Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Walk in the Sunlight ❯ Aftermath ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and the many companies who have purchased the rights.

Chapter 13 - Aftermath

Kenshin sighed as he tossed the last shovel full of sandy soil onto the mound at his feet. Jamming the shovel into the ground beside him, he dropped down into a crouch and smoothed the dirt along the length of the grave. "Forgive me, Sampson, you deserved better than to be sent off by the likes of me, but I don't think Kaoru would survive seeing you like this."

A sharp pain pierced his chest at the thought of Kaoru and he scowled. What a mess he had managed to make of her life. Maybe it would be best to simply leave before things could get any worse. Snorting softly, he shook his head and smoothed his hand along the mound again. Yes, it would be for the best if he left, but he wouldn't. No, it was more like he couldn't. Not now...

Taking a deep breath, he did his best to bury the feeling that his choice would somehow lead to her downfall and pushed to his feet. "I promise to watch over her in your stead and make sure she is safe from harm."

A gentle breeze eddied softly around him and he smiled. Bowing his head in respect, he whispered an age old prayer he'd learned when he was a boy then grabbed the shovel and headed into his own yard. Now the task he dreaded was all that remained. All he could hope was that Kaoru was strong enough to take this blow on top of the one she'd already suffered.

"Are you going to Naha now?"

Leaning the shovel against the porch rail, he glanced at the vampire hiding within the safe confines of his cloak and nodded as he jumped up onto the porch. "Yeah, I have to make sure she's okay before I head out."

Kenshin felt, more than saw, Sano's quirked eyebrow as he asked, "Head out?"

Exhaling softly, Kenshin fixed his full attention on the face hidden in the hood of the cloak and tried to figure out a good way to broach this. Sano wasn't going to take kindly to what he was going to say. Not with the history between he and the person he sought.

Stifling a sigh, he quietly said, "To find Megumi..."

The temperature in their direct vicinity dropped several degrees and Kenshin did his best to hide the grin teasing his lips. So it was still frigid between them then? He shouldn't be too surprised seeing as they had parted rather... bloodily... all those years ago. That had been the one and only time he'd ever had to step in to save his friend's life. If he hadn't Sano would most likely have ended up as nothing but a bloody spot on the bottom of Megumi's shoe.

"What the hell do you want with that ice bitch!?" Sano bit out between clenched teeth.

The sigh he'd managed to keep in check escaped against his will and Kenshin shrugged, "She's the only one that can tell me what I need to know." Before Sano had a chance to go off on one of his tangents about the sheer cruelty of the aforementioned woman he added, "It concerns Kaoru..."

An audible clicking of teeth came from the darkened cowl and Kenshin couldn't help the smirk that tilted up the corners of his mouth, "If you know where she is then please tell me. The sooner I see her, the sooner I will know if what I hope is possible, really is."

Nothing but silence met his statement and Kenshin sighed softly. Shaking his head he turned to head for the back door. If Sano wouldn't tell him then he'd have to find her himself, he didn't have time to deal with the feud going on between those two.

"Aizu."

Startled, Kenshin stopped dead in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder.

"She's in Aizu, watching over her 'family'."

Kenshin smiled gratefully, "Thanks. That will narrow down the search."

Sano simply nodded and walked past him to head into the house. Following in the tall vampire's footsteps, he smiled sadly at the slight droop in Sano's shoulders. It had taken a lot for Sano to divulge that information. He knew there was no way Sano would simply let her vanish, but it was another thing to make him face that truth.

"So what is it you hope the ice queen will be able to tell you?" Sano grumbled as he pulled off the cloak and tossed it onto the back of one of the diningroom chairs.

Biting back a chuckle at the undisguised sarcasm in Sano's voice, Kenshin shrugged out of his filthy shirt in preparation for the shower he desperately needed and grinned, "To find out if you were right. If somehow Katsura's blood still lives on in Iizuka's body. If it does then maybe there is a way to give Kaoru the one thing she's dying to have."

Sano gave him a strange look and then slowly understanding dawned on his face. "You mean... Iizuka is walking around with Katsura's blood instead of his own?"

Kenshin smirked, "That is what I need to know. And if that is indeed true then I can recreate the past and give Kaoru the sun."

With a sigh Sano wandered into the livingroom and dropped down onto the sofa. "So that means we can't kill him then...? You do know he'll be back tonight and our orders are to kill him."

Kenshin quirked an eyebrow, "Our orders?"

"You've been gone way too long." Sano said with a lopsided smile. "Hiko called and ordered us to take Iizuka's head. He even sent Aoshi to make sure the deed is done. He'll be here as soon as the sun goes down."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes as a wave of ice slid through his veins. "How do you get a hold of shishou?"

Sano dug a tiny device out of his pocket that looked to be no bigger than a hearing aid. "We communicate with this now," he said, lifting it so Kenshin could see, "It's a lot like a phone but can't be traced in any way." A sardonic smirk whispered across his bloodless lips. "We've had some problems with a few governments and this keeps our whereabouts secret."

Kenshin simply shrugged, right now he didn't care if Sano had to send a note by bird, he needed to stop the hunt. "Call him and tell him to hold off on the hunt."

Sano snorted and shook his head. "Are you insane? Nobody who cherishes their skin tells the great Hiko-sama what to do."

"Then get him on that thing and I'll do it myself." Kenshin growled. He had to stop this, at least until he knew the truth.

Sano shrugged. "It's your hide, not mine." Hitting a button on the device he handed it to him. "Put it in your ear and when Hiko picks up just talk like you normally would on a phone."

Doing as Sano instructed, Kenshin nestled it into his ear and listened as the device rang like a normal phone. Two rings later there was a light click and then his master's gruff voice came through the ear piece. "What do you want now, Sagara?"

"It's not Sano.." Kenshin said to the open air. An almost palpable silence answered his statement and then Hiko growled, "What do you want?"

Kenshin sighed, same old Hiko. Clasping his hands lightly behind his back, Kenshin started to pace, "I want you to stop the hunt. Right now I need Iizuka alive."

"Why?"

Scowling at his master's tone, Kenshin did his best to keep his temper and simply replied, "Because there's a good chance he can help me with something before I kill him."

"And what would that be?" Hiko asked sarcastically.

Kenshin took a deep breath in an effort to keep his voice level, "I'll tell you once I know for sure. Until then leave Iizuka to me." He couldn't tell Hiko his plan quite yet, especially since his master's mood wasn't one conducive to listening. In the end he'd also need the Elder's help for this to work and right now he didn't think Hiko was in the mood to agree to anything.

After several more moments of silence, Hiko finally came back on. "I left this to you once and it killed your woman's dog and put her in the hospital."

Stung, Kenshin scowled, "I know, I made a mistake but she's safe now where she is and I only need a couple of days."

A heavy silence fell between them again and Kenshin frowned. At this rate he wouldn't be able to go see Kaoru or Megumi, he'd have to stay here to make sure nothing happened to that little snake. It was ironic really, he'd been dying to kill the little bastard for years and now he had to somehow save his life.

"I will give you three more days..." Hiko grudgingly replied. Kenshin couldn't help the smile that blossomed on his lips at his master's tone. "Aoshi and Sano will detain him here until then." And with that the line went dead. Pulling the device from his ear, Kenshin tossed it back to Sano, "I have three more days to find the answer. Please make sure Hiko holds to the agreement."

Sano smiled wide and shook his head. "You're the only one who can get him to back down like that." Tucking the device back in his pocket, he added, "He'll hold to it, but don't be one minute late. He'd love to kill Iizuka himself for what that snake did to him."

Kenshin inclined his head in understanding, "I won't be late. Kaoru's life depends on it." And with that he headed for the shower. Now that he had that settled it was time to find out just what condition Kaoru was in.

Dr. Genzai sighed wearily as he settled into the chair beside Kaoru's bed. Letting his eyes drift over the bandages covering the sleeping girl he frowned, the only parts not swathed with the breathable bandages were her head and hands. Thankfully she'd been somewhat protected by the sunscreen she used religiously but even that hadn't been enough to save her from the second degree burns she had on most of her body. Why her face and hands had been spared was beyond him, they had only suffered first degree burns. Not enough to blister but close.

Settling back heavily, he sighed and shook his head, in the end it didn't matter how badly she was burned. All that mattered was that she was alive, at least for now. But sadly, thanks to this she didn't have nearly as long as she would have, the infection raging through her body would see to that.

Passing a hand wearily over his face, he shifted his attention out the shielded window and silently cursed the god that could do this. Why give her life if he only meant to take it away before she had truly lived? It seemed like a cruel joke.

"Dr. Genzai?"

His attention snapped back to the young woman blinking owlishly at him and tried to ignore the stab of pain that speared his chest at the worn look in her eyes. Giving her the best smile he could, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

Kaoru frowned at her adopted grandfather's weak smile and slowly lifted herself so she could slide back enough to sit up against the pillows. Despite the painkillers she still had to bite back a hiss of pain as she shimmied back gingerly and settled into the pillows. "As good as can be expected I guess..." gently lifting her legs she repositioned them so the burned skin didn't tug.”It's bad this time, isn't it?"

Dr. Genzai took a deep breath and nodded. "You have second degree burns on most of the skin that was unprotected and the exposure also caused an infection that we are having a hard time dealing with."

Kaoru sighed wearily as her eyes started to burn and she whispered, "I can't feel my fingers on my right hand anymore either."

Dr. Genzai snapped to attention at her admission and she waved her hand to settle him down as one tear escaped from the corner of her eye. "It doesn't matter. It was bound to happen sometime, right? I just helped it along a little bit."

Wiping away the wetness from her cheek, she settled back heavily and took a minute to get herself back together. Tears weren't going to do anything for her now. Nothing would. Doing her best to shrug off the heavy weight settling on her shoulders, she decided to change the subject and asked, "What about Sampson? Has Kenshin come yet?"

Dr. Genzai shook his head. "No. There's no one here but myself right now."

Kaoru wilted slightly and shifted her attention out the window. It was almost dark, why hadn't he come yet?

"I'm sure he'll be here soon. The one who was at the house said he would come as soon as he could."

Kaoru smiled slightly, Sano may have said that but she still worried on what had caused Sampson to take off like that. What if whatever hurt Sampson hurt Kenshin too?

A gentle knock caught her attention and she glanced to the doorway. Her smile widened as the door slid back to reveal the redheaded, violet-eyed man she'd been worrying about. "Kenshin!"

Kenshin flashed her a quick smile as he made his way into her room and for the first time since she'd left his house she felt like everything was going to be okay. Shimmying up a little bit more, she waved him to the chair on the right-hand side of the bed. "How's Sampson? Is he okay?"

An almost indistinguishable frown flickered across Kenshin's lips as he settled down beside her and Kaoru shivered as a wave of ice crashed through her veins. Swallowing around the lump suddenly lodged in her throat, she was just about to ask again when he said, "I'll tell you in a minute. What I want to know is if you're okay."

Doing her best to shake off the feeling that he was trying to evade her, she shrugged, "I'm okay. According to Dr. Genzai I have second degree burns on the skin that was exposed, and I have an infection that doesn't want to go away."

Kenshin simply nodded and shifted his attention to Dr. Genzai. "And what exactly does that mean?"

Dr. Genzai took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he looked him straight in the eye and said. "It means she has cut her months down to weeks, if that."

Stunned, Kaoru's eyes flew wide as a knot instantly materialized in her stomach. "But - "

"Your exposure has sped up the deterioration Kaoru," Dr. Genzai cut in, "I had them do a scan while you were sedated and what I feared is true, your peripheral nerves have degraded so much that they are very hard to see now."

Kaoru simply stared at him in stunned silence, at a loss for what to say. It was that bad? Before she got a chance to ask if there really was no hope Dr. Genzai sighed and pushed out of his chair. "I have to go make preparations for your move to Sapporo. Your parents are coming and they plan on taking you home."

The question died on Kaoru's lips and she closed her eyes as her adopted grandfather turned to leave. So there was no hope, not if they were coming to take her home. Tears started to sting her eyes again and she rubbed them in an effort to keep them at bay. Kami, she really had messed up this time, hadn't she? But what else could she have done? She couldn't leave Sampson to fend for himself, not after all he'd done for her.

"Excuse me, Sensei? May I speak with you in the hall for a moment?"

Startled, Kaoru snapped her eyes back open and fixed Kenshin with a surprised look. But before she had a chance to ask why, Dr. Genzai spoke up, "Yes, quickly."

Kenshin gave Dr. Genzai a quick nod and flashed her an apologetic smile before pushing out of the chair to follow her adopted grandfather. Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she scowled as the door slid closed behind them. What exactly would he need to talk to Dr. Genzai alone about?

Kenshin sighed as he quietly slid the door closed behind him. Motioning for the doctor to follow him a short ways away from Kaoru’s room, he tried to figure out the best way to approach this. Granted he didn't expect the doctor to give him a problem, but Kaoru's father would be a whole other obstacle. And he needed the good doctor's help to overcome it.

Coming to a halt two doors down, Kenshin finally turned around and looked the doctor dead in the eye. "Don't let them take Kaoru just yet."

Dr. Genzai stopped dead in his tracks and fixed him with a hard look. "Why?"

Kenshin gave him a small smile, "Because I think I have a way to save her. But, it's going to take me a couple of days to find out if what I think is possible, really is."

Dr. Genzai's eyes flew wide and for several heartbeats he said nothing, and then he finally broke the silence and whispered, "How?"

Kenshin shook his head, "I can't say right now. Not until I know it will work."

Dr. Genzai narrowed his eyes. "Her father will want an explanation, if I don't have one then he will take her home."

Kenshin sighed wearily and ran his fingers through his bangs, "He wouldn't believe you even if you told him." Resisting the urge to sigh again, he gave Dr. Genzai a beseeching look, "Please, find some way to stall them. Give me a couple of days to find out if it's even possible."

Dr. Genzai simply stared at him with a thoughtful look on his face and then he nodded. "If there really is a possibility I will find some way to keep them from taking her right away, but don't take too long. Kamiya-san has never been a patient man and with Kaoru in the state she's in he will want her home."

Kenshin heaved a sigh of relief and smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Sensei. I will be back as soon as I know the truth."

Dr. Genzai smiled in return and inclined his head in farewell. Dropping a small bow Kenshin headed past him, back to Kaoru's room. He'd only made it a couple of steps though when Dr. Genzai spoke up again, "What happened to Sampson?"

Kenshin stopped as a knot tightened in his gut. Glancing to Kaoru's door, he was relieved to see he was too far away for her to hear. Slowly turning around, he shook his head sadly before answering. "He was killed by the man who tried to kill me all those years ago." A stricken look instantly settled on the good doctor's face and Kenshin flinched as if he'd been punched in the gut. "I'm sorry."

Dr. Genzai sighed heavily and shook his head. "He was after you, right?"

Kenshin simply nodded and whispered, "Yes..." It would be best not to let the good doctor know that Iizuka's target had most likely been Kaoru.

Dr. Genzai shook his head again and mumbled, "This is going to kill Kaoru."

Kenshin frowned as a knife of pain stabbed deep into his heart, and he asked, "Is she strong enough to hear this right now?"

Dr. Genzai gave him a cheerless smile and shrugged, "Probably not, but that doesn't matter does it? She'll have to know eventually and now would be better than later when the infection has weakened her even more." And with that the doctor turned and started down the hall in the opposite direction.

Kenshin felt the weight of the world drop onto his shoulder's as he watched Dr. Genzai shuffle down the hallway. Inhaling deeply, he slowly turned back around and made his way to Kaoru's room. Coming to the closed door, he rested his fingers in the handle and tried to dig up the courage to face her. He had tell her that because of him, she had lost the most important person in her life.

Scowling at himself, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then pasted on the most convincing smile he could and slid the door open. The fist around his heart squeezed tight again as his eyes fell on Kaoru who lay staring out the darkening window. His smile faltered slightly as he once again took in the bandages wrapped around her arms and neck, the burns darkening the normally pale skin of her face making him flinch. So much damage for such a small thing as going out into the sun. It wasn't fair, not fair at all.

"Kenshin?"

Startled from his thoughts, Kenshin snapped his eyes to the curious gaze now fixed on him and resumed his smile. Slipping into the room, he made his way to the chair Dr. Genzai had recently vacated and gently took Kaoru's hand. She hissed slightly at the contact but wrapped her fingers around his before he could take his hand away.

"What did you want to talk to Dr. Genzai about?"

Kenshin smiled and shook his head, "That's a secret between the two of us..."

Kaoru scowled and eyed him suspiciously. "What is it with you two? Both of you are hiding something from me and I'll tell you right now that I will find out what it is, whether you want me to or not."

Kenshin chuckled at her fierceness and trailed his thumb over her tender skin soothingly, "I have no doubt you'd be able to too, but I promise I will tell you soon if there is a need."

"Then why can't you tell me now?" Kaoru asked, the slightly irritated look in her eyes belying her innocent tone.

Kenshin smirked, she wasn't going to give up was she? "Because I have to know that what I tell you is true, and right now I don't."

Kaoru quirked an eyebrow in confusion, "So what you're saying is you don't want to tell me because it might hurt me if it's not true?"

Taken aback, Kenshin's eyes widened slightly at her keen observation. With a sigh, he simply nodded. What more could he say to that? She'd hit it right on the mark. There was no use giving her false hope, if it wouldn't work then he wouldn't tell her, it was as simple as that.

Kaoru frowned and with a shake of her head mumbled, "Whatever... "

Kenshin inwardly cringed at her disgruntled tone and bit back the sigh burning the back of his throat. Opening his mouth to assure her that he'd tell her if he could, he was stopped dead when Kaoru fixed him with piercing sapphire gaze and said, "Well, if you won't tell me that then can you at least tell me about Sampson? Is he okay?"

Kenshin's eyes dropped closed as a sharp pain speared his chest again. He had vainly hoped she'd somehow forget about that. Sampson was Kaoru's life, there was no way she could simply forget her concern for him. And he'd known that, but that still hadn't stopped him from hoping that he could postpone this until he had good news to give her to lessen the sting of her best friend's loss.

Steeling himself against the dull throb pounding in his chest, he slid his eyes back open and flinched at the look of horrified understanding she already had fixed on him. Gripping her hand a little bit tighter, he rested his other hand on top of their clasped ones and whispered, "He... died today."

Kaoru's eyes flew wide and she recoiled as if she'd been physically struck. Kenshin kept a tight hold on her hand as she did her best to wrench it away from him, the tears welling up in her eyes ripping his non-existent soul to shreds.

With one final tug she gave up the fight and speared him with an angry glare as she sat up. "What happened?! Who would kill him?! How could he die?! He didn't do anything wrong!! He can't be dead!!"

Kenshin flinched as she fired off the questions, each one slamming him dead in the chest. Reaching out to wipe at the tears sliding silently down her cheeks, he sighed when she flinched away from his touch and growled, "Answer me!"

"He... " Kenshin paused, how was he going to do this? How was he going to tell her about Iizuka without telling her what he was? Cursing Iizuka with every fiber of his being for putting him in this position, Kenshin inhaled deeply and whispered, "He ran across somebody who thought nothing of killing him to protect his own worthless hide."

Kaoru simply stared at him for several moments as the tears continue to flow unheeded from her eyes and then she whispered, "But... why? Why was this person there? Why did Sampson chase him?"

"Because he was protecting you." Sighing wearily, Kenshin settled back heavily and smiled sadly, "He died because someone who is trying to inflict as much pain on me as he can, targeted you and I wasn't there to protect you myself." Reluctantly releasing her hand, he shifted his attention out the darkened window and stared at the rising moon to save himself from confronting the hatred he dreaded seeing in her eyes.

Several agonizingly slow moments passed and Kenshin felt all the progress he'd made disappear in a puff of smoke. She would despise him now. But really he couldn't blame her, he had cost her her best friend's life and for that he didn't deserve her forgiveness. A sniffle caught his attention and he finally chanced a glance at Kaoru who had settled back against her pillows and curled into herself.

His already withered heart clenched even more at the desolate look marring her face. Reaching out, he gently pushed a lock of hair from her face. "I'm so sorry, Kaoru. I never meant to hurt you or him. All I can say is I promise this person will regret ever lifting his hand against Sampson."

Kaoru wiped halfheartedly at the wetness dripping from her chin. "It doesn't matter, I'll be with him again soon. He'll only be alone for a couple of weeks and then we'll be together again."

Her words struck him hard and Kenshin wearily pushed out of the chair. It would be best to leave her alone to come to terms with this. He had to go anyway, it was time to find Megumi and see if he could bring some light back into her now completely black world. Leaning over, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and gently turned her face so she had no choice but to look at him.

"I can't express in words how sorry I am for Sampson, but please don't give up hope. Give me a little bit more time okay?"

Kaoru simply stared at him, the dead look in her eyes shredding what was left of his heart. Leaning in again, Kenshin kissed her gently and whispered, "I love you. Don't forget that." And with that he spun on his heel and headed out of the room. Yes, he did love her, more than he had ever loved anyone before, and because of that he had to stop what was coming even if it killed him... and before it killed her.

Kaoru watched through watery eyes as Kenshin quietly disappeared from the room, the clicking of the door closing behind him sounding too final for her liking. But what did it matter? There was no reason to fight anymore, with Sampson gone she was truly all alone. Oh, she had Kenshin, her parents and Dr. Genzai but they weren't the same. Sampson had been her confidant, the person she always went to when things got rough and he would always find some way to make her smile again. Always. But now he wasn't going to be there. He wasn't going to greet her at the door anymore, or lick her face when she wanted to lounge in bed instead of getting up. He wouldn't to be there to run and play in the ocean with her anymore, or lay in the corner of the dojo while she stepped through the katas of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.

A small cheerless smile whispered across her lips as more tears streamed from her eyes and she sagged even further into the pillows. Not like she would be able to do any of that again anyway. It was over. The end was only weeks if not days away. At that thought the last of Kaoru's willpower gave way and she crumbled forward, sobbing silently. Everything was over. There was nothing left to do but wait for the end.

Sano sighed heavily as he settled back down into the chair next to Kaoru's front window. Lifting the curtain, he searched the darkened yard for some sign of Iizuka. The little snake should be coming any time if what Kenshin figured was true. Curling his lip in disgust, he dropped the curtain and gave his attention back to the movie Aoshi was staring blindly at.

This waiting was always the hardest. And it didn't help that the person he got to share this extremely long wait with was the one and only vampire that seemed to be missing his vocal cords. The man never talked unless he absolutely had to, it was unnerving to say the least since he was one of the top killers in the Ishin clan. One never knew what was going on behind those ice blue eyes.

He smirked to himself, Iizuka was in for it when he got here. He himself may not be strong enough to take the little snake, but the tall icy-eyed vampire lounging on the sofa would be able to take him with ease.

"He's here..."

Sano snapped his attention to Aoshi and grinned. The look of anticipation in the stoic vampire's eyes was enough to make his blood run cold. Iizuka wouldn't know what hit him. Stilling his own mind, he listened intently and smiled as the faint tread of booted feet came from the front porch. Rising slowly, he made his way to the wall that separated the livingroom from the entryway and waited impatiently for the door to open. He didn't have to wait long, moments later the distinct clicking of the latch reached his ears and he flew around the corner; grabbing the door he flung it open and wrapped his hand around the intruder's neck as Aoshi flashed into being right beside him.

Sano swore a string of expletives as his fist tightened around the neck of the changeling hanging from his hand. A changeling who was most definitely not Iizuka. Crushing the creature's neck into a bloody pulp, he dragged the limp body outside with him. With a curse he flung it into the trees beside Kaoru's house before taking off after Aoshi, who had vanished seconds after seeing the intruder wasn't their prey.

Heartbeats later, he heard a loud crash from a stand of trees to his right and immediately changed his direction, putting on another burst of speed. Hurling through the undergrowth as fast as he could he all of a sudden broke out of the dense foliage and into a small glade where he had to immediately duck to avoid the body flying through the air directly at him. Rolling to the side, he shot to his feet and scowled when he saw Aoshi pushing himself back to his feet. Iizuka had gained quite a bit if he could fling this man around like a rag doll. But it wouldn't be enough. Not enough at all.

"Are you the best they could send after me, Shinomori?" Iizuka asked sarcastically. "What happened to Himura?"

Sano growled low in his throat as he slid a glare to the weasely looking, blackhaired vampire on the other side of the glade. The man really was an idiot if he thought he was going to get off that easily. Fishing out the syringe that had been safely stashed in his breast pocket he nodded to Aoshi and whispered, "Are you ready?"

The icy-eyed vampire gave him a miniscule nod then shot forwards like a bullet. Following in Aoshi's wake, Sano fisted his hand around the syringe and watched in amusement as the black clad vampire rammed into Iizuka, throwing the snake across the clearing into a tree. Flying past Aoshi, he put on one last burst of momentum and slammed into the so called 'Elder' as Iizuka was picking himself up off the ground. Jamming the needle deep into the vampire's neck he released the same serum the little snake had used to render Katsura immobile not so long ago.

The effect was almost instantaneous. Iizuka's eyes flew wide and he twitched for a second before he fell to the ground in a jumbled heap, the stunned confusion in his eyes making Sano laugh. "Didn't expect that, did you? That's what you get for attacking Hiko..." shaking his head, Sano squatted down beside the little snake, "... and what the hell were you thinking picking a fight with Kenshin?"

Iizuka growled low in his throat and struggled to move some part of his body. Sano smirked and poked the angry vampire in the forehead, "You've been making one bad decision after another, haven't you?" Iizuka grumbled again, as if he was trying to speak and Sano chuckled, "Sucks being like this, doesn't it? And at our mercy no less..."

Pushing to his feet, Sano bent down and wrapped his hand around Iizuka's neck; hauling the vampire up so he was hanging right in front of his face. He laughed at the glare the little snake was doing his damnedest to try to create. "You made a very bad mistake when you chose to go after jou-chan. You should have been smart and stayed in whatever hole you've been calling home and left both jou-chan and Katsura alone."

Iizuka made a guttural noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort and Sano dragged the paralyzed vampire to within inches of his nose, his tone suddenly dead serious. "You're lucky I've been ordered not to kill you, you little son of a bitch, or your blood would be splashed all over this clearing." Tightening his hold even more, he felt a small measure of satisfaction when Iizuka's glare wavered slightly, "But then again, it's going to be fun to watch Kenshin rip you apart after he's used you to save jou-chan."

With that he dropped the little snake back to the ground and kicked him as hard as he could in the gut in an effort to alleviate the almost overwhelming need to disembowel the worthless excuse for a vampire. A grunt exploded from Iizuka's paralyzed throat and Sano smirked, "Get use to it, there will be plenty more where that came from. Kenshin said we can't kill you but that doesn't mean we can't still have a little fun with you."

Sano chuckled at the instant fear swimming in Iizuka's charcoal black eyes. Oh, this was going to be a fun three days. As long as they didn't bleed him they could do whatever they wanted until Kenshin came to claim him.

"We need to leave."

Sano started at the quiet statement and swung his attention to the unruffled man now kneeling down to collect the paralyzed vampire. No wonder Aoshi was one of the top assassins for the Ishin clan; silent, effective and deadly.

"It will be almost daylight when we reach headquarters."

And without another word Aoshi flung Iizuka over his shoulder and vanished, his aura quickly fading. Startled, Sano shimmered himself and sped after the two. He was right, it was only a couple of hours before sunrise and they had to get to Mount Fuji before that. But really it didn't matter, they had a safehouse up near Otu if they found it difficult to cross the water to the mainland tonight.

Not really worried, Sano inwardly shrugged as he followed in Aoshi's wake. At least they got the little snake, now hopefully what Kenshin believed really was possible, because if it wasn't he didn't think his old friend would be able to take her dying. Not this time...

I hope that didn't depress you too much. I promise there is a light at the end of this extremely long tunnel, it's just taking a little bit of time to get there.

Anyway, please review. I'd love to know what you think.