Subject: [kffdisc] Those Days - Part 1(repost) Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:02:30 EDT From: WildWyrick@aol.com Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: kffdisc@onelist.com From: WildWyrick@aol.com Hi, guys! I figured it might be best to just repost Part 1, since a couple of people asked for it. Thanks to Tae, Mana-chan, and Nicky for the C&C! I'll post a revised version of Part 2 in a couple of days. ^_^ (Glad you liked the mini-blanket scenario, Nicky. I just couldn't resist!) Ja! Eliz Those Days Are Written On My Heart * A Rurouni Kenshin fanfic written for entertainment purposes only. Rurouni Kenshin characters are the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki Part 1: If The Sky Is Blue, I Can Fly The spy known as Kitsune crept through the darkened streets. Behind him he could hear the shouts of the police as they searched for him. Cursing them softly, he slipped into the alley that opened suddenly to his right. Pausing a moment, he waited for his breathing to return to normal. He could still hear the voices of his pursuers, but they were not coming any closer. Kitsune stared down the alley. His eyes, unusually keen in the darkness, could not penetrate the blackness that now waited before him. He listened, barely breathing, but heard no sounds other than night insects close at hand and, farther away, the clamor of the searchers. His hand sought and closed on the hilt of his knife. Drawing a deep breath, he plunged ahead into the darkness. It opened before him and he could make out the walls of the alley, cool and reassuring, muffling his footsteps to outside ears. Thirty paces... He turned onto another alley that appeared on his left. He was walking faster now, almost jogging, as he neared his goal. Then, without warning, the walls surrounding him disappeared. He was standing on the grounds of a small shrine. A slight, warm breeze was blowing and, far above, thin clouds passed across the pale crescent moon. Kitsune paused for only a moment, absorbing the scene before him. Then he leapt forward, covering the distance to the shrine in mere seconds. It was totally dark within the building, but Kitsune had no need of sight. His hands traced the familiar walls, his steps covered known distances. Suddenly, he knelt. The wooden case materialized under his hands and he inserted a small, brass key in the lock. He felt it turn, and lifted the heavy lid. The papers he sought lay on top. He snatched them out, stuffing them into his shirt as he gently closed the case. Then he raced back to the entrance of the shrine. To his dismay, the eastern sky was growing pale. He didn't have much time. Even worse, he could see the light of torches approaching down the alley. Racing away from the approaching policemen, he crossed to the opposite side of the enclosure. The eight-foot stone wall proved no obstacle, and Kitsune disappeared over it even as the first pursuers set foot within the courtyard of the shrine. # "I don't want to be here." Sanosuke viewed the crowd that thronged around Yokohama's harbor with suspicion. "I hate crowds. And what's so great about balloons, anyway, Jou-chan?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Enishi's didn't amount to much." "This is different. Totally different!" Kaoru shook her head to emphasize her point and glared up at Sanosuke. "It's about science, the new era. Can't you ever be interested in something other than fighting?" Kenshin's gaze traveled from Kaoru's balled fists to Sanosuke's set expression and back again, finally resting on Kaoru's face. "Calm down, calm down." He inserted himself between them, making the little placating gestures he had learned from experience were usually futile. "Don't worry, Sano. Everything will be fine. Yahiko, at least, seems to be having a good time." Sanosuke stared bleakly a Kenshin's smiling face and knew there was no hope of leaving. He sighed. Somebody owed him a good lunch. As they walked towards the harbor, the silence was broken only by Sanosuke grinding his teeth. Then they turned a corner, and the street fighter gasped in spite of himself. Down a slight hill by the water a grandstand had been erected and beside it a giant bubble of silk billowed in the wind. Yahiko, who had run ahead of them, came hurrying back and laughed at Sanosuke's expression of wonder. "It's enormous... and still growing!" "Baka," said Yahiko. "It has to be filled with a lot of gas, or it can't lift off. The man down there said so!" Three pairs of eyes followed Yahiko's pointing hand. They could make out the tall figure of a man on the grandstand with a smaller man beside him. "The tall one is going to go up in the balloon. He's French and it's such a weird- sounding language. The other one is telling everybody what he is saying." Yahiko began pulling on Kaoru's sleeve. "Come on, hurry up! The balloon is almost full." The balloon was, indeed, almost full and another, which would take the Frenchman's assistant aloft, was beginning to be filled. Yahiko, his face flushed with excitement, ran back into the crowd at the grandstand, oblivious to Kaoru's calls for him to wait. "Let him go," Kenshin said. "He's too excited to wait." "He's not the only one! Come on, Kenshin! I want to be near it when it takes off!" Kenshin looked down into Kaoru's bright eyes. Her enthusiasm was infectious, warming him more than the sunlight on his face. Smiling, he took her hand and began running with her toward the crowd. Sanosuke watched their retreating backs grimly. "I'm so excited I can't stand it," he said. # Yahiko threaded his way through the crowd of onlookers, inching his way closer to the grandstand. He darted between two middle-aged women, his eyes hardly straying from the giant balloon above him that blocked the late-morning sun, casting a huge, tear- shaped shadow over the crowd. He was so intent on the balloon that he almost ran into the back of a tall man who suddenly moved in front of him, blocking his view. Yahiko was about to squirm past when a sudden apprehensiveness stopped him. His eyes traveled over the tall figure, who was still unaware of his gaze. Blue police uniform, katana with one white-gloved hand resting lightly on the pommel... Saitoh! Yahiko clamped his hand over his mouth, not certain whether he had said the name aloud, and sank backwards into the crowd. From behind the legs of a portly Western gentleman he observed the policeman. Saitoh was scanning the crowd, looking for someone. Yahiko was sure he would find his target. He chewed his lip nervously. What if Saitoh was looking for Kenshin, who was probably off his guard, focused on the balloon or laughing and joking with Sanosuke and Kaoru? Yahiko shook his head, trying to dispel such paranoid thoughts. How would Saitoh even know they were in Yokohama? And if he wanted to fight with Kenshin again, he knew where to find them in Tokyo. I should warn Kenshin anyway, Yahiko thought. But I don't want to lose sight of Saitoh. He's up to something, and it's probably not good. Hopefully, he cast around for a sight of Sanosuke's tall figure, but the crowd pressed too tightly around him. Suddenly, Yahiko saw Saitoh stiffen and push forward, as intent as a hawk that has spotted its prey. There was no time to warn the others. # Kitsune knew he was in a dangerous situation. The police had been hard on his trail all morning, and his plan to lose them in the crowd that had gathered to watch the balloon ascension was not proving successful. He was adept at escaping pursuers, but these police were more dogged than any he remembered encountering. He had glimpsed their leader's hard, uncompromising face several times during the morning's hunt, and on each occasion it had filled him with fear and hatred. He would not let himself, or the information he carried, be taken. Yet that seemed inevitable now. The police leader had spotted him and was approaching slowly and deliberately through the crowd, motioning his men to converge. Kitsune could see two policemen hurrying towards him from the right, three others from the left. He retreated from them, but his escape to the harbor and freedom was blocked by the grandstand. There was nowhere left to go. Already he had pressed forward to the front of the onlookers gathered around the balloon. The balloon. He glanced up at it, considering the impossible, his hand closing convulsively on the hilt of his dagger. The policemen were almost on top of him, even though their chief had never quickened his pace. He could feel the moment slipping away as the Frenchman stepped into the basket, preparing to begin the ascension. The balloonist's assistant was trying to herd the crowd away from the grandstand. In a few moments his efforts would push Kitsune into the arms of the police. He was jolted out of his thoughts as something hit the back of his legs. He stumbled to avoid falling and spun around, dagger drawn. A young boy with unruly hair had been pushed against him and was trying to regain his footing before he was stepped on by the crowd that was now surging away from the balloon. "Gomen..." The boy's voice trailed off and his eyes widened as he noticed the dagger in Kitsune's hand. Before he could pull away, Kitsune had grabbed him and pressed the blade against his throat. Yahiko struggled briefly, but stopped when he felt hot blood trickling down his neck. "Be still, or I'll slit you open from ear to ear!" Holding the boy against him like a shield, Kitsune pushed his way towards the grandstand. Yahiko cast around wildly, hoping to catch the eye of anyone who would help, but the startled onlookers only backed away from the desperate, knife-wielding man. He caught Saitoh's gaze and saw a brief flicker of recognition in the policeman's eyes. At their leader's signal the policemen dropped back, hovering watchfully but making no move to rush in. Dragging Yahiko with him, Kitsune gained the basket of the balloon. The Frenchman pulled a pistol but Kitsune struck him in the face, knocking him over the side. It was the only opening Yahiko needed. The moment he felt Kitsune's grip slacken, he pulled away, lunging for freedom. With a snarl, Kitsune grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. But not before Yahiko had seen a familiar face in the crowd. "Sanosuke!" he screamed, trying in vain to wriggle out of the spy's grip once more. Sano sensed there was something wrong even before he heard Yahiko's cry. A murmur had passed through the crowd, something about a madman, and he pushed his way forward through the mass of onlookers. Suddenly he burst out into the open in front of the balloon and looked up. His eyes met Yahiko's even as the boy screamed his name. # "What do you think is happening over there?" Kaoru delicately tugged a piece of yakitori off the stick with her teeth, speaking around the mouthful. "I don't know." Kenshin shielded his eyes with his hand and squinted towards the grandstand. "It looks like there's some kind of delay. Good thing for us, since somebody had to stop and eat." His affectionate gaze rested on Kaoru's face. She had a drop of sauce on her lips, and he wasn't sure whether to tell her or not. He realized he was staring at her mouth, strangely disturbed by the fullness of it, the way it twitched when she smiled up at him. Kenshin cleared his throat and tore his eyes away, focusing on the sky, the balloon, anything but those lips. "Don't tease me! I have to eat when Sano and Yahiko aren't around, or they'll want some, too, and I can't afford...." She felt him stiffen suddenly. "What's wrong?" "Is that...? Yahiko!" "Wait! Kenshin!" He was already disappearing into the crowd. "Wait! What's wrong?" He didn't stop or look back. Still clutching the yakitori in her hand, Kaoru ran after him. # With swift strokes, Kitsune began to cut the ropes that tethered the balloon, binding it to the earth. He was hampered by Yahiko, who leaped on him each time the dagger was removed from his throat. He flung the boy into the bottom of the basket, using the temporary respite to slice through another rope. Slowly, the balloon began to rise. Yahiko struggled up, a bag of sand in his arms. He swung it at his kidnapper, knocking the dagger out of Kitsune's hand and over the side of the basket. With a snarl, Kitsune backhanded him, stunning the boy with the force of the blow. As Yahiko shook his head and tried to force himself to his feet, the spy grabbed the nearest sandbag. The force of the rising balloon pulled the last restraining rope off its tether. It snaked through the grass and Sanosuke dove on it, wrapping it around his arm. He struggled to his feet, his heels digging into the dirt as his muscles strained with the effort of holding the giant balloon back from the sky. Suddenly he felt someone behind him, someone very strong, adding his efforts to the task. Kenshin. "Where the hell have you been?" he grunted. "Never mind, don't bother explaining. I'm just glad you're here now." "Don't turn around and change your mind." Sano would have dropped the rope if it had not been wrapped around his arm so tightly. He spun around, disbelieving, and met Saitoh's thin smile. The policeman's face showed no sign of exertion, although Sano was panting. "We have to pull them in quickly. If he drops the ballast, we won't be able to hold them." Wordlessly, Sano nodded as the other policemen and the balloonist's assistant joined them on the rope. At a sign from Saitoh, they began to slowly draw the balloon back to the earth. # Kitsune couldn't understand why the balloon was falling back until he looked down and saw the men clinging to the rope. He hesitated only a moment, then hurled one of the heavy sandbags at the leader of the police. Drawing his katana in a quick, efficient motion, the policeman sliced through the bag before it struck him. Sand rained down on the men on the rope, coating their hair and stinging their eyes. Kitsune was disappointed he hadn't killed the man, but the distraction was still a success. He threw another bag down, this time aiming at the big man in white who stood in front of the policeman. Although his victim saw it coming, he couldn't untangle his arm from the rope in time to counter the attack. Once again, the policeman had to release his grip on the rope and cut the bag open before it struck its target. The balloon began to rise again, jerking skyward. Kitsune smiled mirthlessly and threw another sandbag over the side. # Sano's arm felt like it was being pulled out of its socket. Despite his best efforts, the balloon was gaining altitude. He tried to dig in his heels, but his foot slipped and he was dragged forward several feet before he could regain his balance. Some of the policemen were abandoning the rope as the bombardment continued. Saitoh remained by his side, but the policeman was spending more time cutting through the heavy missiles than helping Sano anchor the balloon. Even so, Sano was surprised to find himself thinking truly kind thoughts about Saitoh for the first time in his life. Then he felt his feet leave the ground. Saitoh grabbed the rope and yanked him back with one powerful pull just as the next sandbag fell from the sky. It struck the balloonist's assistant, knocking him unconscious to the ground. The balloon heaved into the sky, pulling Sano and Saitoh with it. Saitoh released the rope and fell back to earth, landing heavily but on his feet. Sano was left dangling beneath the balloon, every second taking him higher and higher above the world. # Kenshin pushed his way through the crowd just as Saitoh dropped back to the ground. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the policeman, then widened in disbelief as he looked up and saw Sano hanging in the air. "What's going on? How could you let this happen?" "He was a fool to get tangled up." Saitoh brushed his gloved hands together, knocking dirt and sand off the white cloth. He turned to one of the policemen. "Inform the Minister that the spy escaped and is heading north in a balloon with one," he smiled grimly, "possibly two, hostages." He began to walk away, as if the entire affair was at an end, but stopped as a collective gasp went through the crowd. Sano had untangled his arm and was starting to climb. All eyes watched in horrified fascination as Kitsune's face appeared suddenly at the side of the basket. He no longer had a knife but he shook the rope, trying to dislodge his unwanted guest. He also seemed to be struggling with someone inside the basket that Kenshin couldn't see. "Who is in the balloon, Saitoh?" The low, tense tone of the question indicated that Kenshin already knew the answer. "A spy. A very slippery, dangerous man. And your boy." "What?" Kaoru appeared at Saitoh's elbow, sweaty and disheveled. "Yahiko's up there? And Sano?" She caught her breath as she gazed up at him, now far above their heads. The balloon was rising higher every minute, and still Sano had not made it into the basket. "Kenshin..." she turned to him, a pleading expression in her eyes. Kenshin's expression was set, his eyes hard as he gazed skyward. He no longer bothered to shield them from the intensity of the sun. "The other balloon. I'm going to take it." Saitoh looked at him skeptically. "You don't know how to operate it." "Surely the balloonist, or his assistant..." "Both badly hurt. You won't make it on your own." "He won't be on his own," Kaoru interjected. "Kaoru-dono, no. I can't allow you to..." Her expression was just as determined as his. "You can't stop me. They're my family, too, you know. The balloon might drift out to sea. I might never see any of you again and I'll wait and wait, never knowing what happened to you. That's what I can't allow, Himura Kenshin!" She spun away from him and ran toward the other balloon, now fully filled. Kenshin hurried after her, glancing up worriedly at Sano's dangling form. Saitoh followed at a leisurely pace, lighting a cigarette. # Sano looked at the ground beneath his feet and closed his eyes, drawing in a steadying breath. He had made it halfway up the rope, despite the murderous efforts of the madman in the basket. Just a little farther... At least Yahiko was still alive and was helping him. Yahiko. He's the cause of all this! "I'll kill him when I get up there," he muttered. "How does he always get me into these things?" Sano opened his eyes and slowly began to climb again. # Kenshin and Kaoru stood in the basket of the second balloon and looked around, uncertain what to do next. The only mechanism Kenshin could see was a simple wooden toggle attached to a rope that hung above his head. His gaze traced it up to the balloon above them. He relaxed, tension draining from his face as realized its purpose. "Maybe this won't be so dangerous after all, Kaoru-dono. All we have to do is untie the ropes and drop the ballast to rise, then pull this to release the gas when we're ready to come down." "It sounds so simple," Saitoh commented. He lounged nearby, taking long drags on his cigarette. "Will you have your men untie the ropes for us? We're in a hurry," Kaoru snapped. "In a moment." "Saitoh," Kenshin began dangerously. "You're always impatient, Battousai. But in this case, I suppose you're right. I would have liked to have finished, though, since I don't know when I will be able to smoke again." He dropped the cigarette into the dirt, crushing it beneath his foot. With swift, fluid movements he covered the distance to the balloon and vaulted lightly into the basket beside them. Kaoru and Kenshin stared at him, but he didn't spare them a glance. "Release the ropes!" The policemen untied the ropes and the balloon began a wobbly ascent. Kenshin picked up the nearest sandbag and balanced it on the edge of the basket. "Watch out, down there," he called. "Please move back!" The policemen obeyed, moving themselves and the curious onlookers away from the balloon. Kenshin pushed the bag over the side. Kaoru and Saitoh did the same, and slowly the balloon moved away from the earth. Kaoru watched the familiar world drawing away, the people below losing their distinctiveness. Was that child with the blue hat a girl or a boy? She squinted down, no longer able to answer the question. It was a strange sensation, like being on a mountain that was growing towards the sky. Like being a bird, or a kami. She frowned. Was it really possible that she, Kamiya Kaoru, could fly? She felt Kenshin's hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Kaoru-dono. Sano will make it. We have to believe in him." But she saw the lines of worry around his mouth as he turned away, lifting another sandbag and dropping it over the side. She turned her gaze to the north, where the other balloon hung in the sky. "Sano," she whispered. ********** End of Part 1 kitsune = fox kami = god Balloon notes, etc: At this time, balloons were filled with hydrogen rather than hot air. That's why Saitoh can't smoke - he doesn't want the balloon to go up like the Hindenburg. There's no way to add any gas to the balloon, so once you're up, that's it as far as "fuel" is concerned. I have to thank my cool husband for info about balloons, guns, uniforms, naval ships, etc (all will be revealed in time!) as well as providing Saitoh's first line to Sano when I was tearing my hair trying to figure out what Saitoh would say. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You can now easily share photos and documents with your fellow list members http://www.ONElist.com Check out our homepage for details on how to use our new shared files feature!