Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Snow ❯ Grim Determination ( Chapter 20 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Sanosuke and Katsuhiro had bypassed the little town entirely and were just arriving in Tokyo in the early hours of the morning. Katsu's wound was healing, making movement less painful, and was opening less frequently. However, Tokyo's streets were not the safest place for two unarmed nine-year-old boys to be before dawn. Soon, the two of them found this out the hard way.

"Well hello, boys," came a drawling voice from behind them. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Sanosuke was the first to turn around. The man who had spoken was a street bum, apparently in his thirties, wearing a lecherous grin on his ugly face. Sanosuke turned back around and took hold of Katsu's arm, picking up their pace and trying to ignore the obvious threat. He hoped that if they ignored him, he would get bored and go away. Katsu seemed much more nervous than Sanosuke, who picked up on this quickly. Katsu almost never showed fear or anxiety. What was causing it now? Sanosuke froze when he felt a heavy hand gripping his shoulder roughly.

"I think it's time to play," said the bum with a leer. "You don't want to miss that, do you? It'll be fun..."

Katsu gave a frightened yell and kicked the lecher sharply in the shin. Before Sanosuke could say or do anything, Katsu had taken off at a run. He turned to follow, getting ready to put on a burst of speed when the hand that had been on his shoulder grabbed the back of his shirt. Even though the poor boy struggled fiercely, lashing out tooth and nail, he was no match for the man's physical strength.

"No need to try and run," said the lecher smoothly. "That just makes everything harder on you..."

Sanosuke was forced down on his knees by a sharp blow to the back of his head. He closed his tear-filled brown eyes and prayed that this was a nightmare and that he would wake up at home. He felt sick as he felt the man's hand stroking his rear. He jammed his eyes tighter shut and prayed harder. He was bracing himself for the pain when he heard a loud cry and the sound of a sword penetrating flesh.

"Bastard," said a quiet voice in disgust. Its owner put a gentle hand on Sanosuke's shoulder. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Sanosuke shook his head and shifted to a sitting position. He looked up at his rescuer and was shocked beyond belief. It was that same red-haired fifteen-year-old who had helped him save Katsu. The redhead took hold of Sanosuke's arm and hauled him to his feet.

"You should be careful," he admonished softly, carefully checking the smaller boy for injuries. "What are you doing out here at this hour anyway?"

Sanosuke looked a little confused. How was he supposed to answer that? He opened his mouth and was about to say something when he saw the body of his attacker. The dead man had a huge hole in the back of his skull and there was blood everywhere. His words became a retching sound as he turned and vomited in the side of the alley. The fifteen-year-old knelt beside him, rubbing his back as he emptied his stomach onto the ground.

"You're alright now, I promise," he said soothingly. "Your friend was yelling for help and he ran straight into me. I told him to wait for me, so we should go find him."

Shaking a little, Sanosuke nodded and willingly let the older boy lead him. After a few minutes, they found Katsu sitting on the front steps of a restaraunt. He was leaning on Sanosuke's bag, sound asleep. Gently, the red-haired boy put a hand on his shoulder and shook him awake. Katsu jumped, yelped a little and immediately his arms went into a cross-block over his head.

"Don't worry," said the redhead, guiding Katsu's arms down to his sides. "I won't hurt you. I'm here to help, remember?"

"Sano! Is he alright!?" asked Katsu, instantly frantic. "Where is he!?"

"I'm right here, Katsu," Sanosuke said softly. "And I'm fine."

Katsu smiled shakily and looked up at the older boy.

"Thank you for saving him," he said quietly. "He's my best friend and right now he's all I've got."

"You're perfectly welcome," replied the red-haired boy. "Friends are important. Do whatever you can to keep them safe."

Sanosuke opened his mouth to ask the older boy his name, but he had already given them a funny little half-smile and disappeared down an alley.

"Well..." said Katsu uncertainly. "Do you think we could stay at this place?"

Sano looked at the building. Katsu had been sleeping on the step when they found him. It was apparently a restaraunt built into an inn. The place was called Akabeko. And right now there was a twelve-year-old girl standing on the top step wearing a pink yukata and an irritated expression.

"What in the world?" she asked, obviously annoyed. "What are you two doing out here? If you're trying to pull some kind of prank, I'm getting the police!"

Katsu yelped again and fell off the step. Sano pulled his friend up and looked at the girl with a suspicious eye. She had brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and was slightly small-built. To Sano, she didn't look like much of a threat.

"Who are you?" he asked, sounding a bit like a smart-aleck.

"Tae Sekihara," she replied briskly. "I could ask you the same question. And I'll ask again. What are you two doing out here and who are you?"

Katsu raised an eyebrow.

"Katsuhiro Tsukioka," he said proudly. "But call me Katsu."

"Nice to meet you," Tae said dryly before rounding on Sano. "And you, with the chicken hair, who are you?"

Sano's jaw dropped. His face turned bright red and a string of muttered swear words was barely audible. Katsu clamped a hand over his mouth, doubling over and laughing. Tae's face turned red as well and she considered knocking the kid's lights out right then. Sano's face was still red, only now it seemed to be from embarrassment. He couldn't look the girl in the eye.

"Sanosuke," he grumbled. "But just call me Sano."

"Last name?" asked Tae, one eyebrow raised.

Sano's face darkened and he didn't answer. Katsu flinched, knowing that Tae had just hit a serious nerve. Tae noticed something unusual too and decided to drop the matter. Katsu decided to take up for his friend.

"Sagara," he said firmly. "His last name's Sagara."

Tae tilted her head in surprise and confusion.

"Sagara?" she asked. "Are you related to Souzou Sagara?"

Sano's eyes widened and he didn't quite know what to say. Again, Katsu had to come up with something.

"I guess you could say that," he said, not meeting anyone's eyes and trying to avoid physical contact.

"Oh! He's my brother's friend," chirped Tae, suddenly feeling much more friendly toward the two boys. "He'll be staying here for a couple of days. I think he's supposed to get in today. I'm guessing you're looking for him?"

Sano and Katsu nodded emphatically.

"Well come inside then!" said Tae, again much more friendly.

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Souzou didn't get to Akabeko until around sunset. He was exhausted in mind and body and he looked it. After a split second of debating whether or not to remain hidden, Sanosuke burst out from behind a potted plant. Souzou was, to say the least, shocked at seeing him.

"Sanosuke?" he sputtered. "What are you doing here!?"

Before Sanosuke could answer, loud feminine-sounding swearing echoed from the back of the restaraunt and Katsuhiro tumbled out of one of the booths. His face was white. Sanosuke smacked a hand to his forehead as he watched his friend apologize to three furious teenage girls. Souzou's dark brown eyes widened more than they already had.

"Sanosuke, Katsuhiro," he said sternly. "What are the two of you doing here?"

Sano looked slightly ashamed. He couldn't look at his former captain anymore, staring instead at a millipede on the floor. Katsu just stood there shifting from one foot to the other, looking nervous. Again, he was trying not to let anyone touch him.

"I came to find you, Captain Sagara," Sano said softly. "I was hoping you would come home with me..."

"I got caught by some people after the massacre," Katsu said tonelessly, before Souzou could ask. "The cart they had me on got robbed so I was trying to get away in the confusion... Sano found me. I got shot while we were running and this other guy helped both of us out. I was just following Sano from there."

Souzou couldn't figure out whether to be relieved or angry. Sano and Katsu were both alive and safe; that was a good thing. But their lives were now in danger as well as Midori's. Forgetting about all that for a second, he took a step forward and pulled both boys close to him. In this moment, he was just glad to see them again. For a second, Katsu froze as if in fear. His hesitation didn't go unnoticed by his captain.

"I don't know whether to laugh or knock your heads together," whispered Souzou, just barely realizing he had tears on his face. "Admittedly, it was very foolish of you to follow me. You put your lives in danger and I'm not exactly happy about that. But I'm so glad to see you two that I can accept it. Just do me a favor and don't scare me like that again!"

"Don't worry," laughed Sanosuke. "So are you going to come home? I came all this way and I promised Toshio that you would come home..."

Souzou's expression became grave, his eyes growing darker. He found that he couldn't meet Sano's gaze. Katsu pulled away and leaned against the wall. Souzou put his hands on Sano's shoulders, trying to stay calm.

"I'm sorry Sanosuke," he said quietly. "You must understand. I have to regain the honor of the Sekihoutai and the honor of my family. And that includes the memory of your father."

Sano found that his legs would no longer hold him up. He shuddered violently and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Souzou pulled the boy to his feet and tilted his head up so that he could look him in the eye.

"Don't worry about me," he said softly. "I just want you to keep yourself and Toshio safe."

"I can't just leave you," whispered a despondent Sanosuke. "I promised Toshio you would come back with me."

"Sanosuke," said Souzou in a level voice. "I'm afraid you won't be able to keep that promise."

"I'm sorry Captain Sagara," Sanosuke whispered. "I'm so sorry I failed... I promised I would take care of Toshio and now I'm just going to hurt her."

"Life is about second chances," replied Souzou. "Remember that on your way home, Sanosuke."

He ruffled Sanosuke's hair and went to comfort the lonely-looking Katsu.

"Something is bothering you, Katsuhiro," he said gently. "Please tell me what it is. I don't think I've ever seen you act antisocial."

Katsu sighed, sound pained and more than a little depressed.

"I can still see it," he said softly. "I never want to watch so many people die again..."

"Ah, I understand," whispered Souzou, placing a hand on the black-haired boy's arm. "I'm quite familiar with the feeling."

Katsu shied away from Souzou's touch.

"But what is it that makes you resist being around people?" asked Souzou, becoming more and more concerned.

Katsu suddenly became very interested in the tatami he was standing on. He found that he couldn't make himself meet his former captain's eyes. Said former captain noticed Katsu trying to place as much physical distance between them as possible. He was pale and his body was shaking.

"Katsuhiro, are you sick?" persisted Souzou. "Did something happen to you that I should know about?"

He watched the tears falling from the boy's eyes. The poor boy's body was still shaking, now more violently than before. Souzou knew that something was seriously wrong. Katsuhiro was usually a very bright, cheerful boy and not much could dampen his spirit. He put his hands on Katsu's shoulders, his heart wincing as the boy flinched, and looked him in the eye.

"Katsuhiro Tsukioka, listen to me," he said firmly. "If something has happened to you that should not have happened, you must tell me. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

The emotional dam in Katsu's heart cracked and he collapsed in his captain's arms, sobbing his heart out. The whole story spilled out between gasps for air and anguished cries. He held so much pain in his mind, heart and body. He felt worthless and dirty because of what happened. It took a long time for his cries to subside.

Souzou was shocked. Now he knew why Katsu didn't want anyone to touch him. He had come to mistrust another human's touch after what had happened to him. And it was no wonder. He knew, but he just didn't want to believe it. Nothing like this should ever happen to anyone.

Katsu's innocence had been taken from him.

Souzou tightened his arms around Katsu, though he felt the boy shudder and stiffen, trying not to break down. Again, he blamed himself for what had happened. He still believed that had he been in that battle, none of this would have happened.

"Katsuhiro," he started uncertainly. "When?"

"Couldn't have been more than two days after the attack," replied Katsu in a low voice. "This big group found me. I think they might have been yakuza. They were sick, really sick... Thought I was just some kind of toy..."

He started crying again, forcing his sobs to stay silent.

Souzou was furious. Of course, most of his anger was directed at whoever did this, but he was also angry at himself. If he had been there, Sanosuke would still have a father. Katsu would still have the innocence of his childhood. All his men would still be alive and their families would still have their fathers, sons, brothers and friends.

He tried to think of where the nearest town or city had been to the place where he had left his men. It had been Tokyo, right? Yes, it was definitely Tokyo.

'Well this is just perfect,' he thought sarcastically.

This just gave the yakuza another opportunity to go after Katsu since he had already been victimized. Not only that, but now Sano was in a dangerous situation as well. The only thing he could do was see if Midori wouldn't do what his note said. Knowing her, she probably wouldn't disappoint him. So when she got to Tokyo, he could explain the situation to her. She had grown up in Tokyo, so maybe she could help find Katsu's family.

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Souzou knew his wife, alright. By sunrise, there was Midori in the restaraunt part of Akabeko. When Souzou saw his beloved's face again, he felt tears in his eyes. At first, Midori didn't see him. She didn't even know he was there until he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He nuzzled into her throat, taking a deep breath and inhaling her soothing sandalwood scent.

"Midori, I thought I told you not to come after me," he growled in her ear, his hot breath tickling her skin.

"And when have I ever let anyone tell me what to do?" asked Midori as she turned in his arms and kissed his cheek.

Souzou tightened his arms around her, lifting her off the floor and holding her as if he would never let her go. Midori's hands tightened into fists in the fabric of his jacket, her grip desperate. Souzou sighed, half worried, half contented.

"I should have known," he whispered, kissing her temple. "I should have known..."

Midori relaxed her grip and rested her head comfortably on Souzou's shoulder. He set her back down on the floor and gave her a sad smile. A single tear, one of both sorrow and joy, escaped from his eye and trailed down his cheek. Tenderly, Midori raised a hand to his face and brushed the little drop from his skin.

"You didn't know that you were followed, did you?" he asked, his sad smile still in place.

"What do you mean?" asked Midori, her face concerned.

"Sanosuke showed up yesterday," he answered flatly. "And Katsuhiro with him."

Midori gasped in shock.

"But I thought Katsuhiro was dead," she whispered. "When Sanosuke turned up in the middle of the night, he said he didn't get away..."

"He only wishes he was," Souzou said grimly. " And I think he would prefer I didn't tell you why."

Midori raised a hand to her mouth, her face still full of concern.

"When you go back home, will you take him with you along with Sanosuke?" asked Souzou. "I know he has family and I think they're in Tokyo, but I have no idea how to find them. And until we do, it's not safe for him to stay in Tokyo. That goes for Sanosuke too."

Midori nodded.

"I assume the two of them are still sleeping?" she asked.

"I think so," said Souzou. "If they aren't, we'll hear about it pretty soon."

Midori laughed a little. She wouldn't be surprised in the least if the two of them were awake and listening intently. At that moment, a sneeze followed by a muttered swear word confirmed her suspicions. Souzou turned around as a white-faced Sanosuke tried to sneak out from his hiding place in an empty booth. He gave them a sheepish grin and turned to run back to the room he and Katsu were sharing.

"Sanosuke," said Souzou, his tone telling the boy to stop right there.

Sano froze. He knew full well that he had been caught. Only this time he was on his own.

"Sorry, Captain Sagara," he said quietly, trying to get out of whatever was going to happen with the 'I'm-sorry-I-won't-do-it-again' trick. "I just wanted to know what's going on."

Souzou and Midori exchanged amused looks. They could see exactly what he was trying to do. Sanosuke thought he was really going to hear it now. He was seriously worried until he saw the sparkle of laughter in his former captain's eye. Souzou grinned and shook his head.

"Well, I don't think you're very likely to find anything out that way," he said with a smile. "Next time, don't get caught."

He ruffled the boy's hair, making it stick out more than usual, and gave his red bandanna a playful tug. Greatly relieved, Sano laughed and grinned back at the man he looked up to. Midori smiled and gave his shoulder a squeeze as she followed Souzou to his room.

Souzou slid the shoji closed behind him and watched Midori settle on a cushion. She didn't say a word, just watched her husband watching her. Their silence grew more and more tense until Souzou came and sat beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. Midori finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

"Souzou, I'm begging you," she said in a shaking voice. "Please-"

"Midori, I can't," interrupted Souzou. "I have to regain the honor of the Sekihoutai and the honor of our family or die trying."

"Can't it wait any longer?" pleaded Midori.

Souzou shook his head, his face sad but determined.

"I'm afraid not," he said softly. "I've put it off for too long as it is. I should have gone the day after Sanosuke showed up. But I couldn't bear to leave you again so soon knowing that I would never come home."

Midori was trying as hard as she could not to cry.

"And with what happened, I now have to regain our honor for my father," continued Souzou, his voice bitter. "To let him rest in peace..."

"Oh, Souzou," said Midori, her voice scarcely more than a soft breath. "What happened?"

"He was murdered, that's what happened!" roared Souzou, his face darkening in rage and his temper flaring. "The whole town was burned to the ground and there were none left alive!"

Midori gasped and her hand flew to her heart. She had no idea what to say. She knew there wasn't really anything she could say that would be of any help. Gently, she shifted so that he lay cradled in her arms. With tender caresses, she stroked her husband's hair, running her fingers through the silky strands. Gradually his tension began to wind itself down and he started to relax at her touch.

"I'm so sorry, darling," whispered Midori, wishing there was some way she could comfort him. "Forgive me. I never thought... I just didn't know."

"No, don't apologize," said Souzou hoarsely. "There way no way you could have known."

He reached up to rest his hand on Midori's cheek, looking sadly into her eyes.

"Now do you see why I can't go home yet?" he asked, his voice becoming deep.

As tears streamed down her pretty face, though she made no sound, Midori nodded affirmatively. Inside, she was screaming at him, clinging to him and pleading with him not to leave her again. But she took his hand in hers, kissing his fingertips.

"I still don't want you to go," she said, her other hand clutching his jacket so hard her knuckles were white. "But I understand why you are. And I say..."

She stopped and swallowed hard, forcing back her tears.

"Do as you must," she whispered, her voice so soft and choked that it was just audible.

Souzou saw in his beloved's eyes that it was the hardest thing she had ever done to say those words to him. She could have begged him to stay with her, but she didn't. She told him to go ahead and do what he had to do. Souzou didn't think he had ever seen such a selfless act in his life, even on the battlefield. And he had seen many men give their lives for others. At least death by a sword was swift and for the most part painless, while a heart that has lost all hope will die slowly.

"Do you know what today is?" asked Midori, her voice soft and shaking as she abruptly changed the subject.

Souzou thought for a minute. It was the first day of March wasn't it? Yes, it had to be. As realization dawned on him, time seemed to freeze and his heart ceased to beat for a moment.

"It's Toshio's birthday," he said quietly, tears filling his dark brown eyes. "She's five now... Damn it, I wish I could see her! I mean, today of all days! I just want to see my daughter smile one more time... I swear, if I get out of this mess alive, I'll make it up to her somehow. I miss her so much..."

Midori wrapped her arms around Souzou and held him close. All she could do for him was continue to run her fingers through his hair and kiss his forehead. She knew there was a special bond between father and daughter. Her father had the same bond with her. He had that rare gift for keeping her close, yet allowing her to be her own person. That was why she was so hurt when he died. Her mother stepped in after that and insisted that she be a lady.

'And I still curse the first time I wore a kimono,' she thought bitterly.

Souzou forced his raging emotions to calm down and steadied himself to tell her the bad news.

"Midori," he started uncertainly. "I'm leaving Tokyo tomorrow after I find the people I was told are waiting for me. We'll reach Shimo-Suwa by sunset or later. From there we'll be heading for Kyoto."

Midori didn't bother to wipe her tears away, though Souzou tried to soothe her with soft kisses. He sat up and took her in his arms as she had done for him. He sighed deeply and nuzzled into her throat, so that his mouth was near her ear.

"Today is just barely starting," he said flatly. "As soon as you get something to eat, I want you to get Sano and Katsu up. Get them some breakfast and start for home. That way you can make pretty good progress by dark."

Midori began to sob, tightening her arms around Souzou. She pressed her face against his chest, her body shaking. Souzou sat silently, holding her tight and listening to her crying.

Soon, Midori's cries grew hoarse and she started relaxing involuntarily in Souzou's arms, feeling sick. Before she could cry herself to sleep, he tilted her head up and kissed her forehead. He managed to give her a sad smile before he started kissing her all over her face. After a soft, quick kiss on her lips, he rose to his feet, taking her with him and helping her stand.

"Come on," he said softly. "We're only making this harder on ourselves."

"I suppose you're right," Midori reluctantly agreed, her voice equally soft. "I'll be waiting for you when you come home."

'I'm still going to follow you,' she thought with grim determination. 'No matter what you tell me to do.'

"There's always a chance," said Souzou, sliding a hand under her chin and looking down into her beautiful violet eyes. "But don't get your hopes up, sweetheart."

He kissed her gently, smiled at her, and squeezed her hand. Their fingers touched briefly when he pulled his hand back. Then he turned away from her. Without a word and without looking back, he slid the shoji open and left the room.

That was the last time Midori saw her husband a free man.