Tears of the Red Sky

Chapter 3 : Wanted

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and any of its characters. If I did, I'd be doing mangas and not fanfictions. XD.. The OCs are mine though. =)

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It has been three days since the theft at the Asamoto mansion. By now, news about the thief being a girl has spread all around Tokyo. Ryuu wasn't really sure how he should feel about it. Of course he should be feeling happy since it meant that he was far from being caught by the authorities, but he also didn't like the thought of having someone else take the blame for his wrongdoings, let alone a girl. Two days had passed since the day he met the girl and had a chat with her at the river. It wasn't actually what he can call a chat but it was probably the closest to one he'll ever get from a girl with a temper like hers. She probably has the worst temperament he has ever seen. He couldn't really blame her. After all, she's in a lot of trouble because of him, whether it was unintentional or not. He had not originally planned on really talking to her that day. He only wanted to know if she would recognize him or not, and planned on blackmailing her if she did, but things turned out differently. Well, in a way he had been successful with the blackmail. At least he was sure that the girl won't tell on him for the time being. And even if she did, no one would really believe her. However his conscience won't let him sleep if she did get arrested. He tried looking for her every time he strolled around town but he wasn't able to find her.

Maybe she went into hiding, he finally thought. Suddenly, someone dragged him into a nearby dark alley and pinned him into a wall. To his surprise, it was her.

"YOU LOATHSOME PIECE OF TRASH!" The girl screeched, clenching the front of his gi.

"Whoah! I didn't know you were that excited to see me -"

He didn't have time to finish what he said as the girl pinned him harder against the wall. He glared up at him as though she was ready to skin him alive that very moment.

"Tell them the truth! Go to the police and tell them the truth!"

"I can't do that -"

"Tell them or I'll kill you!" She said in all seriousness.

"Why don't you calm down first? Okay?" He said trying to ease her murderous disposition.

"Calm down? You think I can calm down? Do you have any idea how hard it's been for me? I can't walk around town without thinking that someone will come to arrest me or point a sword at my face any moment! I can't even go outside whenever I want coz those guards are waiting to cut me down the moment I show up!"

"Wait, what?"

"Asamoto's guards, they've been roaming around town and I know they're looking for me!"

He just stared at her for a moment. He didn't know about it. "Are you sure about that?"

"Green and orange haoris, who else could they be? It seems like you stole something very important. I want you to surrender now and give me my life back!"

"But I can't do that," he said calmly.

"What?! So you really want me to suffer for your crime?" She raged.

"I didn't say that," he said trying to gently move her hands away but she didn't let go of his gi. "We're not even sure yet if those guards really recognized you. It was pretty dark back then and they might not have gotten a good look at you. All they know is that it's a girl. For all we know they're just searching heedlessly for some random girl out there who'd fit their description of you."

"And what if you're wrong and I get arrested?"

"Then that's when I come out."

"What?" She said a little surprised. She had not expected his answer.