From: "Sakka-chan" Hi, minna-san! My muse has been quite prolific these days... so here's the first part of Chapter 18. A *major* arigatou to Naga-san for her invaluable editorial suggestions and to Serizawa-san for suggesting the ultra-cool name of one of the attacks used by Toushi. You guys are the best! ^___^ For new readers, the previous 17 chapters can be found at http://www2.netcom.com/~sakka/times.htm Abbreviated disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin isn't mine... I'm just doing this for fun, not for profit! However, original characters like Unmei are mine... so if you want to use them, please ask nicely first... ^_^ Feedback is always welcome... you can reply to the list or directly to sakka@ix.netcom.com However, be warned -- this fic meddles with what some fans seem to consider the tried-and-true romantic pairings in Rurouni Kenshin. So... if you positively hate fics that don't follow that mold (i.e., Aoshi & Misao, Sano & Megumi... get the idea? ^_~) you probably don't want to read this one! Having said that, I hope those who do read it keep an open mind and enjoy the story! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- < > - denotes thoughts * * - denotes emphasis // // - denotes flashback dialogue Chapter 18 -- Reckonings, Part 1 After Aoshi left, Sano approached Misao, keeping one wary eye on Unmei. "Misao..." he said softly, feeling bereft as he watched her stare at the doorway Aoshi had just disappeared through, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. "Misao," he repeated, louder this time as he knelt next to her. "We should get you to the clinic..." Misao turned to face him, her face crumpling. "Sano," she sobbed, burying her face against his shoulder. "I... ow... I'm so sorry... itai... shouldn't have gone alone... ow... I failed everyone..." Sano held her gingerly, not wanting to aggravate her injuries. "I know you feel that way, kirei," he murmured soothingly, stroking her hair. "But you did fine." Misao pushed herself away from Sano. "Don't patronize me, rooster-head... Toushi kicked my ass," she said, looking at the floor, her voice thick with self-disgust. "Maybe so... but you gave him at least one good shot. I saw his bloody shirt," Sano said, tipping her chin up and examining her face. "He was feeling it, too." He touched her bruised cheek gently, then moved behind her to untie her wrists. "Do you think you can walk?" he asked as the ropes fell to the floor. "I'd hate to have to carry you -- with those broken ribs, it'll hurt for your waist to be bent like that." "How did you know my ribs were broken?" Misao asked, rubbing her hands together to restore circulation while Sano removed the ropes from her ankles. "You can barely breathe without wincing," Sano said, touching her torso with one fingertip. Misao bit her lip to keep from crying out from the sharp pain. Sano's eyes narrowed. "It's worse than I thought," he said. "Maybe I should try to bandage them now." He glanced over at the old woman, who stood watching them silently, her hands clasped in front of her. "Oi, oba-san... where do you keep your bandages?" Unmei stared at Sano, a small smile on her lips. She wordlessly pointed to a small chest sitting next to the weapons against the wall. With a brisk nod, Sano strode over to it, leaving Misao facing Unmei. The old woman's smile broadened. "He's a handsome devil," she said. "Temper and bravado to spare... just like your grandfather. He's a good match for you, Misao-chan." The young woman turned her mournful expression on her elder. "Why, Unmei-sensei... obaa-san?" she asked thickly. "Why didn't you tell me? Or was I just part of the whole plan for you to get to Aoshi-sama?" Unmei smiled sadly at her granddaughter. "No, Misao-chan... I had no idea you were in Tokyo until the day I saw you training in that field," she said. Her eyes misted as she continued -- "Seeing you in that uniform... your hair in that long braid, the way your mother used to wear it... and those eyes, so like your father's... I knew in an instant you were my granddaughter, even before you gave your name. It brought back such pleasant memories... the times Akihito and I were close... our children happy." She hastily drew a hand across her eyes. "Che... what a time to get emotional," she chuckled. "The curse of being old... you live more and more in your memories." Her face hardened briefly. "True, I mainly asked you to train with me to keep better track of your okashira," she said, her voice becoming wistful. "But I also wanted to know you better... and as I did, I wanted more and more to reclaim you as my flesh and blood." She walked up to Misao and stroked the young woman's unbruised cheek. "It's not too late," she said. Misao jerked away from Unmei's touch. "How can you say that?" she said angrily. "You plotted to kill Aoshi-sama out of some twisted vengeance I don't understand at all! And your grandson almost killed *me* for the same cause! What makes you think I would *ever* forgive you for that?" Sano rushed to Misao's side, his arms filled with bandages. "Leave her alone, oba-san," he barked. "She's suffered enough because of you." Misao glanced at Sano gratefully... and suddenly burst out laughing. "Daijoubu, Misao?" he asked, frowning. Misao shook her head, pointing at the armload of bandages. "Sano... it's only my ribs," she gasped, wincing. "You have enough bandages to cover all of me... twice... I'm not Shishio, you know." Sano grinned sheepishly. "Didn't want to run out," he said. "Now stop laughing... you're hurting yourself." Misao stuck her tongue out playfully at Sano, who muttered a curse. "How can you still be so damned cheerful after all this?" he said in an undertone, glancing sidelong at Unmei, who had retreated to the side wall but still watched them closely. Misao sobered. "Yahiko asked me the same question after Kaoru-san..." she said, her voice trailing off as she remembered that horrible time. "I told him then that my cheerfulness was my strength. I guess the answer's still the same." Sano smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. "I never thanked you for looking out for Yahiko then," he said. "If it weren't for you, he would've given up... like the rest of us did..." "Shh," Misao hushed him, putting a finger to his lips. "What's past is past. We have enough problems right now." She flinched again, bringing Sano back to the present. "Sumanu, Misao... I need you to take your shirt off," he said. "My breasts are bound anyway," she said, her cheeks flaming. "Don't worry about it." Sano looked away as she slowly untied her sash, then slipped off her sleeveless top, each small motion setting her teeth on edge from the pain. "I'm ready now," she said. "I'll try to be gentle," Sano said, turning to her, linen strips in hand. He inhaled sharply as he saw the ugly bruises beginning to blossom all over her abdomen. he thought, his face twisting briefly into a snarl. He pushed that thought aside and concentrated on wrapping the bandages snugly around Misao's ribcage and lower abdomen. Misao clenched her jaw to keep from screaming in agony, but she couldn't prevent an occassional whimper from escaping or stop the tears from leaking out of her tightly closed eyes. "Oh, Misao," Sano whispered as he finished tying the final knot. Heedless of Unmei's continued regard, he kissed Misao tenderly. "I'm sorry, kirei... I wish I could heal them for you..." Misao managed a small smile. "That helped," she said softly, kissing him in return. The building suddenly trembled as a massive cracking sound reverberated through the stillness. "Che... the police," Sano said as he handed Misao her shirt. "I forgot all about them." "You should let them in," Misao said, pulling the garment on and holding it closed. Sano glanced at Unmei, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor with her eyes closed. "I don't know if I want to leave you alone with her," he said, keeping his voice down. "What if she tries to hold you hostage again?" "I don't think she will," Misao said. "She seems to be leaving everything up to Toushi now." She blinked several times, fighting tears. "I just wish I understood what this was all about," she whispered. "Aoshi-sama." Sano looked away from Misao's grave, worried face, shutting his eyes tightly against the sharp sting of disappointed rejection he felt. "I'll bring him back to you." Misao jumped slightly and stared at Sano, who was now looking at her with grim determination. "What did you say?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I said I'll find him and bring him back to you," Sano repeated, his voice strengthening. "Like Kenshin did that time. That idiot okashira of yours forgets there are people who care whether he lives or dies... so I'll be there to remind him that you're waiting for him." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, murmuring -- "It's a promise, Misao. So please don't worry anymore... you need to save your strength. Just focus on getting better, okay?" A glimmer of understanding began to work its way through Misao's bewildered thoughts. "Sano --" she began. The police chose that moment to burst into the doujou. "You're all under arrest!" shouted a burly man, pointing his sword at the three figures in the training hall. "Oi, baka-yarou... we're not --" Before Sano could finish, several officers had jumped him and were trying to wrestle him to the ground. Two others grabbed Misao's arms and yanked her roughly to her feet, pinning her arms behind her and setting a fresh wave of pain surging through her chest and stomach. Her anguished cry enraged Sano, who easily threw off his attackers, roaring -- "Get your fucking hands off her! Can't you see she's hurt? Cops or not, I'll smash your heads in if you don't --" "Release them." At Saitou's sharp command, the officers immediately backed away from Sano, who rushed to Misao's side. "I'm all right," she said weakly, her white face and trembling limbs belieing her assertion. Sano wordlessly put his arm around her, and she sank against him with a grateful sigh. Saitou strode briskly past the pair, his narrowed amber eyes scanning the room. His sharp gaze fell on Takashi Unmei, who remained seated on the floor. "Where is Takashi Toushi?" Saitou asked her in a cold voice. The old woman merely smiled slyly in response. "Gone," Sanosuke said flatly. "But with Shinomori chasing him, he won't get far." Saitou gestured to the officer who'd tried to arrest the doujou's occupants. "Tell your men to search the surrounding streets and alleys and fan out from there," he said. "Hai, Fujita-san!" The officer motioned for his men to follow him outside. Saitou turned his attention back to Unmei. "Takashi Unmei... head instructor of the Takashi doujou... and until today, a well-respected resident of Tokyo," he said, smirking slightly. "You'll be coming with me now." Unmei continued to smile, eyes glinting. "It won't do you any good, Miburo," she said in a malicious undertone before assuming a feeble, weak countenance. "I'm an old woman... forgetful, you know," she warbled. "I don't know how much help I'll be to you young officers." Saitou's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Shinichi... please escort Takashi-san to police headquarters," he said. The young officer snapped a salute, took Unmei's right arm and motioned to another officer to take her left. They escorted her out the door as she babbled nonsense about the weather. Saitou finally glanced at Sano and Misao. "Yare, yare," Saitou said, studying Misao's battered appearance. "Hasn't your okashira taught you the value of knowing your own limitations, weasel girl?" Sano knew Misao was in bad shape when she didn't even flinch at Saitou's barb. "Misao?" he said anxiously as he watched her eyelids flutter closed and felt her go limp against his side. "You'd better get her to the clinic," Saitou said gruffly, without a trace of his usual sarcasm. Sano nodded distractedly, scooping the unconscious girl into his arms and hurrying out the door. ...... Toushi skidded to a stop at the end of an alley, listening as the sounds of shouting and police whistles grew closer. Frantically, he scanned both sides of the street facing the alley for a place to hide. As he searched, he heard the faint, pealing sound of a child's laugh. His eyes narrowed as he glimpsed an open gate off to his right... and two small girls playing just inside the fence. The onmitsu swiftly crossed the street, heading for the open gate. ................... "Cheater!" "Am not!" "Are too!" "Not!" "Are!" Suzume giggled as she smoothed her doll's kimono. "Yahiko-nii and Yutarou-nii are so funny when they fight," she chortled as the boys hurled insults at one another. Ayame frowned as she watched Yutarou throw aside his shinai at Yahiko's goading and pounce on his rival. "They're not being funny now," she said, raising her voice. "Yahiko-nii! Yutarou-nii! Stop it before you hurt each other!" "That's the idea," Yahiko growled, biting Yutarou on the shin. The blond-haired boy yelped. "Who's fighting like a girl now, Myojin?" he snarled, throwing an elbow into Yahiko's gut. Ayame jumped to her feet, clenching her fists angrily. "If you don't stop fighting *this second*, I'm getting Ken-nii!" she shouted. At that moment, a black-haired, black-clad man came running into the yard. His piercing black eyes met Ayame's, and hers widened in horror as she saw the blood on his shirt and the swords sheathed at his side. She and Suzume screamed. Toushi moved swiftly to grab the young girls... but his path was blocked by two grim-faced, disheveled boys, each holding a shinai in a defensive posture. "Who the hell are you?" Yahiko snarled. "And what right do you have to just barge in here?" Yutarou hissed through gritted teeth. Toushi snorted derisively. "Well... if it isn't the chibi-swordsman club," he sneered. "Step aside, little boys, before you get hurt." Yahiko and Yutarou both clenched their hilts, wearing nearly identical outraged expressions. "Make us," they said fiercely. -- on to Chapter 18b! -- --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds. 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