Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ To Prove You Wrong ❯ An Ordinary Swordsman ( Chapter 5 )

By: EvilNekoeatsYourSoul

Author's note: I really did try my best so if you find this chapter terrible and completely unbelievable then tell me what you think I can do to make it better. In all actuality I know next to nothing about fighting styles and whatnot so I had to just use my imagination and hope it all sounded good. So reviews really would be appreciated on this chapter, which is mostly fighting. Thanks!

Last time: She couldn't help it, Kaoru gasped as she released the breath she had been holding. For those four seconds he had paused, she thought the world had ended. In that short amount of time she had become a horrible person who wished for nothing but death. She had felt betrayed. But when he finished his sentence, when he told those two strangers what he had hid from her for so long, she felt calm. She realized why he had such a hard time showing her his feelings. It explained so much about his actions and kindness; his need to help everyone. Now more then ever, she was determined to get him back.

Only one problem, she felt the tip of a blade pressed against her back

Chapter 5: An Ordinary Swordsman

~*~

Misao thrashed against the bonds of her would-be captors arms. His lips brushed against the nape of her neck. It sent a shiver down her body and he released her. Immediately, several kunais were between her fingers and being thrown. The dark figure dodged every one of them. Apparently he was unarmed because he came at her with his bare hands. She was barely able to maneuver effectively within the confines of her kimono but she did manage to hop to the side before he got another hold on her.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she faced her opponent. There was no way she could defend herself for very long while wearing the kimono. The attacker seemed to stalk her as she eyed him warily. He lunged forward again and instead of dodging she threw a kunai hoping his close proximity would prevent him from dodging.

He was quick; it just grazed his arm. She didn't even see him flinch. It all happened quickly, her legs were kicked out from under her, she fell and was caught by Aoshi and he leaned towards her until his lips brushing against her own. Her hair had fallen from its bun and now lay in disarray around her. Tangling his fingers in her hair he brought their lips together in a light chaste kiss. Misao groaned and was about to bring her knee up to hit him in the abdomen, but one of his large, calloused hands was holding her leg down.

"Now, Misao, talk."

She almost laughed but also she had the insane urge to sob. The tears almost fell from her deep blue eyes, but anger soon took sorrows place and she pushed up against his chest.

"Get off of me."

He stood with all his agile grace and offered her a hand, which she ignored as she stood on her own.

"Now you want to talk? Don't make me laugh, Aoshi. I couldn't get you to say two words to me before I left Kyoto, what's changed since then?"

It was confusing, to say the least. She had left Kyoto to escape the hurt his silence had caused and now he had followed her to Tokyo to talk? Misao was about to tell him that but he spoke first.

"You are angry with me."

That was an understatement. The young ninja rolled her eyes, turning her back to him. Just as he had done to her so many times.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. I'm tired of it, it's like talking to a locked door. You never let me in, not even when I bore my heart out to you. All you ever do is turn away from me."

"Misao, stop being childish."

She turned on him, for the first time truly furious with his harsh judgment of her. Before it had been hurt, now it was anger radiating from her eyes. Her palm connected with his cheek in a resounding `smack.'

"Then stop treating me like a child," her voice was dripping with venom. "Perhaps it's you that needs to grow up now."

A feeling almost like regret filled her at the shocked look he wore. For once she had gotten through the barriers he surrounded himself with, but somehow it wasn't the victory she had always imagined it would be. She had always hoped to get through with her heart, but seeing the startled, almost hurt expression he wore she suddenly didn't know who he was.

Before she knew what she was doing her palm was resting against his cheek, this time it caressed the flesh that was still red from her blow. She found herself stunned by the fact that relief flooded her when he once again took on his look of indifference. Misao turned to leave, but stopped at the door when Aoshi spoke.

"Misao, I-" but he was cut off when the young ninja held a hand up to silence him.

"Aoshi, go back to Kyoto. I'm tired of talking to your back all the time and I've given up the hope that you will ever change. Tell Okina not to worry, I will return when I'm ready."

He didn't try to stop her as she silently opened the door and slipped out into the dimly lit hall.

~*~

She wasn't really frightened, although a lump had formed in her throat. She swallowed it and stood up straight.

"Don't turn around." The voice behind her ordered. To make his point, the blades tip pressed more firmly into her back. Kaoru nodded at the unsaid warning. A nervous giggle escaped her as she tried to act her part as a geisha.

"Ano…"

"Don't speak, open the door and step inside." She did as she was told. A rough shove sent her to her knees. Kaoru sat there, silently trembling with rage. In front of her two men stood eyeing her warily. Between them sat Kenshin. The rurouni's eyes had a distant look to them as his gaze fell upon her. She half expected him to call her name out. Instead he smiled lazily at her before speaking.

"Look, a geisha."

Kaoru's mouth was hanging open. `What did they do to Kenshin?' she thought angrily. Her thoughts were disrupted when a blunt object, probably the sheath for the man's katana, poked her in the ribs. In her anger she grabbed the piece of wood digging into her ribs. So much for her guise as a geisha, she stood as quickly as her kimono allowed and yanked the sheath from the startled man's grasp.

Seconds later it connected with his head. He fell and lay there unconscious. `That should teach him to push women around.' Kenshin's guards seemed to be in shock. They stood there for a little while with their mouths agape. Kaoru took the time to call out to her missing friend.

"Misao," she shouted, "I found Kenshin, hurry!" She eyed the two men across of her warily, they both held their katanas as they slowly advanced on her. One was to her left and the other to her right. By their stance she knew they were trained. `This isn't looking so good.' She thought, hoping Misao had heard her and was on her way.

Wishing she had her shinai with her, Kaoru settled for the wooden sheath in her hands. It was a bit hard to grip, being that it was thinner then the handle on her shinai. She held it out before her in a defensive stance. It looked like she was on her own for a little while at least.

She studied them as they approached her, in her mind she was deciding which had a weaker defense. A flaw was found in the younger man's position. He held his katana a little too far away from his body. It left his left side open since his partner was at his right Kaoru decided not to tempt fate by getting in between them. She started to lunge forward and to her right, but ended falling in front of the younger man. He would have kicked her, but she rolled away in time. `Damn this stupid kimono!'

Not only had it tripped her, but it prevented her from standing quickly. Just as she saw a hand coming down to grab her, two things happened. First she saw Kenshin stand, his voice deep and throaty as he yelled.

"Kaoru-dono." But he swayed dangerously and fell back against the wall. The two guards exchanged glances before looking back to her. Next, a kunai came and imbedded itself in the arm of the man closest to her. Kaoru stood as quickly as she could in the kimono and rushed towards her friend.

"Misao-chan, give me a kunai." The ninja handed one of her kunai's over to Kaoru.

"I only have three left, Kaoru." The older girl nodded and hastily cut the obi sash around her waist, letting the heavy material of her inner and outer kimono fall to the floor. Beneath it she wore the usual blue hakama pants she trained in, the gi had been left at home since it was too big to fit within the sleeves of her kimono. Her breasts were covered in the usual white cotton she used to bind them while practicing. (A/N: No, I'm not a pervert, well yes I am. . . but not in this story, besides I'm a girl and she's a girl and I don't swing that way. It's just easier for her to move around without the kimono, don't you think?)

Misao did the same, cutting the obi and watching the expensive cloth pool at her feet. She wore her usual blue ninja outfit.

"Save your kunai's Misao-chan, I can handle the other one."

Misao kept her eye on the wounded guard who had by now yanked the kunai out from his arm. It was bleeding rather badly, considering the fact that it wasn't a serious wound. Kaoru spared him a glance and for a second her heart softened.

"Misao-chan, help him bandage that."

"But Kaoru-"

"Please, Misao." The young ninja nodded and used part of her damaged obi to help bandage the minor wound on the younger man.

Kaoru nodded and again turned to face her opponent. He looked confused as he studied her. She waited patiently for him to make the first move. Somewhere in the background was the sound of Kenshin groaning as he sat slumped over and holding his head. Everyone was so caught up in what they were doing they didn't notice the new presence in the room.

The young kendo instructor cursed at herself as her arms were trapped to her sides. It also caused her to drop the katana sheath. `I'm such a baka.' She thought as the voice that met her ears was recognized.

"Now, what do we have here?" It was the voice of Kanagawa Toshiro, her supposed friend. Her heart lurched.

"But, Toshiro. . . How could you- I thought you were my friend. You helped me that day in the martket. . ." She sighed, knowing the answer. It had all been staged, all of it a ruse to gather information on Kenshin and the inhabitants of the dojo. He was never her friend.

His arms released her as he gripped her shoulders and spun her around.

"Kaoru, is that you?" He squinted as if trying to see her better. Unconsciously she put a hand to her face. The make-up. Of course he wouldn't recognize her, not like Kenshin had. She wondered idly, how Kenshin had seen through her disquise in his current state.

His face was grim as he began to wipe the white powder from her face with a handkerchief. Without water it took a bit more work to clear most of the powder from her face, but it didn't take long before her true features started to show. Her slightly tanned skin, the high cheek bones and her adorable nose. Before either of them could say anything Misao spoke.

"I suggest you let her go." A kunai rested against the throat of the man Misao had been helping. It was small, but the edge was sharp.

Kaoru pushed Toshiro away, kneeling at her discarded kimono to pick up her senssu. Holding it tightly in her grip she turned to Misao.

"Let him go Misao-chan. We will save Kenshin without taking any lives."

Misao released the young man. On the floor, the first man Kaoru had struck began to stir.

"Satoshi, get off the floor," said Toshiro. "Hideki and Kisho, help him. The three of you take the Battoussai and leave. I'll meet you at the specified location. Now go."

The eyes of the young kendo instructor met with the gaze of the man she once considered a friend.

"Misao will follow them, they won't be able to catch her. They won't even be able to see her." Kaoru had faith in her friend's abilities and training. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Misao nod.

No one moved. All was silent save for Kenshin's dazed murmuring. Toshiru drew his weapon, it's thin edge glinting in the candlelight. Kaoru watched as he took his stance. One of his feet placed forward, knees bent and his right arm stretched out, holding his sword. She studied the sword, it was thinner then a katana and had a longer length.

"It's called a rapier, Kaoru," he said, having seen her studying the weapon. "You've seen me use it. You know I'm proficient, will you still challenge me?"

She squared her shoulders, holding her head up straight. Her feet were a shoulder length apart and she held only her senssu in her white-knuckled grip. Answering with a nod, she met his gaze.

"Don't be foolish Kaoru. As much as you think I betrayed your friendship, I do really care for you. I will even take you with me if you want to come. That's what I wanted to ask you the other day."

She scoffed.

"There's only one man I love, and you aren't him."

There was an irritated edge to his voice as he spoke.

"You may be the master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, Kaoru. But you are still only a woman."

On the sidelines Misao laughed. He had no idea. Misao knew what Kaoru would say before the words left the kendo instructors mouth. She had heard it before when, together, they had defeated a member of Makoto Shishio's Juppon Gatana.

"You're wrong Toshiro-san, when I take off my ribbons and put on my fighting gear I'm neither a man nor a woman. I prepare myself for battle as an ordinary swordsman."

He nodded, not truly understanding but knowing her mind was set and she would not let them leave without a fight.

"Take a katana Kaoru. Man, woman or swordsman, I don't care. But I won't attack an unarmed opponent."

She shrugged and picked up the sheath she had dropped.

"I don't need a katana, but I will take this. I won't use a blade to protect those I love."

She took her stance once again, this time holding the sheath before her with the senssu tucked into her hakama. Toshiro took a step forward, testing her defenses with a swing of his rapier. It was easily blocked and the weapon was pushed aside since he had used very little power in the swing.

He took the offensive as he started to move within her range. The rapier being lighter, allowed him to make swift strokes and jabs at her. With two hands on the sheath Kaoru was finding it difficult to block. His movements were quick and as he got closer she was had to step back.

"Why protect him Kaoru? He is a killer, the legendary Hitokiri Battoussai who stole countless lives. But he's nothing now, just a symbol of this joke we call the Meiji era."

She ignored his words as she concentrated on his movements. He made a jab towards her left side, she took a step forward and to the right and swung the sheath until it made contact with his ribs. He grunted, but brought his rapier against the material of her hakama where it sliced part of the cloth.

"I could have sliced your leg, Kaoru or even your ribs. Give up; you cannot match me. You've never fought like this before."

Kaoru took a calm step backwards and once again took up her stance. Toshiro sighed and did the same. As much as possible he tried to ignore the pain in his ribs, she had probably bruised them. But he wasn't about to admit it. They began the dance again, with Toshiro slashing and Kaoru parrying awkwardly. His movements were a bit stiff now and Kaoru noticed it. As their weapons met, Kaoru put her weight into pushing his blade away so she could get into his defense and perhaps take his feet out from under him. But he brought his rapier down and slid the cool metal against Kaoru's skin.

Shocked, Kaoru dropped the sheath. A thin red slice ran from the base of her left wrist to her thumb. `Damnit!' she thought to herself. `What am I doing? I should have seen that one coming.'

Toshiro took a step away, straightening his back to stand at his full height.

"What now, Kaoru? You are defeated."

The master of the Kamiya Kashhin Ryu shook her head in disagreement. She pulled the senssu out from her hakama and opened it. Misao stood, kunai's in hand.

"No, Misao-chan. This isn't over yet."

Once again the room was silent, Toshiro looked irritated and Kaoru's breath was a bit ragged from the exertion of the fight and the adrenaline coursing through her. He took his stance again. `This is it, Kaoru,' she thought to herself. `The only trick left up your sleeve.'

She watched his movement as he lunged, swinging the rapier to Kaoru's left side. She brought the open senssu towards the weapon. The blade cut through the thin paper and met at the senssu's metal base. Kaoru closed the senssu on it and stepped forward, pushing the blade entrapped within the senssu up. He swung the blade to the right in an attempt to dislodge it and it met briefly with Kaoru's palm, she winced as another slice was made, this time on her left palm. But now within Toshiro's guard, she kicked his legs out from under him. He fell backwards, hitting his head against the tatami mats. Kneeling where she stood she once again picked up the sheath and brought it down between his neck and shoulder, the blow left him unconscious.

Feeling drained, Kaoru slumped forward for a second before standing. `Now to finish this.' Turning to face the rest of the group, Misao came to her side. There were three men left conscious now. One of them Misao had injured and also bandaged. He probably wouldn't be too much of a challenge now. One man Kaoru had already taken down once, he would probably still have a headache. The last, the eldest man of the group hadn't been involved in any of the violence yet. As she was about to speak to them a strong clear and somewhat perturbed voice came from across the room.

"Kaoru-dono?" She turned to him, his eyes were clearer now and he didn't sway as he stood. There was noise at the door and it opened to reveal three disgruntled males.

"Oh, Kami!" muttered Kaoru.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Author's note: Senssu is the Japanese folding fan. I got the idea of Kaoru using it as a weapon because it was a weapon for kunoichi's (female ninja's). For some basic information on the kunoichi you can go to: www(dot)warriorquest(dot)com(slash)kunoichi(dot)html