect her. I’ll do anything I can to make this right, and maybe put sense into this young man’s head. I do not go with the intent to kill, for I would be only stooping to his level. I have come as a missionary, to bring peace and restore peace. I will prevail. For love’s sake.’
Yahiko watched as Megumi slept. She lay curled up on Sanosuke’s old bed, her tear streaked face pressed firmly against his pillow. He stood over her protectively and watched the hands of the clock tick slowly towards midnight. Everywhere there had been rumors of Seta’s next strike, and Yahiko had every intention to be there to stop him, and seek revenge.
With a shaking hand, he picked up his practice shinai and held it to his chest. Gentle and swift, he did a test swing, and cut the air in front of him with a soft slicing sound loud enough to stir Megumi ever so slightly.
“This is for you Megumi, and that stupid rooster head,” he smirked, though inside fear was settling.
‘If I don’t see you again…’
“I love you,” he mustered, his hands quivering.
As he headed out and towards the right alleyway entrance of the market, different thoughts rushed through Yahiko’s head. All of them dominated by Tsubame.
“Stupid girl,” he muttered to himself, and wiped away a tear as it slipped down his cheek.
‘So this is it…this is the end of my life,’ he thought to himself.
‘I know I can’t possibly win this battle, but for the sake of her…I must try as hard as I can. I must see that bastard’s face and let him know that someone wants a piece of him. He just can’t get away with the pain he’s caused! I’ll knock his head off his shoulders or die trying! For the sake of love! ’
“And for you Tsubame…” he whispered, and blew a kiss into the air.
“I let her down,” he grunted, and halted above the left alleyway entrance to the marketplace.
Furious, he clenched his fist and looked down at the empty streets.
“You shouldn’t be out there. You should be at home, with me,” his voice was a gruff whisper that blended in with the rustling of leaves in the wind.
“Shinomori-san…it is we who are selfish. We…the ones who ignore those who love us most. Those who create a circle of hurt for no reason other than our pride…”
Aoshi stared into the sky, thinking of Tsubame. She was a child of great wisdom that could have only come from terrible experiences. He wished her all the luck in the world in hopes that it would be reciprocated. As much as he would have liked to deny it, he would need all he could get. Seta was said to be the fastest around, and he couldn’t take any chances.
‘So this is it…’ he thought with a rare smirk.
‘I’ll see the face that no one else has seen without dropping dead at your feet. I’ll kill you and take Misao back with me. Then and only then will this whole mess be over. I’ll never have to stoop this low again. Only…only for the sake of love.’