Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Color of Blood ❯ Desperate Times ( Chapter 3 )

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

Chapter 3 Desperate Times

Later that afternoon the students had transferred Masuyo sensei inside where the village doctor bandaged his head. Takara stepped up with her head hung in shame. “I’m sorry Masuyo sensei. I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

Masuyo smiled down at her. He put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him with big lavender eyes shining sadly. “It’s alright. They would have done it anyway.” Takara nodded. From outside they heard another commotion.

“What now?” One of the older boys mused.

The door flew open and one of the villagers ran in. “There’s smoke coming from the northern fields!” He shouted.

Takara gasped and stared at the man for a moment in shock then she glanced at Kazuki and stuttered, “That’s…that’s… my house!”

“Takara!” Kazuki shouted as she flew out the door in a sprint towards her family’s home. “Takara come back!” Masuyo called out in vain. After a few moments of confusion Kazuki ran after her. “Kazuki!” They called.

One of the older boys ran out after him. “I have to go after her!” Kazuki called back as he ran.

Still slightly dumbfounded the others looked at Masuyo. “Go after them!” He shouted. With that all the boys ran out towards the smoke rolling towards them from the North.

Takara ran with all her strength. She breathed raggedly as she fumbled down the road to her house. The smoke was becoming thick and it was hard to breathe or see as she trudged on. She tripped once or twice but caught herself. She crested a small hill that looked down on her house and tripped flying face forward into the dirt. She hissed in pain and looked up.

The site that met her broke her heart. There before her was her home, all aflame with smoke rising from the rafters. The fields were scorched as they too had been burned. She gasped and willed herself to rise. She threw herself forward towards the burning mass of timber. She was a few steps away from the portal of flame that used to be the door when Kazuki grabbed her.

He threw her back with all his might. She stumbled but did not fall she charged forward again. Kazuki tackled her to the ground. She fought him with all her might. He had a hard time holding her as she was no pushover. “Takara stop!” He shouted.

“Let me go! My parents are in there!” She yelled as her gaze turned to the inferno.

“You’ll die!” Kazuki yelled back.

She shoved him off finally and ran forward again. Luckily the other boys had arrived just in time and they all grabbed her. With much effort they dragged her away from the house. “Let me go! Let me go! Don’t you understand? My parents are in there! Let me go!” She screamed and struggled with all her strength.

Kazuki hated to do it, but he grabbed her shoulders and held her firm. “Takara! Takara!” He screamed until she focused on him. Her lavender eyes were frantic like that of a wild animal. He took a deep breath. “They’re gone!” He stated firmly. Takara’s eyes were still frantic. She shook her head slowly in disbelief. Kazuki nodded as if to say ‘yes they are!’

As he did she shook her head faster and faster. She squeezed her eyes closed and muttered, “No!” over and over again.

When she began to shake he shouted, “Takara! They are gone!” She stopped and looked intensely at him. She then looked around him at the burning building. Her eyes went wide and then her knees buckled. Kazuki knelt down next to her and the others huddled around her. She stared at the ground as silent tears slid down her face. She rocked back and forth sniffling periodically. Kazuki put his arms around her and the others put a hand on her shoulders. They stayed like that for a while until more villagers came to put out the fire. The older boys went to help and Kazuki stayed with her. “Come on.” He whispered helping her up.

He half carried her back down the road towards the dojo. She cried silently and mumbled, “They’re gone. They can’t be dead.” Kazuki squeezed her in a comforting hug. It was the only thing he could do for her. They arrived back at the dojo around nightfall. Many of the villagers had assembled in or around the dojo to ask Masuyo sensei for advice on the current situation.

Kazuki dragged Takara in. Both were covered with a thin layer of dust and ash from the smoke. Masuyo hurried to them. Kazuki laid Takara on a nearby mat before leaning back to take a breath. His eyes were fixated on Takara’s unconscious form as she lay mumbling in a restless sleep of exhaustion and shock.

Masuyo sat next to him for a moment staring at his only female student. Nothing was said between the two and for a moment there was complete silence throughout the room. Then, Kazuki spoke, “They were murdered.”

There were many gasps throughout the room followed by hushed chatter. Masuyo’s eyes enlarged for a moment before he closed them and shook his head. “I never thought it would end so soon.”

Kazuki threw a puzzled glance at his teacher. His questioning glance went unnoticed; without another word Masuyo got up and turned to the villagers. “The bandits will come back. I firmly suggest you leave the village.”

Many replies of, “Where will we go?” and “This is our home!” Came from the crowd of frightened people.

“There is no choice.” There was a moment of silence before, “However, I will stay.”

Kazuki spun around to stare at his old master. “Masuyo sensei!” He shouted.

A wave of the hand from Masuyo sensei silenced him. “I have decided. You are all welcome to stay until morning.” He said before retiring to his room for a rest.

There was much talk amongst the people that night. Many decided to leave immediately, others swore they would rather die than leave their homes. When the other boys returned Kazuki told them what Masuyo sensei had said. The eleven boys talked about what they were going to do, while they watched over Takara.

The next morning many of the villagers took off and some of the boys went home to check on their families. Half way through the morning Takara awoke, staring at two of the older boys nodding off in a corner. She sat up slowly and looked around. “You ok?” A voice asked her from behind. She spun around fast, only to see Kazuki.

She took a deep breath and turned herself completely around to look at him. She stared at him then the floor. She never said a word. They stayed like that for a while when Masuyo sensei entered the room. Takara looked up at him and stared into his aged eyes. She felt as though she would cry, but would not in front of her teacher. He knelt before her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry Takara,” She squeezed her eyes shut trying to forget the sight of her home burning. The thought of the last time she’d seen her parents drifted into her mind.

(Flashback)

Takara rushed to the door hurriedly throwing on her sandals. “Takara dear slow down!” Her mother cooed as she laid a delicate hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Sumi masenga mama, but I don’t want to be late!” Takara said glancing up at her mother in a hurry.

“Takara, your mother’s right.” Her father’s voice resonated throughout the small house as he entered.

Takara stopped her fidgeting and sighed. “When have you ever been late?” Her mother asked with a sweet smile. Takara smiled at her mother. A woman of rare beauty; raven black hair that was always long and smooth and blue eyes, the only one in her family with blue eyes.

Takara smiled back, “You’re right mom.” She hugged her mother.

“Train hard now.” Her father said smiling. He was a tall man with short red hair and strange lavender eyes. His grandmother had been a foreigner and the rare coloring had never faded from their gene pool.

“You got it dad.” She said grinning. He touched her chin and she ran out the door.

“See you later!” She called back to them.

(End flashback)

All she could see were their smiling faces and it hurt. “Hey.” One of the older boys named Hidei handed her a leather quiver filled with arrows. It was slightly blackened, but none the worse for ware. “We managed to save these.”

Her eyes widened. “My arrows?” She questioned. He nodded and smiled a little at her.

“And this.” Kazuki said bringing in a large bow.

Takara let the rough feel of the wood sink in to her pores. She looked up at them all and smiled. “Thank you.” She said.

They smiled back and a few of them ruffled her hair and punched her shoulder, “No problem little sister.”

Masuyo smiled at his students. He sighed deeply. They all heard it and stared at him. “What’s wrong Masuyo sensei?” They asked.

“I hate to lose such good students.” He smiled sadly at them.

They all looked at him in shock. “We won’t leave you, sensei.” They replied firmly. Takara did not know exactly was going on, but she could guess.

“I can’t ask you to sacrifice your lives for nothing.” He said not looking at them.

“It’s not nothing!” Takara shouted. They all stared at her. “They killed my parents!” She yelled in anguish.

Masuyo glanced at her and shook his head. All the students told him they would not leave. He tried to convince them, but they would not hear it. “This is the one piece of advice we are going to ignore Masuyo sensei.” One of the older boys stated seriously.

Masuyo smiled and raised his hands in defeat. “Alright you win, still such a shame to lose good students.” He ended with a piece of dark humor. They all smiled knowing they had won the fight.

That afternoon all the boys went home to get their things and say goodbye to their families. None of the families were happy about it, but they’re sons were obstinate. That night they all slept together in the dojo. Takara slept peacefully knowing all her friends were with her; her brothers. It was a grand illusion to escape the horrible truth of reality; that they would probably all die.

The next day by midday the village was a ghost town. Few villagers remained. The ones that did sat uneasily in Masuyo’s house attached to the dojo. They had opted to stay in their village and had decided the dojo was the safest place to be. All twelve students and their master sat meditating in the dojo, calming their minds so they would be ready for the pressure of battle. Deep down all the students were scared. Deep down Masuyo knew they had no chance. He was old and his students were inexperienced and they were greatly outnumbered. He opened his eyes while they meditated and stared at each one of them. All of them: young, full of strength and potential, yet so stubborn and dedicated to a cause that they would die fighting for it. His gaze fell upon Kazuki and Takara.

They were thirteen, the youngest of the class. He smiled to himself. It was funny how two complete opposites could be such good friends; one quiet and obedient, the other loud and stubborn, both of them strong and full of youth and promise. He decided then and there that if he was able to save any of them it would be those two.

Later that day, Masuyo looked out the door and saw dust coming slowly on the horizon. He knew it was the bandits. He gathered all his students together. “The battle for our lives is about to begin.” He stated simply. He turned to a large trunk and opened it. “You’ll need these.” He pulled many weapons out of the box. The students stared on in awe at their master’s arsenal.

“But master we don’t use weapons, we are…” One of the older boys started.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.” He handed out the weapons and when he came to Takara he smiled. She looked at him puzzled. “I have a special weapon for you.” He put both hands in the box and came out with a bokken. He placed it gently in her hands and she stared at it for a moment.

“Forgive me Masuyo sensei, but I am better at archery I know very little of the sword. What little I do know isn’t very good.” She replied.

“It will be easy for you. Swords are easier for women to wield than men. That is why I am giving it to you.”

“Sir I…”

“I’ve had this in my family for many generations. It may look useless, but things are not always what they seem.” He smiled at her and she stared at it in wonder contemplating his words.

“They are almost here.” One of the older boys said calmly entering the front. The boys began to barricade the door and Masuyo shook his head. “I never thought it would end so soon.” He whispered as the sounds of thundering hooves became audible outside the door.

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