From: "Sakka-chan" Here's the second half of Chapter 19 -- see the first half for disclaimers, etc. Ja ne! Sakka-chan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- < > - denotes thoughts * * - denotes emphasis // // - denotes flashback dialogue Translation Note: "Kaiten Kenbu -- Tengeki Kourin" roughly translates to "Kaiten Kenbu -- Heaven's Strike" (thanks again Serizawa-san! ^__^) Chapter 19 -- Reckonings, Part 2 (cont'd) Sano scrambled to his feet, his stomach curling as he saw the wild gleam in Toushi's dark eyes. "Teme," Toushi spat as he launched a series of frenetic close-range attacks. "My father would have led the Oniwabanshuu with pride and honor... but you stole that birthright from him and drove him away from the only family he knew, even as he begged you to show him mercy." Aoshi's blade chimed continuously as he parried Toushi's blows, breathing hard as he replied between attacks -- "Your father never begged *me* for anything... it was his allies to whom he directed his pleas. After I banished him, he spat at me and told me he'd sooner die than return to the Oniwabanshuu... and that he would see us all in Hell. I wouldn't classify that as begging for mercy." "Uruse!" Toushi shouted. He smashed his free fist into Aoshi's jaw, then kicked him in the chest, sending him reeling backward. Toushi's eyes glowed red as he leapt into the air, roaring -- "Die, Shinomori! Kaiten Kenbu -- Tengeki Kourin!" Toushi descended as fast as lightning upon the crouched onmitsu, grinning evilly as he brought his sword down on Aoshi's bowed head... which flickered, then vanished. Toushi growled with frustration as his blade cleaved empty air instead of Aoshi's skull. "Damn you!" Toushi shrieked, whirling around, his blade flailing harmlessly through the host of Aoshi-images slowly circling him. "Stop hiding behind your fucking Oniwabanshuu tricks and show yourself, you coward!" "Gladly," Aoshi snarled, materializing directly in front of Toushi and plunging his kodachi through Toushi's stomach, burying it to its hilt. Toushi uttered a gutteral moan, blood bubbling from his mouth. His dark eyes watered as they met Aoshi's fierce, triumphant blue gaze. "Fucking bastard," Toushi croaked, his voice audible to Aoshi alone. "You think... you've won... but I'll have... my vengeance... yet..." Toushi's eyes glazed over as he emitted a final, rattling breath, his face frozen forever in a vacant, slack-jawed stare. Aoshi wrenched his sword from Toushi's body, which slumped lifelessly to the ground. The victorious onmitsu calmly wiped his blade clean against his trouser leg, fighting the sudden wave of dizziness that swept over him. "Che, Shinomori... you're one tough asshole," Sano said with an appreciative grin. "Remind me never to piss you off." Before Aoshi could stop himself, he retorted -- "You piss me off just by breathing, Sagara." Sano stared at Aoshi, who punctuated his comeback with a Saitou-like smirk. Sano grinned in response. "Heh... Toushi must've knocked your brains loose. You're almost acting like a normal guy," he said cheerfully, picking up Toushi's bloody body and throwing it over his shoulder. "C'mon... we'd better get this bastard out of here before Kenshin gets back and kicks your ass for killing on his property." Aoshi nodded and turned to follow Sano. He made it about halfway to the doujou gate before another flood of disorienting nausea sent him stumbling to his knees. His whole body broke out in a cold sweat as he tried to force his twitching limbs to obey him and move forward. He could barely hear Sanosuke shouting his name, could barely feel the ex-gangster shaking his good shoulder as his body grew numb and distant. As darkness enveloped his mind, Aoshi managed to whisper -- "Sagara... tell Misao... not to cry for me anymore." Aoshi could hear Misao's laughter, as sweet and clear as the bubbling brook near their home in Kyoto. He sighed, smiling as the blackness fully claimed him -- ..................... Misao slowly became aware of a warm hand pressing against her forehead, then her cheeks. She sighed as she felt fingers skimming through her hair, gently stroking it back from her face. "Sano," she murmured, her eyes fluttering open. "Please tell me it's you." "Aa," Sano replied with a broad smile, resting his hand against the side of her face. "It's me, kirei." Misao threw herself into his arms with such force that she nearly knocked Sano over. "Whoa, Misao... careful," he said, his voice rippling with laughter. "You'll break the rest of your ribs if you don't watch it." "Yokatta," Misao breathed, relief bathing her body like a healing salve. "Sano... I was so worried..." Sano held her silently for a moment, feeling a bittersweet mixture of pleasure at her concern for him... and regret that he had such grim news to give her. "I'm fine, Misao," he said. "Shikashi..." Misao lifted brimming eyes to his, her voice trembling as she asked -- "Aoshi-sama... is... is he... dead?" "Iya," Sano replied, his eyes somber. "But it looks bad for him. Toushi's blades were poisoned... and the doctors haven't been able to identify the type of poison he used. Even Kenshin and Saitou are stumped... they say it must be a poison known only among onmitsu. You wouldn't happen to know --" "No," Misao replied miserably, blinking back her tears. "I never learned about poisons. Jiya said there was no place for such dark onmitsu arts in Meiji." Misao took a deep breath, steeling herself against the pain it caused her... and fighting to keep her feelings of hopelessness at bay. "Jiya would know, but he's too far away. He'll never make it in time," she said. "What about Toushi? Surely Saitou can make him tell us..." "He's dead," Sano said, unable to keep his satisfaction from showing. "It doesn't matter anyway. Believe me, Misao... he would've died before he gave us the antidote. He hated Shinomori the way Yukishiro Enishi hated Kenshin..." Misao closed her eyes as despair threatened to overwhelm her once more. Misao's eyes flew open. "Of course!" she said aloud. "Sano... where is Unmei-sensei?" "In a cell at police headquarters... Saitou says she's pretending to be senile to keep from answering their questions," Sano said, frowning as Misao slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Misao, where the hell do you think you're going?" "I have to see her," Misao said, pausing as she waited for her vision to clear. "She won't talk to them... but she'll talk to me. I'm sure of it..." "But... your injuries --" Sano protested, falling silent under Misao's ferocious glare. "I won't just let Aoshi-sama die, Sano," she said fiercely. "If there's the slightest chance I can persuade Unmei-sensei to save him, I *have* to try. I'd never forgive myself otherwise..." Sano felt his throat tighten. He looked away from Misao, murmuring -- "You would risk your own safety for him... you love him that much." Misao's feet touched the floor. She swayed as she took her first step, and Sano reached out to steady her. She gripped his arms tightly, her shining eyes locked on his as she said -- "Hai. I love him that much, Sano... almost as much as I love you." Misao had a sudden urge to giggle uncontrollably at the dumbstruck look on Sano's face. she wondered guiltily, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Mou ii," she said firmly. "Sano, get me my clothes and help me get to Unmei-sensei. We haven't a moment to spare." Sano handed Misao her uniform silently, so deep in thought that he barely registered the fact that Misao had stripped her yukata off in front of him, presenting him with an unimpeded view of her bare rear end before pulling her shorts up. "Sano," Misao prompted, her weak voice snapping him out of his trance. She'd made it as far as the doorway before succumbing to another dizzy spell, sinking to her knees, the room spinning crazily. Without a word, Sano swept her into his arms and carried her out of the room, bracing himself for the inevitable arguments they'd have to face from Megumi and Saitou... ..................... Misao took a deep, steadying breath as she paused before the door to the cellblock. She looked up at Sano, who had his arm around her for support. "Misao, promise me you won't get your hopes up," Sano said, dropping his arm from her waist and taking her hands in his. "She was the mastermind behind all this, remember? She hates Shinomori as much as Toushi ever did..." "I know," she said, squeezing his hands. "Don't worry about me, Sano... I'll be fine. Saitou will be watching... he'll keep Unmei-sensei from pulling any tricks." Saitou snorted. "For all the good it will do," he said, dropping his cigarette to the floor and stepping on it before taking Misao's elbow. "Your presence is no longer required, ahou," the inspector said to Sano, smirking as he glared pointedly at Saitou's gloved hand resting in the crook of Misao's bare arm. "Oi, teme... there's no need for you to touch her," Sano growled. "Sano," Misao said warningly. Sanosuke pouted as he spun away from them and stomped down the corridor, muttering something about old yellow-eyed wolves needing to keep their paws to themselves. Misao bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud at Sano's ludicrous notion. Her mood grew serious again as Saitou unlocked the cellblock door and slowly escorted her through it. Misao glanced sideways at Saitou's scowling face, still baffled by how readily he had accepted the idea of her speaking with Unmei. It had been Saitou who had silenced the doctors' objections to her plan in his usual blunt, sarcastic manner -- // If any of you have a better idea for saving Shinomori's hide, by all means, share it with us. // Of course no one had replied. Misao shook her head wonderingly. Misao yelped as she stumbled over a stone poking up through the dirt floor of the cellblock. Her stomach lurched as Saitou caught her firmly by the waist, stopping her fall but sending sharp stabs of pain through her injured ribs. Misao braced herself for the inevitable cutting remark that would follow. "Be more careful," Saitou said gruffly, setting her on her feet and taking her elbow again. Astonished, Misao blurted -- "Why are you being so nice to me? What's in it for you?" Saitou regarded her with a narrow-eyed frown. "If you need to ask that, then your training has been even more pitiful than I imagined," he scoffed. "And as far as being nice to you... you're mistaking civility for kindness." "Since when are you civil to anyone?" Misao muttered as they continued walking. They stopped in front of a cell at the end of the corridor. Misao could tell there was someone in the cell, though she couldn't make out any facial features in the dank gloom. Saitou unlocked the cell door, and opened it, allowing Misao to slip inside. She jumped as Saitou shut the door with a clang behind her, and trembled as she heard the rasp of the lock sliding home. Saitou then struck a match, lighting a lantern that he'd taken down from the far wall, and hung it on a hook in front of Unmei's cell. Misao blinked in the flickering light, which illuminated Unmei's pale, wrinkled face and vacant eyes. The old woman regarded Misao silently, giving no sign of awareness or recognition. Saitou emitted a low, malicious chuckle as he said -- "A dozen of my best men have failed to pry that clamshell open. Let's see *you* try, weasel girl... it should be amusing, if nothing more." Misao whirled around, an angry retort on her lips... and saw that Saitou had disappeared. She shuddered, knowing that Saitou was hidden somewhere nearby, but still feeling nervous and alone. "Heh... I believe that Miburo bastard has taken a liking to you, Misao-chan." Misao turned shocked eyes onto Unmei, whose blank face had suddenly come to life, her black eyes glittering. "Well, well... a visit from my lovely young granddaughter," Unmei purred, slowly rising to her feet. "This is most unexpected..." -- to be continued -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What's the coolest new Web resource? It's the AskMe Page, which allows you to have your own Q&A platform, interact with peers and earn rewards! It's simple, fun & FREE! Get it now! 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