Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Sano Diaries ❯ Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Sano's Rage

Kenshin is at a local fruit stand buying fresh fruit for Kaoru, hoping to cheer her up. He has yet to find any word of Sanosuke or Sakura. Suddenly Kenshin hears two people running down the street and he sees that it is Kaoru and Yahiko. They run past him without a second look. Immediately his sense of danger is heightened. [Something's going on…] Kenshin runs to catch up to them. He calls out…

Kenshin: Kaoru, Yahiko, what's going on?

Kaoru slows her pace but doesn't stop.

Kaoru: There is no time to explain, just follow us.

Kenshin does what he's told.

In a local restaurant a rude out of towner is sitting by the window scarfing down his food. This time he notices a group of people running by. This time a red flag goes off in his mind. [Sakura… Why isn't she with them?!] Sano dashes out of the restaurant without paying his bill, trying desperately to catch up with everyone.

The group finally reaches the alley, but no one is there. It is completely deserted. Sano catches up and the group slowly turns to face him. Sano tries to catch his breath, he notices the panic in everyone's eyes. He can't quite put his finger on it…

Sanosuke: Sakura! Where is she?

The group seems to be speechless. Sano grows pale. He sees drying blood on the wall and the imprint of Sakura's body in the dirt. [This doesn't make sense! Where is she?!]

Sanosuke: She was fine when I left. Yahiko was here… (turning to Yahiko, then grabbing him) (totally losing it) WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS SHE YOU LITTLE BRAT?!

Yahiko: Ow! You're hurting me! (squirming to break free of Sano's grip)

Kaoru: Sano stop it! It's not his fault. Yahiko told me that after you wandered off Sakura's back became too painful for her to endure. She couldn't walk and he couldn't move her. Yahiko came to the inn to get me. We ran into Kenshin on the way.

Sano slowly let go of Yahiko and took a step backwards. His eyes were wide with horror at what he'd done. [Of course it wasn't Yahiko's fault. It was mine. I left her here. I assumed she'd be alright. IDIOT! I knew she was in pain, just not how much…] Sano took another step backwards. He was shaking.

Sanosuke: My fault…it was my fault…

Kenshin had never seen Sano like this, but Kaoru and Yahiko have; when he fought Koyama. They knew that Sano was losing it, but they weren't sure that they knew how to bring him back.

Sano was still muttering to himself. His head was spinning. [Why did I leave her?] Sano punches the brick wall of the alley, hard enough to make his knuckles bleed. [It was my pride…My stupid PRIDE!] Sano punches the wall again, harder. More blood trickles down the wall and joins the drying blood that was left by Sakura's injured back. Sano watches the blood drip from his hand. He raises his fist to punch the wall a third time… But something stopped him. Kaoru slid between Sanosuke and the wall, and she was in tears.

Kaoru: Sano, please stop. Please… This isn't going to help us find Sakura.

As Sano stood there, watching Kaoru cry, his heart ached. Sano's anger left him and he embraced Kaoru.

Sanosuke: I'm sorry… I'm so sorry.

Sano closed his eyes tight, trying to hold back a few tears of his own. Kenshin and Yahiko, who have never been too good with the emotional stuff, just stood there and watched. When Kaoru let go of Sanosuke, she knew that the old Sano had returned. Yet, still, he seemed changed somehow, in a way that Kaoru could not put her finger on. Kaoru dried her eyes with the back of her sleeve, looked up at Sano and spoke.

Kaoru: Lets go get her.

Sano smiled and nodded in agreement. Although Kenshin was confused as to what just happened between Sanosuke and Kaoru, he was not confused as of what to do next. He noticed some tracks leading out of the alley, which didn't look like they belonged to anyone in the group.

Kenshin: Oro… Um shouldn't we follow these tracks?

Sanosuke: Tracks?!

Sano was so busy blaming himself for Sakura's disappearance he didn't even think to look for clues.

Sanosuke: Lets go!

The group follows the tracks high into the mountains beyond the village. Dusk turns into night and the group must rest before continuing their journey. They set up camp to sleep for the night, but Sano insists on pushing on. He goes alone and no one tries to stop him.