Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Another Master. . . ❯ Meeting ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

This is my first little ficcy and sadly Iºm not too sure about its quality. :(
You see i cannot stand original characters from an authorºs mind becoming an intergral part of the story but this idea wouldnºt leave me alone. Gwaaah! Damn you, wormwood! (check profile if you donºt understand). so anyways here goes nothing.
Key:
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--- denotes change in point of view
*** denotes passage of time (i.e. one night)
»¡ denotes character speaking or thinking (youºll be able to tell)
Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Rurouni Kenshin. Iºm not making money off this. ::sobs:: Why ::sniffle:: do ::sniffle:: the fates ::sniffle:: taunt me so?
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A smile curled impishly on her petite face,corrupting her smooth pale skin unattractively. The performers bustled all around her to fulfill their constant need to entertain; but she was not distracted from the sight before her: Tokyo at sunset, the populated streets of amazed children of all ages and the Kamiya dojo against the sailor sky.
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»Kenshin!¡
Hearing Kaoruºs scream, Kenshin spent no time in grabbing his sakabato and running outside to protect her from whatever unforeseen foe which had come to threaten her. His eyes flashed a quick amber only to disappear into an abyss of violet as he saw the flushed smile on the young dojo masterºs face. He had not even taken the time to feel if her shout had been one of joy and not of terror.
Kaoruºs wonderful ebony hair had been tossed with the wind she had created as she ran back to the dojo still managed to perfectly frame pinkish features of exertion. Kenshin looked down to see empty hands, obviously the shopping trip had been canceled for whatever news she had. He gave her a questioning look.
»There are some traveling performers in town. They were giving a demonstration in town for their show. Flips and somersaults and juggling! It was so neat,¡ Kaoru answered quickly. then she noticed Kenshin was holding his weapon and blushed at her childish behavior over something so insignificant. She turned nearly cherry red as she saw the amusement in Kenshinºs eyes before coming up with a somewhat mature answer, »I mean it was really very interesting and i thought Yahiko would really enjoy it. So I was thinking about getting tickets and iºd like to know if you want to come too. theyºd be for tomorrow.¡
»Of course, Miss Kaoru. Sessha would love to go with you and Yahiko to see some acrobats. Thank you. You neednºt have had to ask sessha.¡ she could be so young sometimes then so adult at others. He smiled happily at Kaoru and she grinned brightly back before walking past him to slide open the door.
»Well thatºs good «cuz I already got them,¡ she said nonchalantly as she removed her sandals in order to enter the house.
Kenshin, of course, face faulted.
****
Kaoru hadnºt been able to help rushing back home to share her »discovery¡ with Kenshin. But now as she sat in her room brushing her hair, she was truly beginning to regret her rashness. How was she supposed to have Kenshin think of her as anything but a tomboy, irrational, unwomanly, bossy child if she continued to act like that? Sheºd just have to try harder to get him to see her as something else; as something he wanted, something he cared for more than in any sisterly fashion, something much more than what she acted like.
He looked at me like he was humoring a little girl when we were outside, Kaoru thought as she braided her hair back again and laid back down to sleep.
»When is he going to see that Iºm not,¡ she mumbled tiredly and fell into slumber and dreams of her beloved Rurouni.
****
Kaoru had decided when she woke up that she would get angry at anyone for the whole day. She would take the high road and count to twenty whenever she was enraged. If she was lucky, she would be able to pull it off and seem more sophisticated.
Most sadly, she was not so fortunate.
Kenshin noticed Kaoruºs restrained demeanor as breakfast began but made no comment. Yahiko however was unable to resist testing her.
»Hey whatºs wrong with you today, ugly?¡
»Nothing, Yahiko.¡ Kaoru tightened her grip on her chopsticks. 1-2-3-
When Yahiko didnºt get the response he wanted he began to goad her more intensely
»Did you break your mirror today when you looked into it this morning or something.¡
4-5-6- »No.¡
»That wouldnºt get you angry anyway, I mean after all that happens every morning.¡
»...¡ 7-8-9
»You must be tired. i didnºt think youºd get enough sleep last night. Calling out Kenshinºs name while you were sleeping and all.¡
Slam went the bokken. Crack went the skull. Down went the Yahiko. Blush went the ex-hitokiri.
She didnºt even make it to ten.
»What did you just say?¡ Kaoru seethed. With this, she began to chase Yahiko around the table, then through the halls and all around the dojo, »750 perfect strokes, NOW. No lunch and you will scrub all the floors till i can see my pretty face in them.¡
Kenshin allowed himself a private chuckle as the routine returned to normal and he picked up the dishes. He looked outside to see Kaoru laughing triumphantly at Yahikoºs battered training form, calling out commands and corrections. Her figure demanded his attention.
The young samurai was very wrong, Kaoru was the most beautiful creature ever to walk the earth. Everything about her attracted him, if only he was younger, if only he had more to offer than death and blood to her. If only he deserved her...
If you donºt who does, asked the reasonable part of him, sometimes known as battousi.
I donºt know. she just needs someone who can make her laugh all the time, someone who protects her, who doesnºt make her cry or worry, that she does.
Two out of four isn't bad.
That it isnºt. but it still is not good enough.
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She looked out into the crowd before joining their rush. The biggest crowd they had ever had, she believed. Kimonos of all colors making patchwork in her vision. Their kiºs like undone threads wrapping upward and around their bodies, as different as fingerprints. Some scarred, some perfect, some devious, so fragile, so strong.
It was only one she truly wanted to feel. Only one she needed to know existed before she went to her assigned seat. Had he done what all the others before him had or was it just rumors? She had to know and tonight she would learn if he lived. Soon she would learn if he did indeed have the same knowledge as her.
Just as the stars were finding their way into the velvet Japanese skies and she was about to give up, she felt it. His ki wrapped protectively around him and two others, restrained to hide what he wanted no other to see. But to one trained to look for his kind specifically, it was a beacon in the darkness. Screaming its way to her mind through the endless impure shadows all others did cast. The other two he was with had it as well, the female more than the boy but both had great potential. A warriorºs spirit.
She took a seat on the splinter giving bleachers opposite from her subjects. she never spared them a glance as they, too, sat. Only felt them out through their spirits, every emotion, every thought at her grasp.
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Yahiko had been surprised when the hag had informed them of where they would be going that night. He had almost felt sorry for having teased her this morning. . . well almost. He had been afraid that Kenshin and his sensei had had a fight or something leading to Kaoruºs restrained behavior. In his mind they still had but all had returned to normal. And now they were all sitting down waiting for the show to start, one happy family. To his right, though, his »family¡ were having problems of their own.
Due to the fact that there was very little space on the benches. And unless you were as small as Yahiko it was impossible to sit next to someone without touching them. Kaoru wouldnºt have minded so much if Kenshin wasnºt being so distant. He was nearly falling off the other side of the bench just to keep from brushing arms, as if disgusted by her touch. She felt like crying but kept it in. Crying was not something a dojo master like her did in these kind of predicament. But still, did he dislike her that much?
Little did she know her thoughts couldnºt be further from the truth.
Kaoru was looking good tonight in her midnight kimono patterned with white lotus blossoms and her hair let down to her waist. Very good. Great. So great in fact Kenshin had to do his best to keep his distance lest he wrap an arm around her then and there in public. Kaoru didnºt deserve that kind of scandal, so he had managed to keep away casually until now. Now half of him was off the bench, which was unbelievably painful and took all his attention. And how exactly did the most famous ex-assain in all of Japan get into this situation?
When she had walked out of her room like that he had found that he had forgotten how to breath, how to walk, what even his name was. The only thing he had remembered was how to stare into her cerulean eyes. He had only been brought out of this self induced hypnotism when Yahiko had again started a fight with Kaoru causing here to chase his around the dojo in her tobi until he apologized. Which he hadnºt anyway. Finally they just left in order not to be late for the show. Kenshin politely withdrawn, or so he thought.
Suddenly all the lanterns leading to the benches were blown out at once, leaving the spectators in complete darkness. Kaoru yelped slightly in surprise and Kenshin looked looked to make sure she and Yahiko were still all right, his eyes keening to the new dimness easily. Then the drums began, deep and reverberating through the night air, slowly quickening the heartbeats of the crowd and animating the darkness. It was frightening but in a good way.
Small paper lantern made to fly as kite through the air rose outward and upward to the sky to join the brethren already their. The drums were joined by native and foreign wind and stringed instruments. All blending together to produce a sound as eerie as the atmosphere and as deafening as thunder.Just as the energy seemed to be leaving , as the last paper lantern floated away and the percussion softened, another burst swept through the surroundings and torches lit up the ground full of acrobats and acts that followed in beat with the music. Yahiko, Kaoru, and Kenshin gasped at the sudden change of light. If this was anything like what Kaoru had seen while in town, her pleasure and excitement had been an understatement to the excitable organized chaos these people did cast.
Despite the chill the evening would often give off, the closeness of the audience and the torches flaming around them brought un almost unlivable heat around them. Light dimly dancing across the faces of jugglers and acrobats as the flames of torches flickered giving off the distinct impression of a pleasurable hell.Foreign animals with impossible shapes were lead out to do the most impossible things at their trainerºs command. To tell the nationality of any of the performer was impossible as their faces had been painted thickly and brightly with every color found in a prism. Their hair dyed to match the artistic swirled on their skin.
Things began to wind down , the acts flipping their way into the darkness outside the light as the animals were ridden in choreographed full speed away. even the music softened. Suddenly the stage was empty and a few people stood to leave assuming the show was over when a pudgy middle aged man dressed elaborately ran from the shadows into the center preparing to speak. Unknowingly, Kenshin had inched away from the edge and closer to Kaoru caught in her joy and anticipation.
»Ladies and Gentlemen,¡ he boomed in clear formal Japanese catching everyoneºs, even the exitersº attention, »We hope you have enjoyed this nightºs performance but before we leave we have but one more act or rather demonstration.¡ He turned slightly and motioned.
All the performers that had previously left came back each carrying a stone or a wooden board. Within minutes a solid floor had been set up and the loud man was joined by another much larger much more muscular man on it.
»Our tiger tamer, James, is the strongest among us and claims that he can beat any challenger who approaches him. Weºd like to test this assumption,¡ said the loud man, »So might we have any volunteers from the audience? Anyone who wishes to show his strength? the winner will be compensated.¡ Kenshin felt this new manºs battle ki surge slightly; he was powerful, yes, but no threat to him. He was surprised when Kaoruºs hand didnºt shoot up with the others. He might have asked her about it later if she didnºt explain right there.
»If no one can beat the arrogant pig, Iºll do it but Iºd rather watch tonight.¡ Kenshin was almost ashamed to be relieved at this.
A few of the known dojo masters stood up to try their luck but since it was hand to hand combat most of them were crush by the big James, who had turned out to be much quicker than anyone had thought by his gallumping frame.
There seemed no one else left to challenge him, he smiled in victory and the loud man seemed forlorn. Kaoruºs hand was poised to go up when one other did and so she kept hers safely pinned to her side next to Kenshin. The loud man looked up to see this and laughed out right before motioning for the person to come down escorted as the others had been by a random jester with a torch to the ring.
The man was short, not too delicate but petite from where the residents of dojo were looking from. He appeared to be young, older than Kaoru but young, perhaps in his late twenties, early thirties. His hair was black as the night and tied in a high ponytail, tightly. His gi and Hakama was of the darkest navy and loose enough that he seemed to be floating towards the ring. He stared at the crowd that looked at him in disbelief. Even Kenshin had his doubts he could barely sense this personºs ki, he didnºt stand a chance. But as the startling green eyes of the challenger scraped across his own violet ones he knew differently. As the green eyed fighter took his stance on the floor and pronounced his name as simply Akira, Kenshin became intrigued.
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The stage had been set.
She was ready for some fun at least now that she had the eyes of the spectators she wanted. She saw Jamesºs ki tremor ever so slightly in fear. She knew he hated this part of the show, having to show false bravado when this unlikely opponent took the stage. He was afraid of the pain she doled out in the name of being convincing. So afraid that often he would lose to some hometown hero just to escape fighting her. But now as the scent of sweat and pity stretching as far as she could feel. Too bad she couldnºt really fight James, too bad she wasnºt allowed to toy with his psyche before she brought him down or even really throw a good punch. Too bad for her.
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James charged in semi-berserker rage at Akira as he had with all the other. Akira used his back as a springboard to somersault away from the attack. he held up his fists on the other side of his opponents ready for another assault. Jamesºs technique changed and he became more thoughtful movement. Every punch and kick was still dodge expertly with feats of fluid acrobatics. Each done slowly enough so that the audience could get an eye full.
Kenshin saw that Akira was holding back, Kaoru saw as well after a few minutes and both looked at each other wondering the same thing: Why?
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This was becoming boring and useless. James hadnºt improved and she was becoming restless. Sheºd end it now. As he passed her once more she whispered a quiet apology so at he knew it was coming.
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James tried to rush her again in a last desperate effort. Akira simply back-springed away no emotion on his face. Falling downward swiftly at the very edge of the ring and sliding a single leg out for a drop kick which went undodged. James fell hard and fast. He rolled on his back to find a foot poised at his wind pipe ready to crush it at any moment. Perfectly balanced on one sandaled foot.
The audience gave a collective gasp, followed by cheers and hoots at this underdog who had brought down the unbeatable. As well as some jealous murmuring which was only to be expected.
Akira hadnºt even broken a sweat or gotten his clothes dirty through out the whole fight. Still he remained expressionless. Stony and cold. The loud man raised his arm and announced Akira as winner.
More shouts and cheers even from Kaoru and Yahiko this time. Akira looked up directly into Kenshinºs with his deep emerald ones which seemed to be scanning his soul. The strange green eyed man was the first to look away in order he followed the loud man away to get his prize. As they stood to leave Kaoru spoke to Kenshin, »Iºve never seen him before in the city. Have you?¡ Kenshin shook his head.
»Hey, hag,¡ Yahiko said as they left the benches, »The pretty boy fights even better than you!¡ He laughed lightly until Kaoru fists made contact with his head. She was dragging and swirly eyed Yahiko by his arms when they heard the argument from one of the brightly painted carts.
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»What do you mean you wonºt pay me for this week, Christoph,¡ she said
»I simply do not have the money to compensate you for your services at the moment, Hiraoka-san...¡ said Christoph, who soundly oddly like the loud man.
»My ass you donºt,¡ Aiko nearly yelled , »Youºre just afraid Iºll run away with it since Iºm back in my homeland and youºll lose your precious prize fighter.¡
»I am surprised at such accusations,¡ Christoph said silkily looking at her almost lecherously, »although I had heard rumors.¡
»From whom? Anna? Mirai? Keiko? Real reliable sources if it was any of them!¡
»Now you listen here, Aiko. Weºve taken good care of you since you came wandering out of Kyoto dazed and useless,twenty-one years ago. You can wait one more week to be paid, canºt you?¡ anger was rising in his voice.
»Twenty-one years, is right, thatºs how long Iºve been enslaved by you for who knows what reason. And Iºve never tried to escape, never complained about the thin blankets or the lack of food as you lived richly off us. But I canºt take it anymore, Christoph, the way you treat everyone. We were friends remember that? We all were friends. Sam and Mary-chan and Sou-kun and you and me. What the hell happened?¡
»We all got old, baka and retired. All of us but you, who doesnºt look or act a day over thirty! Dammit, so youºll stay with my circus until the day you die! if you ever do.¡
»So thatºs what this is about? Your way of controlling me? You must know that I canºt stand being caged Bucolli-san. Youºve made a mistake, know that if you know nothing else! Iºm never coming back.¡ Aiko stormed out of the cart enraged.
The rumors had been true, that she would leave once she was home in Japan but heºd never know that. the argument had however served as a decent farewell and reason for leaving where before want going to give any.
Unfortunately in her anger Aiko didnºt look where she was going and ran straight into Kaoru.
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Kaoru stumbled back only resisting falling because Kenshin steadied her. The person who had ran into her wasnºt so lucky though and fell down hard to the ground. She let out a string of obscene curses both foreign and native.
Kaoru stared with wide eyes at the green eyes of the fighter from the ring. The clothes were the same, as were the eyes and the hair. The only difference was that this personºs features were clearly feminine. She stood slowly, rubbing her lower back.
»Gomen nasai for my clumsiness and subsequent language,¡ she said and bowed deeply to Kenshin, Kaoru and the now very aware Yahiko. He broke the awkward silence that followed the apology.
»Cool, its you! The fighter who beat that muscle man,¡ exclaimed Yahiko excitedly and Kenshin watched as Yahiko hero worship shifted to a new subject.
»Yahiko-chan I donºt-¡ began Kaoru before she was interrupted by the ecstatic young samurai who did not even notice being called chan.
»It was so neat how you dodged that guy so easily with all those flips and acrobatics. Where did you learn to do all that? Is it hard ºcuz Iºd like to know how-¡ He rambled on. The slightest glimmer of amusement appeared on her face.
»Itºs good to know i have at least one fan,¡ she said her anger removed by the admiration of Yahiko. She placed her hands on her hips and laughed a little, although never baring a true smile.
»I just donºt understand why you had to fight as a man,¡ he said almost dismayed, »Busu here owns a dojo and never has too...¡
»Its a long story, kid. If I ever see you again Iºll tell you the whole thing. Now if you will excuse me, I must find an inn for the night. It was been a long time since I have been in Tokyo and I have a feeling somethings have changed.¡ She bowed again and began to walk off when that blasted sympathy for the abandoned ran through Kaoru and she grabbed the leaving womanºs arm.
»Please, If you donºt have any place to go at the moment-was it Hiraoka-san?-Iºd be happy to let you stay with us.¡
When Aiko only looked back with a shocked expression Kaoru compensated, »If only for the night. It is kind of late.¡
»You shouldnºt take strangers in so simply,¡ Aiko said coldly voicing Kenshinºs thoughts buried deep within his mind but then she looked a bit more amicable and even a little mischievous as she said, »but Iºll come if I wonºt be imposing.¡ She looked pointedly at Kaoruºs elbow still covered with Kenshinºs hand. Both blushed and jumped away from each other as they stammered of-course-nots. »Call me Aiko,¡ she said as her eyes danced. She bowed once more. »If there is anything I can do for you, name it.¡
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Okey dokey thatºs done. Well it didnºt suck badly, right? Right? ::crickets chirp and wolves howl:: Crap, oh well.
Um, I know that I spelled chi as ki but its the same thing okay. Its been done before and it will be done again. You got a problem with that, punk? Didnºt think so. ::FC flexes her mighty author muscles::
K and K sound a little lovelorn donºt they? hmmm Iºll have to fix that but keep in mind this is merely my interpretation of their story. Megumi and sano will appear soon as well as some more familiar faces.
Wormwood- *cough* Misao *cough* Aoishi *cough*
FC: Shut up, theyºre not supposed to know yet. Its called mystery.
Wormwood: More like you donºt know what the heck youºre writing next.
FC: What did you just say? *pulls out hyper-dimensional frying pan*
Wormwood: err, nothing. Nothing, Great and might FC.
FC: Funny i thought you said you think i might enjoy Muse Au gratin for dinner tonight. . .
Wormwood: Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuun Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!
The next update might be shorter. but it will be on time.
Love (and donuts) always, FC.