Thread Forward Reply FullView AuthorProfile NoFormat Tattered Angel, Part IV Sunday By Mihoshi @aicom.com August 09, 1998 04:05 PM PST No more dumb mistakes! Well maybe a couple that I left.. A Big THANX to Tae whoz editing my work! In other wordz, shez saving my butt from humiliation. ^_^ Kaoru- The Journey for Truth "Thank you Tsubame-chan, Tae-san. The Dojo is all yours until we return." Kaoru smiled at her two friends as she, Megumi, Yahiko and Sanosuke turned to leave. The group began walking into an approaching dusk. Tae clasped her apron, nervously. "You all be careful, you hear!!" "We will" Kaoru waved one last time before they rounded a corner and disappeared. Tae clasped Tsubame's shoulder and lead her through the Dojo gate. "Don't you worry Tsubame-chan, they'll return with Kenshin-san. Wipe your tears away." Tsubame smiled sadly, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono. "I know they will." "Yahiko!! Take that mochi out of your mouth this instant! We have to make sure the food lasts long enough for our trip around Tokyo!" "Stupid hag, it's just Tokyo! How big could it be?" "Shows how much you know, punk! Tokyo is divided into parts since it's so big." Sanosuke turned to look at Kaoru. "Where are we heading first?" "Hmmm, I think it's best if we headed South. That's where Tomoe-san said they came from." Megumi shifted the her medicine case to her other hand. "Does Tomoe know that the Kurokagei were driven out of Tokyo?" Kaoru paused. "I don't know, but since she mentioned that they came from the South, it must be some sort of clue. I have a feeling that we'll find some answers there." "South it is." Sanosuke began walking but was stopped in mid stride. "What is it fox-lady?" "Sanosuke...south is the other way." Kaoru and Yahiko sweat-dropped while Sanosuke glared at Megumi. "Fine, since your so damn smart, you lead!!" "With pleasure, rooster head!!" They all began walking southwards, Megumi and Sanosuke trading insults the whole way. Finally after two weeks they reached a small fishing town near the coast of Southern Tokyo. It was dark when they sought shelter beneath a tree and opened a bundle of bentos (lunch boxes) and proceeded eating like pigs. Yahiko's stomach continued growling even after he had finished his and a bit of Kaoru's. "It's hard having a Samurai's stomach." he grumbled. He rolled to his side and stared at the ocean. "I guess this is where the South part of Tokyo ends." "Are you sure Tomoe said South?" Megumi looked around worried. "We haven't been able to find any hints about Ken-san's whereabouts. And this place seems to be a retirement village." It was true. Kaoru looked around at the endless crowds of elderly people. There was no youths in sight beside themselves. Strange. "Well I'm sure if we ask around we're bound to find something." We're going to have to split up. Megumi, Sanosuke you stay in the residential area and check in to a hotel, Me and Yahiko will snoop around the docks. We'll meet back at this tree." "What!! Me and the cocky lil' foxlady?! Hell no! You can't make me!!" "I don't want to be with a dumbass like you either!!" Yahiko grinned, ear to ear. He grabbed Kaoru's hand. "Come on Kaoru, let's leave these two love birds alone!!" "Why you stupid piece of .....!" Sanosuke's yells were drowned out by the crowd of people as Kaoru and Yahiko weaved their way to the dock. Lanterns dressed the wooden planks in a thick glow as they approached. Kaoru saw a bunch of lazy old fishermen lying on the dock. She decided to make them her first target. "Um..excuse me." The men looked up her surprised. They immediately sat up and whistled, their beer drenched voices spilling into the salty air. "And what do we owe for a dashing young missy like you?" Yahiko nearly barfed. "Dashing? If you mean you dash at the sight of her..ouff!" Yahiko sank to the floor, bubbling at the mouth. Kaoru continued. "We were wondering if you knew anything about a band of Ninjas called the Kurokagei?" Their merry expressions were immediately replaced by ones of horror. "Umm, we don't know what you're talk'n about." a red nosed fisherman answered quickly. He turned to his companions. "Right men?" They all nodded nervously. Yahiko sat up and glared at them. "It's a little too obvious by the way your acting. Why don't you spill before I make you." "Yahiko!!" Kaoru clasped the young boy's mouth. She turned back to the fishermen. "I'm sorry about the boy, he doesn't think before using his mouth." her gaze softened. "But we really do need the information. My friend is in captivity and we need to save him. So if you will please..even a riddle would help us." The red nosed man glanced at her and found the courage of ten men dance across her beautiful blue eyes. It was hard to turn away from those ocean deep eyes. He couldn't say no to her. He cleared his throat. "Listen carefully, little lass. Once the clock strikes midnight you must come to the deck. Alone. There, if you are brave enough, you will be able to find something about the Kurokagei. But if you lose your life, sweet child, tis not my burden." Kaoru nodded. "Thank you for your help." She grabbed Yahiko's hand and they began to march off the deck. Yahiko stared up at her. "You're not going to listen to a bunch of drunk fishermen are you?" Silence. "Kaoru!!" They stopped in their tracks. Kaoru bent down and touched the young boy's face, like a loving mother. Yahiko stared up at her, surprised by the gentle contact. "Kaoru?" "Yahiko, I'm going to the deck at midnight tonight." her voice spoke like a spring breeze " Please don't stop me." That pissed him off. "Are you nuts!!! Do you know what could happen to you? For God's sake Kaoru, you could be killed!!" Kaoru smiled. "Don't give me that 'It'll be worth it smile'. You are not going anywhere! Over my dead bo.." Yahiko's torso fell over the fist in his stomach, trembling slightly before going limp. She collected the warm, compact body in her arms. "Good bye, Yahiko." She made her way back to the tree. "What the hell's taking them so damn long!" Sanosuke banged the tree with his fist. Megumi furrowed her brows in worry. "It's getting late..almost ten. Maybe we should start searching for them. Who knows what kind of trouble they got into." The streets were empty, the elderly people had retired to their rooms and all was silent except for the soft chirping of the night bugs. There was a faint echo of wood against cement. They both turned to see Kaoru, a sleeping Yahiko in her arms. "Kaoru!!" Sanosuke grinned. "So the little brat couldn't stay up past bedtime, huh?" Kaoru nodded. "It's best if we went to sleep and continued tomorrow. Have you guys found a hotel? "Yeah, like six hours ago!!" Megumi snapped. "We were so worried!" Sanosuke put a hand on Megumi's shoulder, hushing her. "Did ya find anything, Jo-chan?" Kaoru shook her head. "What about you two?" Megumi frowned. "Not much. They just looked at us scared and bustled past us." Sanosuke looked thoughtful. "They are definitely hiding something from us. It's best that we stay here and investigate for a couple days." He put a hand on each of thier backs and pushed them out in the street. "But tonight, we gotta get a good night's sleep." he glanced at the big bundle in Kaoru's arm. "Want me to take that, Jo-chan?" Kaoru pulled Yahiko closer. "No, that's ok." They entered the hotel and settled in their room. Snores were heard moments later. Only one person remained awake, watching the clock tick away the remaining hours. Kenshin... ..Kenshin... She would see him soon, she silently promised herself. Outside, a man walked around the tubs of fish laid out on the docks. He looked around both ways before diving behind a bush. His red nose poked out of the leaves as he stared at the dock with small beady eyes. Then he saw it. Showtime. Things were dropping out of the sky and melting in to form. Disoriented looking Ninjas, clothed in total black. The old fisherman watched them with wonder. How the fuck can they see? Their faces were clothed in strips of cloth like a mummy. Only instead of white linings, it was black. Then a wind erupted from the sky and the fisherman held on to his tattered hat as he braced for the big one. And then he came. The young Ninja landed on the ground soft as cat paws on grass. He looked around, before turning to the others. "They didn't leave enough fish. Find a villager and kill him." Then the fisherman heard the prompt tapping of wood on cement. Right on time, little missy. No man's gonna die tonight. Shinji looked at the distasteful tubs of fish and frowned. He turned to the man beside him. "They didn't leave enough fish. Find a villager and kill him." The men were swift, they bounded down the street and Shinji heard a sudden rustle of feet, followed by a girl's stiffled scream. Surprised, Shinji turned around. That girl. The shadow-men were holding a knife above her, ready to drive it through her chest. Shinji acted quickly. Before the blade had a chance to hit it's target, Shinji's strong hand was on the hilt of the dagger. He angrily pulled it away. "I said a 'him', not a 'her'." he remarked coldly. Shinji flung the dagger with lightning speed into the bushes. There was a strangled scream, and then a loud thud. A pool of blood began forming under the dark leaves. He then turned to the girl, his jade green eyes softened. He pulled her away from the others and held her shivering shoulders. Kaoru looked up into the young man's face, half frightened, half curious. He was dressed in the robes of the Kurokagei but he seemed a lot more different than the others. For one thing, his face was visible, which made her feel way more comfortable. And he didn't seem as hostile.... but then again, he did slice some guy in the bushes.. Kaoru was more confused than anything now. "You must be cold." The young man took off his over-shirt and threw it around Kaoru's shoulder. She looked at him, surprised as she felt the warm material touch her face before sliding to her shoulders. He leaned closer, giving her a good look at his handsome face. He had amazingly green eyes. A piercing jade in a slender tanned face. His bangs were long but his hair was fashioned in a tousled mushroom-cut. He was fairly built and tall as well. Kaoru couldn't help but blush as the stranger touched her face. "Um...are you....from the Kurokagei?" she shyly whispered. He didn't bother to stop even as he saw her cheeks grow pink. He spoke gently. "Yes, I am." Kaoru decided to chance it. He seemed like a nice person, after all. "Do you know a man called Himura Kenshin?" The young man paused. "Yes." Kaoru felt her heart leap. "You do!? That's great! Please take me to him!!" He smiled. "For an angel like you, anything." Suddenly he pulled her against his body, Kaoru blushed deeply as her head leaned against his chest. Wait. This wasn't suppose to be happening! "Excuse me sir, but I...." there was a finger to her lips. "Shhhh........." In a second the ground below them disappeared. She heard the roar of the ocean below her and felt the gentle spray of black waves on her feet. Amazing, they were floating in the sky..flying over the sea. Over the sea!! She clutched his tank top frantically. Watching the dark waves below with paranoia. The young man laughed. "Do you think I'm going to drop you?" Kaoru looked up into his gentle face. " I'm not used to flying." He held her tighter. Kaoru was about to protest when they shot up higher in to the air. Scared she buried her head in his shirt. The wind rushed in her ears and chilled her face. When the wind stopped, the young man spoke again. "Look." Slowly she turned her face from the safety of his shirt and looked around. Her eyes opened wide as she realised that they were far up in the night sky. The stars shone brighter than she had ever seen. An abundance of lights sprinkled across the black sky. She blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "You can't really get a good view of the stars from the cities or towns. Too many lights....This is the actual night sky." He didn't say the words, he breathed them out. She understood how he felt. It was precious, the sparkling night sky that seemed to dance before their eyes. She could stay up there forever. She was disappointed when they began to drop and then land slipped under her feet. He pulled away from her and held her hand. "Come with me." Kaoru could see they were on an island. They had landed on a cliff, more like a peek that towered over the ocean. There was dark forest everywhere and the sound of night animals awake in their kingdom. She drew in a deep breath as he led her through the forest. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the scuffling of paws below her. It was just a squirrel, but nonetheless, she made sure that she didn't linger too far behind. Shinji held her hand tightly as they finally neared the cave. The pale glow of torches welcomed him to his home. He heard Kaoru shift behind him, and pulled her closer as they entered. She marched on bravely through the cave, despite the chill that tingled her spine. She tried to think of everything else but it wasn't easy to ignore the fact that they were going down a long dark danky staircase. Straight out of a horror flick. She smiled wearily. Finally they came to a long hall lit by dim torches. He opened the door and let Kaoru in. Shinji lit the hearth and much to Kaoru's relief, a warm fire began cackling with flames. He motioned for her to sit. "I'll go tell him you're here. Please wait until I return." She nodded her head, putting her cold hands over the fire. Kaoru didn't know how many hours had passed before the door opened again. She turned around with a lovely smile. "Kenshi..." Shinji shook his head in a most sorrowful way. "I'm sorry....he seems to be missing." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Start a new list It's easy and FREE for your dormitory. on FindMail !