Oro? (Rurouni Kenshin Yaoi Fanfiction)

3: Confrontation At The Market

*Sorry for the late chapter! School has started back so I have been very busy! I will try my best to continue the story. For now, the goal is a chapter every 2-3 weeks. I will eventually work my way up to two chapters every week. But for now, I start very small! Thank you for tuning in after all these time!!!!!*

The market was lively as usual. The men and women minding their own business, picking up the things they needed for tonight's dinner or what not. It didn't matter what everyone was there for, they were just there. End of story. Sannosuke and Kenshin were strolling along, rather close to each other. Quite a strange sight to see among two men with warrior-like auras. Sannosuke picked up on the awkward looks from the crowd. 

"I think they think we're Imperialists." Sannosuke finally said.

"Oro?!" Kenshin blurted, "With the way we're dressed? No way!" 

Sannosuke laughed, "I guess you're right."

"Hm... do you think it was wrong to leave poor Yahiko there with the missy like that? She's extra dangerous when she's irritated."

"Nah," Sannosuke said, waving his hand as if the matter was insignificant, "Yahiko had it coming-"

The men were rudely interrupted by the horrified screech of a young woman. Kenshin and Sannosuke's eyes narrowed as they looked in the direction of the screaming. As the crowd nervously drew apart, making room for the criminals in the streets, the woman continued to scream. She was being dragged so shamelessly in public by her long, beautiful jet black hair. Though her hair beautiful, her face was horrid. She had dark circles from all the makeup under her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot and her red lipstick was smeared from one end of her face to the other. Tears streamed from her face creating a trail of salt and streaks of tan - as her pure white makeup had been washed off from the tears.

"HEY!" Kenshin called out to the men who were dragging her. They turned his direction, "You shouldn't treat a woman that way!" 

"Woman?" One of the men echoed, "This here is no woman! This is a thief - it deserves no honor to be called a woman! She has stolen money from the owner of the brothel on the hill. Not only money, but priceless jewels that once belonged to the other women of the brothel! And to make things even more worse for her, she has been involved with the opium trade!" He explained. The crowd gasped when the man finished his story. Some even began to whisper or run off somewhere to fetch proper authority.

"No way..." Sannosuke gasped. 

Kenshin kept his eyes narrowed, keeping his fingers close to the hilt of his reverse blade sword. His long, red-brown hair blew in the cool breeze that the afternoon deemed appropriate for the current situation. And appropriate it was, indeed. Quite the dramatic effect it added.

"Thief or not, I still believe this is a woman. Yes, her crimes are despicable, but that gives you no right to rag-doll her around this way. Had not your parents raised you better?" Kenshin said, adding bass to his voice. The men laughed,

"You're the one to talk! You look hardly old enough to carry that sword on your waist! But," the man that had spoke before said, "You seem to have violent intentions - you and your friend lookin' for a fight?"

"Maybe." Sannosuke spoke up, but he immediately regretted speaking the words after Kenshin stomped on his foot.

"No, we just want justice for the humiliation this woman just suffered." Kenshin spoke again.

"Then, come and fight for it!" The man roared. He threw the woman off into the crowd somewhere. They drew their swords and charged towards Kenshin and Sannosuke.