Himura_battousai
Copyright© 2011 by Murasame
Chapter 153: Human Justice
(Kenshin and the others are walking home. A man on a ladder is ringing a bell.)
Kaoru: The fire bell ... It must have something to do with that sound.
Tae: Kenshin, you said it was an Armstrong cannon? Shouldn't you...
Tsubame: I ... I think so too.
Kenshin: I may just be imagining things. We can check it out tomorrow. It's getting late.
Kaoru: You're right. It won't do any good to worry about it now.
Sanosuke and Yahiko: All right! Then we can go back to the Akabeko for another round.
Kaoru: You still want to drink? (I've had about of these guys.)
Police: Out of the way, out of the way!
(A company of police officers charge through the streets.)
Kaoru: The police.
Chief: Mr. Himura!
Sanosuke: Hey, long time no see, mustache-glasses.
(Kaoru elbows him.)
Kenshin: Chief, what is it?
Chief: Didn't you hear it? That was a cannon shot! Someone fired on the city from Mt. Ueno! A restaurant called the Akabeko took a direct hit! We're mobilizing the entire force to surround the mountain. There could be more shots, so be careful!
(He runs on.)
Kenshin: I'm going to Mt. Ueno! Everyone head back to the Akabeko!
Sanosuke: Wait, I'm coming too!
Yahiko: Me too!
Kaoru: Yahiko, you stay here! Hey, Yahiko!
(But they're gone.)
Tae: Kaoru.
Kaoru: Too late. We'd better hurry back to the Akabeko.
(The restaurant is completely destroyed, a heap of broken boards.)
Tsubame: This is terrible ... How could anyone...
Kaoru: Tae.
Tae: My God...
Tae's Father: Tae!
Tae: Dad!
Tae's Father: Thank God you're safe. Come here.
Tae: What happened?
Tae's Father: I don't know. Luckily no one was hurt, and nothing caught on fire.
Police Officer: Is this your daughter? I'll ask to be sure. Do you know of anyone that would want to hurt you or your store?
Tae: I don't know ... I don't remember anything that would offend anybody.
Officer: I thought so. The Akabeko customers are merchants too. It was a popular place. No one would bear you any ill-will.
(Yahiko is running, but sweating hard and losing ground.)
Yahiko (thinking): They're too fast ... Kenshin--well at least Sanosuke was drinking a lot too--
(He stops suddenly and is sick into a canal. Kenshin and Sanosuke disappear into the distance.)
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