Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Battousai Unleashed ❯ Call of the Sword ( Chapter 3 )

Call of the Sword

"Miss Kaoru?!" Kenshin called.
He was searching for her with the aide of Yahiko and Sano. She had gone for a little walk about 3 hours ago and had yet to return. Frankly, after 2 hours he had already become worried. Sano had come by and he had enlisted his help to find her. So far, none of them had found a trace of her anywhere. Kenshin was becoming increasingly worried and suspicious that someone may have kidnapped her for the sword, or much worse.
"Found anything yet, Kenshin?" Sano asked, coming up to him.
"No. This is not good, Sano, that it is not. What could have happened to Miss Kaoru?"
"Hey, Kenshin! Sano! I found something!!" Yahiko called.
"Hai, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked.
"It's her ribbon...," he said, holding it up.
"Miss Kaoru's favorite indigo ribbon...," Kenshin whispered as he took it from Yahiko, "She would never leave this behind unless something where to have happened."
Kenshin's face hardened and his eyes narrowed dangerously. He would find Miss Kaoru, that he would. And we he did whoever had dared take her would surely pay. His pupils contracting to small pinpoints in the sea of lavender that were his eyes, Kenshin swiftly had Yahiko take him where he had found the ribbon.
That was several years ago. Despite the clues they had found by the river, they had never recovered Miss Kaoru. Sano had remained at the dojo with Yahiko in case she would ever return. Kenshin had set out on a quest to try to find her. No one took her disappearance well, least of all Kenshin.
He had blamed it on himself for allowing her to leave unprotected. And after having found the sword missing from the dojo, his fears were multiplied. But he would not give up hope. Miss Kaoru had to be alive, that she did. Or he knew not what would happen to him. Already the stress of losing her was pushing him over the thin line that separated him from his darker side. He could not allow that to happen.

Two years was a long time, yet not long enough if you really thought about it. It had been long enough for Tenryu to train the lovely vixen before him, yet not enough time for him to make her his. He sighed to himself. One of out two wasn't that bad. He was certain that if he stepped up his efforts, she would not refuse him.
He swiftly blocked a slash and countered with his own that she quickly parried. Their erotic sword dance continued, both equally matched in skill and wit. Eventually, however, only one could claim the victory. Kamiya Kaoru determined that she would be the victor. This time, she would show Tenryu that her training under him was complete. It had been an arduous journey and she had learned many lessons, but there comes a time when you simply had to leave the protective shell your sensei had created and show the world what you were made of.

*FLASH*
"Is this all you're capable of Kaoru-san?! Fight me!!" Tenryu roared as he lunged at her, blade dangerously glittering.
"I am fighting you!" she replied, countering.
Tenryu slashed and her sword went flying out of her grasp. He pointed his blade at her heart.
"I'm disappointed, Kaoru-san...," he whispered.
"Gomen ne, Tenryu-sensei...I will do better next time."
*FLASH*

Yes, it had begun as a very difficult task. However, her dedication and practice rewarded her immensely. Tenryu had never allowed her to touch the Hi Mei sword after taking her in. He said that she would not be allowed to use it until she could beat him in a duel. Kaoru had agreed to those terms, knowing he could teach her much. He was after all a Mitsurugi, a descendant of the clan that had created the Hiten Mitsurugi style. It never occurred to Kaoru that she was learning the art that Kenshin had perfected. She simply knew that she had made the decision to follow this man and learn from him, so that she could control the beck and call of the Hi Mei sword.
Tenryu was having the time of his life. This latest duel with Kaoru was unlike any fight he had before. Swords clashed in deafening booms and dangerous sparks. He could see the blue fire in her eyes, the desire to win. He longed for that desire to be directed at him. Through the time spent with Kaoru, he had fallen for her. He was a man of honor, however, and he had never forced himself upon her. He had tried valiantly to win her heart, but it seemed it had already been claimed by another. Lucky bastard, whoever he was.
"Hah!" Tenryu yelled as he flew at her with great speed, his blade slashing upwards.
"Ungh!" Kaoru grunted as she blocked the blade and spun rapidly, swinging her sword in an arc downward.
Tenryu barely had time to recover or dodge. Her blade nicked his forearm. He grunted and continued the duel. Both were deadly serious in this battle. Tenryu was determined to win to keep Kaoru with him as long as possible. Kaoru was determined to win to prove herself. With one final push off from both sides, their swords clashed in a brilliant spark of white light.
Kaoru pushed forward, her sword grinding against Tenryu's strenuously. Tenryu did the same. Both warriors were tired and sweat drenched their forms, but both would not give in. Kaoru decided it was now or never. Formulating a quick plan, she arched backward, letting his blade glide over hers and planting her foot on his stomach. Allowing gravity to take it's course, she fell downwards. The sudden lack of resistance and balance sent Tenryu falling forward onto her waiting foot. She tossed him over herself and used her blade to cartwheel backwards and land on his stomach with both feet. Her blade glittered as it hovered over his panting lips.
Tenryu smiled and closed his eyes, accepting defeat. His lovely Kaoru had learned all she needed to know from him. He had no doubts she could now wield the Hi Mei sword without it taking complete control of her. She was stronger than that.
Kaoru stepped off of him and helped him up.
"Tenryu-sensei..."
"You won, Kaoru-sensei," he addressed her, bowing.
Tenryu then went to a locked trunk, opening it and taking out the Hi Mei sword. He handed it to her with a charming smile. Kaoru smiled in return.
"You have learned all you need to know from me."
"Arigatou."
"What will you do now? Go back to your dojo?"
"I don't know," she replied, placing her sword at her side, "I miss everyone, but everything changed that night. It's feels like I don't belong there anymore. I'm a different person."
"Not that different, little one," Tenryu replied, "Would you consider staying with me?"
"Tenryu-sensei! I..."
"Shh..just think about it, little one. You know how I feel about you. I have a job to do now. I'll be back later tonight after I'm done."
Kaoru nodded and watched him leave. At first, she had been weary to know her sensei was a hired hit man. However, she came to accept it. So long as she herself never saw him at work, she could pretend it didn't really occur. But she knew that was just a flimsy excuse on her part. If she stayed, she knew what it would entail. She would soon join him in his line of work. Would she really do that?
Had it been a few years ago, she would have whole heatedly said no. However, now that her blade had tasted blood and her skills had been honed into that of a warrior, she wasn't so sure. The sword at her side pulsed red and her lips formed a thin line. Already it was calling her to battle and she had just received it once again. Perhaps...perhaps if she took Tenryu up on his offer, she could learn to wield the sword in actual battle and better dominate its power.