From: WildWyrick@aol.com Just when you probably thought this fic had disappeared into the abyss forever, a nice, icy Sunday afternoon comes along and helps me out! Aargh! Keeping the action straight and where everybody is in this section has had me pulling my hair a bit, but I don't think there are any continuity errors. (Crosses fingers) As always, previous chapters can be found at the very cool Teahouse: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/6196/col1.html Thanks, minna-san, for your patience and support! It is really appreciated (even when I'm in lurker mode and not too communicative!) ^__^ Elizabeth 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 7: The Dragon In the Darkness "I'm afraid you won't find anything in there to shoot or stab me with, my dear." Kaoru whirled around to find Ivanoff watching her from the doorway of the cabin. She had been desperately rummaging through a chest in the corner and had not heard him enter. He crossed the room swiftly and closed the heavy wooden lid with a percussive . "It's bad enough to be a spy without behaving like a thief, as well." He looked down at her for a moment in silence then said abruptly, "I've been told you're a whore from Nagasaki. What do you say to that?" Kaoru shook her head, gazing up at him with wide eyes. "Who...?" "It doesn't matter. Get up!" When she remained on her knees staring at him, Ivanoff seized her arm and pulled her to her feet. "Sit there!" Her eyes widened as she realized he was pointing toward the bed. "Sit!" "No." Kaoru struggled to free herself from Ivanoff's grip. "No. It's not true." She looked around desperately for anything that would hold him off. But Ivanoff had not lied when he had said there was nothing in the cabin for her to fight him with. He shook her slightly. "For heaven's sake, stop thrashing around and do as I say, girl! I said I was told you're a whore. I didn't say I believed it." "Then..." "Sit down," he said firmly. "I want to talk to you about your future. You can still have one, you know, if you're reasonable." He released her and turned away, pouring two drinks out of his silver flask. "This is first-rate brandy . Try to get it in your lovely mouth this time instead of on my uniform." Kaoru took the proffered glass and perched on the edge of the bed, sipping gingerly. Her heart was still pounding furiously and she watched the captain of the "Nayezdnik" closely, waiting for him to speak. His mood seemed strange and she felt suddenly that her actions in the next few moments might determine not only her own fate, but Kenshin's and Saitoh's as well. Ivanoff sipped his brandy pensively, staring at the picture of the hunting dog on the wall. Then he said abruptly, "Would you say you're an expert in anything, my dear? Do you think there is anything you understand so well, so intuitively, that it is simply a part of you?" "I...I don't know." "Well, I am not a brilliant man, but in two areas I would stake my knowledge against that of any other: the "Nayezdnik" and the fairer sex. My ship I know from bow to stern. There is no part of it that is unfamiliar to me. It is the same with women." His gaze traveled over Kaoru and she flushed. "Don't you wonder how I can speak your language? I have been to Nagasaki many times and there is a lady there who lives by my generosity." Ivanoff reached out and cupped Kaoru's chin in his large hand. "I can believe you are a dangerous spy, my dear, but I know beyond certainty that you are no whore." "I'm not a spy, either." Kaoru looked up at him steadily. "If you know women so well, then please believe me and let us go. Let them go. We can do nothing to harm you or this ship." "I wish it were that simple," Ivanoff sighed, "but it doesn't matter anymore if you are telling the truth or not. Events have taken the decision out of my hands and in any case you already know too much for me to ever allow you to return to your people." "But... you can't intend to take us back with you? To what? A life in prison?" "I'm sorry." Ivanoff drained his glass and set it on the table. "I'll have my lieutenant bring your young man to the 'Nayezdnik'. At least you can go together." "What about the man who was brought on board with me?" Ivanoff turned at the door. "I'm sorry." And then he was gone. Kaoru slid off the bed and sank to the floor, deep in thought. At least Kenshin was still alive and she would see him. They would be together, maybe find some way to escape. But Saitoh.. Ivanoff's expression had left no room for doubt: Saitoh wouldn't go with them. Was he already dead, or was there still time to save him from whatever fate the captain had planned? Kaoru dug her fingernails into her palms in exasperation. Time was running out. Looking out of the porthole, she could see the first stars rising in the evening sky. The porthole. Kaoru stared at it as if for the first time, considering. It was far too small for any of the sailors to fit through, but she might be able to make it. Pushing herself to her feet she hurriedly loosened her kimono, dropping it to the floor. Movement was easier in her undergarments and she crossed the cabin quickly on bare feet. When she threw open the porthole a clean, salty breeze caressed her cheek. Sticking her head out, she could see the water several feet below. Above her, the hull of the ship sloped up in a steep overhang to the rail and deck above. Gritting her teeth, Kaoru hoisted herself up, pushing her shoulders through the opening. "I'm sorry, Kenshin," she whispered. # "Achoo!" "Be careful!" Sano caught Kenshin's elbow as he reeled, steadying him. "That's the first time I've ever seen somebody nearly fall down from sneezing." "Ow...it's not funny, you know. Sneezing hurts." And breathing hurts. And walking hurts. The unspoken list was long. It ran through the back of Kenshin's mind as he made his way through the deserted fishing village with Sano and Yahiko. They were all dressed as sailors, but only Sano was tall enough to wear an officer's uniform. Kenshin guessed that Yahiko wasn't the only one wearing the cabin boy's clothes as he studied his own frayed sleeves and baggy pants. He looked down at the heavy, leather boots on his feet with a mixture of gratitude and annoyance. Reaching just above his ankles, they felt strange and unwieldy but at least afforded some much- needed support. They made it possible to walk, and walking would bring him to Kaoru. It was already dusk. By the time their diversion was set, it would be dark enough to attempt the gunboat. "Are you sure you found gunpowder while you were looking around? Maybe it was just barrels of fish." "Baka!" Sano glared at Yahiko. "Don't you think I can tell the difference? They've got a whole storehouse full of the stuff. I guess they were stockpiling it. What do you think, Kenshin?" "I don't know what they planned to do with it, but even if we didn't need a diversion we couldn't just leave it." He frowned. "I hope the explosion doesn't hurt the men tied up back in the lodge." "It won't. It might wake them up, though." Sano grinned. He looked rather jaunty as the fading light caught the gold braid on his hat and sleeves. "One thing's for sure: it'll empty out that gunboat." "I hope so." Kenshin didn't relish the thought of meeting heavy resistance when they boarded. Sano and Yahiko were itching for a fight, but he would be happy with an easy rescue. Get Kaoru, get Saitoh, get sakabattou, leave. If only it could be so simple. "It's in here." They had reached a storage building standing by itself at the edge of the trees. "See for yourself if it's fish, Yahiko." Sano pushed the heavy wooden door open. Barrels were piled from floor to ceiling in an imposing barricade. The acrid smell in the air left no doubt as to their contents. Kenshin leaned against the doorframe, giving his ankle a rest as he considered the possibilities. "We need a fairly long piece of cloth to use as a fuse. What about your sash?" "I'm an officer. It's part of my uniform. Hey!" Sano was no match for Yahiko and Kenshin, and soon the sash was cut and twisted into a serviceable fuse. By the time Yahiko had run back to the barracks and returned with glowing embers from the fire it was fully dark. Regretfully, Sano lit the makeshift fuse and the three of them hurried down the beach to one of the little boats waiting at the jetty. As Yahiko and Sano rowed for the "Nayedznik," Kenshin watched the little line of fire sputter and writhe in the sand. "Ano, Sano... I'm afraid it's going to go..." "What?" "Out." As if he had cast a spell by saying the word, the trail of fire on the sand suddenly vanished. The beach was dark, the storage building a lonely shadow at the edge of the trees. "Shit! Now what?" Sano stopped rowing and gazed with dismay at the shore. Kenshin was silent, considering. Then he said, "Sano, is your uniform really complete?" "Well, it was until you two took my sash..." "Give me your pistol, then, please. It's in the holster on your belt." Yahiko stared at Kenshin in wonder as Sano passed him the revolver. Kenshin broke it open with confident ease, satisfying himself that it was loaded. Then he closed it with a brisk snap and cocked it. "Kenshin, you can use a gun?" "I had a lesson." Kenshin aimed carefully, steadying his grip with his left hand. He had never pulled a trigger before, but he had been around guns enough to know what to expect. Even so, the revolver kicked with surprising force when he fired it. The storage building disintegrated in a hail of splinters that rained on their heads as they ducked for cover in the bottom of the boat. A giant fireball roared above the trees, only to be followed by a huge cloud of smoke, gray against the dark blue sky. The explosion threw waves against the sides of their little boat, rocking it alarmingly. "Now that," Sano said with satisfaction, "is what I call a diversion." # The explosion shook the "Nayezdnik," tearing at Kaoru's grip on the deck rail. Fearfully, she stared over her shoulder at the conflagration on the beach, uncertain what it meant. As she waited, clinging precariously to the aft of the ship, she heard shouting on deck and the sound of boats being lowered into the water. It seemed the explosion was not part of Ivanoff's plans and that could only mean one thing. Kaoru felt a flush of unfamiliar, strange elation as she watched the smoke curl up into the dark sky. Biting her lip, she gave a mighty pull and heaved herself up onto the deck. As she crouched beside one of the deck guns, the muscles in her arms trembling with fatigue, she watched boatload after boatload of armed sailors rowing for the beach. The "Nayezdnik" was emptying itself and the deck was teeming with activity, yet from her hiding place Kaoru could see no sign of either Ivanoff or Saitoh. # Saitoh lunged for his katana the moment the explosion shook the "Nayezdnik." The Russian intelligence officer was only a moment behind him, but still too slow. His hand closed on the back of Saitoh's jacket just as the policeman drew his sword with a hiss of steel. The hand instantly released him and Saitoh whirled to see Dmitri slowly backing away to the other side of the gaming table, carefully unsheathing his saber. They observed each other across polished wood and fading brown leather. "Do you really have the stomach for this game? You didn't stand to lose as much at dice." "I didn't stand to gain as much, either." Saitoh circled toward the door, driving his adversary around the table. "Your ship is in danger. Go to your captain." The Russian shook his head. "I will know when he needs me." His saber, sweeping suddenly across the table, missed Saitoh's ear by a fraction. Saitoh drew back a little, recalculating his foe's reach. Dmitri was a tall, lanky young man and the saber was longer than his katana. "Do you really think you can defeat me, wounded and fighting left-handed?" His answer was a lightning bolt of steel, a searing flash of speed and deadly intent, as Saitoh's gatotsu exploded out of nowhere straight toward his head. # "Can you make it if we help?" Sano's whisper was much too loud. Kenshin winced as he nodded, balancing with difficulty in the small boat. It lay quietly in the shadow of the "Nayezdnik," insignificant beside the iron-hulled gunboat. A minnow next to a shark. Kenshin knew the value of being overlooked. They had hidden in the bottom of their little boat, motionless and silent in the darkness, as the sailors from the "Nayezdnik" had rowed right past them on their way to the shore. Now, gazing up the rope that Sano had lowered over the side, he marveled at the quietness of the ship. The decks were empty, the sailors probably already landing on the beach. Gritting his teeth, he wrapped the rope around his arms, bracing for the pain that would come when Sano pulled him up. He kept his head lowered, his breathing as even as possible as the interminable seconds passed. Sano was raising him gently with a smooth, hand-over-hand motion, but still Kenshin was trembling and breathless by the time he reached the top. Darkness swirled through his mind as Sano lifted him over the rail and he slumped onto the deck, dimly aware of Yahiko's concerned questions. "Not...so loud. Someone will hear us." "Someone has heard you." Heavy footsteps halted behind them. They turned to find themselves looking up the length of Ivanoff's sword. # Dmitri didn't know why he was still alive. He wasn't conscious of having moved quickly enough to avoid his opponent's blade and yet he must have. Saitoh's katana embedded in the wall of the cabin, so close to the Russian's head that several of his hairs were pinned to the worn wood. He flinched away, leaving them behind, and spun to the other side of the table. Saitoh calmly pulled his katana free and regarded the intelligence officer gravely. The young man was good. His movement was fast, lightning quick. Perhaps his gatotsu was slow for some reason. His wound, maybe, or exhaustion slowing him down. He should have killed the man already. Slowly, Saitoh began circling the table. His opponent had regained his composure and held his ground, not backing away as he had before. In a moment, their blades would join... There was a muffled sound from the doorway of a handle being turned slowly, stealthily. Dmitri leapt forward as Saitoh's eyes flicked to the door. Kaoru opened it just in time to see the saber slash against Saitoh's left shoulder. She rushed to his side but he had no need of her help. Although fresh blood darkened the sleeve of his jacket, the policeman regained his balance immediately. "You shouldn't be here." "But..." Saitoh didn't look in her direction again. His eyes were firmly fixed on the opponent he held at bay. "The sakabattou is in the corner. Take it. He'll need it." "But what about you?" "Take it and go." Wordlessly, she nodded. Kaoru could feel the Russian's impotent frustration as she slid behind Saitoh to where the sakabattou was still propped against the wall. She felt a surge of strength as she lifted it, hugging it to her. The intelligence officer's movement in her direction was checked by Saitoh, who edged him back with a flick of the katana. Kaoru regained the doorway. "Saitoh..." "Go." "Thank you." She whirled and ran down the corridor. "Now," Saitoh said, "we can finish this in peace." # "Kenshin!" Ivanoff spun to see Kaoru, dressed only in her under- kimono, emerge from below deck. It was the only opening Sano needed. He landed a solid punch in Ivanoff's stomach, but to his surprise the big man did not seem much affected. His response, a sweeping, back-handed blow with his left arm, hit Sano squarely in the chest. The sakabattou, thrown with strength and precision, arched through the air above their heads. Kenshin stumbled to his feet, smiling a little as the sword smacked into the palm of his hand. He drew it almost unconsciously, taking up a defensive stance as Sano fell back in beside him. "Be careful, Kenshin," the street fighter gasped. "He's tough." To their surprise, the captain of the "Nayezdnik" did not attack immediately. Instead, he turned to Kaoru. Kenshin swallowed hard as he looked at her. She gazed back at him, the color high in her cheeks, folding her arms across her chest in a belated and futile effort to cover herself. He smiled reassuringly. It was a horrible smile, he knew, with his lip split and bloody and his left eye swollen half-shut. Not the way he would have wanted her to see him. "My dear, I see you have a talent for dramatic entrances! I wasn't expecting you here." He turned back to Kenshin. "This must be the earnest young man on whose behalf I've heard such pretty pleading. Don't scowl at me so darkly, boy. Her current state of attire, charming as it is, is not my doing. She knows I am a gentleman." Ivanoff looked him over with his piercing, critical eye. "Kenshin, is it? I hope you're worthy of her." "I'm not. But I will die before I leave her with you." "So fierce! Be reasonable, boy. You can barely stand. Your diversion-- wasteful but, I must admit, clever-- will not avail you. Even now, my men are returning. Can't you hear them?" "It's true!" Yahiko exclaimed. "I can see the lanterns on the boats coming back. Kenshin, what are we going to do?" The others listened. The sound of oars slapping the water and the shouts of the sailors came to them, nearer and nearer, across the water. "Surrender your sword and you have my word that no harm will come to you or her." "He plans to take us back to Russia!" Kaoru stepped forward, but Ivanoff brushed her back with a sweep of his sword. "Sano! Yahiko! Try to keep the sailors from boarding." They nodded, rushing to the side of the ship. "I'm sorry," Kenshin braced himself as he faced Ivanoff. "I can't surrender. This is our country, where we belong. We have to defend it and ourselves." "Why are you so anxious to die?" Ivanoff asked wearily. "Forgive me, my dear. I had hoped to spare you any unpleasantness." He lunged forward with surprising speed, his blade thrusting straight towards Kenshin's chest. Kenshin whirled to the side, avoiding the blade but wrenching his injured ankle. His groan was not stifled quickly enough. "Kenshin!" Kaoru rushed forward again, only to be pushed aside by Ivanoff. The Russian waited, his sword at the ready, as Kenshin regained his balance. "Do you actually know how to use a sword, boy? Do you have any idea what you are doing?" He thrust again and this time Kenshin blocked the blow. They stove against each other, blades locked. "Well, I suppose you aren't a total novice," Ivanoff admitted, "but you aren't strong enough to defeat me." He struck Kenshin in the chest with his left hand, pushing him away. Their swords disengaged in a scrape of steel and Kenshin stumbled back, panting. His sides ached mercilessly and he leaned heavily on his saya, struggling for breath. The Russian was strong and faster than he looked: a formidable opponent. But he was not invincible. That was what rankled. If he were fighting well, Ivanoff would already be sprawled on the deck, unconscious. Kenshin wished fervently for the speed and strength that would allow him to use Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu properly, but his ankle barely supported his weight and he was worn by fatigue and pain. "Kenshin! They're almost here!" A gunshot from one of the boats whizzed past Sano's head and he ducked, pulling Yahiko down beside him. Kenshin leapt forward, ducking under Ivanoff's blade as a loud split the air. He saw the Russian stumble backwards and fall, and then he was thrown to the deck as well as a shell struck the water off the port bow. Kenshin pushed himself up just as Ivanoff struggled to his feet, his face pale. "Damn. It's the Hiryu again!" The captain sheathed his sword and turned away, hurrying toward the bridge. Kenshin looked out over the dark water. He could barely discern the long, low shape of the Japanese corvette as it rounded the bend of the cove. Then he felt someone beside him and he gazed down into Kaoru's beautiful, anxious face. "Kenshin..." He hugged her to him tightly, not caring about the pain. Over her shoulder, he watched with unflinching eyes as the Hiryu fired again, straight toward them. --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Get great offers on top-notch products that match your interests! Sign up for eLerts at: Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------