Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Two Gumis ❯ Into the Woods ( Chapter 16 )

Haruka took off knowing that Kenshin would follow to ask the questions she could see in his eyes. Damn! Of all the accursed luck I was right!! I guess I'll have to tell him something, but what? These thoughts raced through her head as she continued running towards the glade in the forest. Best to tell him the truth I guess, after all with his training he'll be able to detect any lie I try and concoct for him. Finally she reached the glade and sat down on the shattered stump to wait for him to arrive, knowing him he would have stayed to reassure Kaoru and the others before following.

 

 

Kenshin hurried to follow Haruka needing an explanation. How? How is it she knows that style? It has only passed from a single master to a single apprentice. His thoughts ran in circles even as he ran lightly after Haruka, he had known without being told that she did not want to explain herself infront of the others both of his `gumi' and the group she had come with.

 

“So you did find this place” Kenshin stated as he followed Haruka into the glade were he took out his frustrations. She was seated on the shattered stump of what had been a large tree gazing up at the moon.

 

“Ne Kenshin what do you think of when you see the moon?” Haruka asked as he entered, her eyes glancing down and to the side towards where the man stood.

 

Kenshin, startled, countered, “Why ask me that? It has no relevance on this evening's battle, and no bearing on the situation now before us. Who are you? How do you know that style, it has been passed only from Master to Apprentice for generations any unworthy Apprentices were killed so how!?”

 

“Please just answer the question Kenshin.” Haruka requested as she continued gazing at the moon.

 

“And if I don't,” Kenshin asked quietly, “what then?”

 

“Nothing we merely sit here all night not talking, with you growing ever more suspicious of me and those I travel with. In the morning we will leave and you will see no more of us, although you might still be targets…but I digress. The choice is yours Kenshin either answer the question or never know the answers to your own.” Haruka said her voice devoid of all emotion, as though merely stating statistics.

 

There is no reason not to answer her question, even though it does seem strange. Kenshin thought a bit longer his mind whirling then he looked up at the moon and began to speak. “Memories of times both happy and sad, times during the Bakamatsu, times here with Kaoru and the others.” Kenshin replied, and without truly thinking asked, “What about you? What do you think of when you see the moon?”

 

“Memories as well,” Haruka replied then uttered a soft sad sigh and continued, “Happy memories tinged with sadness, tainted by an overwhelming sorrow and an enveloping grief that will never end.”

 

Startled by this confession Kenshin and Haruka remained quiet for a moment.

 

Kenshin broke the silence, “So how did you come to learn of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu?” He asked as he turned his eyes from the moon.

 

“I'll tell you, if you'll answer one last question for me.” Haruka countered, as she continued to gaze at the moon. “What do you see when you see the moon?”

 

Kenshin could feel the pain and anguish pouring off of her, so he answered, facing the moon again. “These days I see a beautiful orb that glows softly and gently shedding its light on lovers, friends, fun, and best of all peace.” He looked at her, “what do you see when you look at the moon?”

 

“I see a once beautiful gem pitted and scarred, a pale shadow, a mockery of it's former glory. Yes the moon glows softly and it could, perhaps be beautiful, but to me it is a light, once pure, now marred by the deepest of shadows. I see the broken hearts and lives of millions, the desolate loneliness of a place that once sheltered many but is now accursed and forbidden. I see the abandoned ruins of a beautiful pearl once overflowing in beauty and light, the hope of millions upon millions, destroyed, damaged, defaced and defiled.” Was Haruka's answer, her sadness evident in every word.

 

“As for how I know Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, well that is a very long tale. Tell me what do you know of its' origins?” Haruka continued as she glanced briefly at Kenshin before facing the moon again.

 

Kenshin was confused, not only by Haruka's answer, where he could feel every word like a knife cutting into his heart, but also by her abrupt change in subject. How is it possible? Her words so full of pain and sorrow, why? What hurt her so badly that every word she speaks feels like shattered glass pressed against my heart?

 

Still he wanted, no needed, to know how she knew the `Hiten' style, so he answered to the best of his ability, “It is a style that has been passed down from master to student for generations each adding to and perfecting it. It is a style created to defend those unable to defend themselves, no one knows the true origins though there is a legend that it came from a world other then this one hence the names meaning of `Heaven's Sword'.” Kenshin answered, “That is what my Master Hiko told me long ago.”

 

“Heh, very true that it has been around for a long time, probably it has been around for far longer then you could imagine.” Haruka said turning to look at Kenshin fully she studied his eyes carefully. “If I tell you this tale you must promise not to interrupt no matter how fantastic or unbelievable it seems also you must swear never to reveal your knowledge not even to your master. Will you agree to that?”

 

“If that is the only way you're willing to tell me how you learned the sword style then yes I swear I won't reveal the knowledge not even to my master and I shall listen.” Kenshin answered his voice devoid of humor as his Rurouni persona had been put away for a bit.

 

Haruka gave him an ironic half-smile before she looked at the moon once again before beginning her tale.

 

“Long ago, so long ago that it is no longer remembered now, the Moon was a perfect jewel no shadows to mar its pale surface as there are now. There was a Kingdom upon it called Silver Millennium and Earth was one Kingdom as well.” Haruka glanced briefly at Kenshin, his disbelief plain on his face. “I told you you'd have a hard time believing this story, should I continue?” Kenshin nodded, fascinated and skeptical both, this tale held all the elements of a legend, and he had always believed that in legends there were at times grains of truth.

 

“The Moon kingdom was ruled by a beautiful Queen and her equally lovely daughter, Queen Serenity and Princess Serenity, their court was comprised of the people whose spirits are guarded by specific planets either called Scouts for the females or Knights for the males or when all were together Senshi. Now the tale truly begins, for well over three thousand years ago there was a Scout called Uranus, the Sword-Master Orion said that she was a natural and as such for her Master's work she would develop her own Sword style no matter how long it would take.”

 

After saying this Haruka stood and walked over to where Kenshin stood listening. “I think perhaps you'd best sit to listen to the rest as I said it is a long tale.” She strode over to a log that had fallen and was now covered with a soft layer of moss and gestured to Kenshin to take a seat before sitting herself.

 

“Uranus became obsessed with creating the new style that her Sword Master Orion wanted her to develop, she tried new unheard of actions with a blade many times while still injured from the last time she had tried it. It got to be so bad that the Queen Serenity threatened to tie her to a bed in the infirmary if she didn't allow herself to properly heal.” Haruka startled Kenshin again by chuckling softly almost ironically.

 

“Finally after four centuries of trial and error she succeeded in creating a new sword style, one that combined her speed which was that of the fastest Wind and the elegance and grace of her friend and partner Neptune. Some centuries passed and she spent time on Earth, although it was forbidden. She met a swordsman on Earth and fell in love. They discussed sword styles and foolishly she taught her style to him when he asked what it was she told him she merely called it “Heavens' Sword” as she was the Scout of the Heavens Sailor Uranus. She begged him not to show or teach it to anyone else and he agreed.”

 

“She returned to the Moon Kingdom and was assigned to be the leader of the Outer Senshi to fade from all knowledge of the others at court; her only contacts outside her position were her partner Neptune, her elder and wise friend Pluto and her beautiful Queen Serenity. Theirs was a lonely duty much given to solitude and many battles, they faded from all memory and Uranus believed that her style of swordsmanship would die with her.”

 

“However, it was not to be, for her lover Hiko had betrayed his promise to her and had taught her style to the four guardian generals of the Princes of Earth and they in turn had taught it to their successors, he had also taught it to his son called Hiko as well.” Haruka's voice had gone flat and seemingly emotionless but it was the false emotionless of one who had been severely traumatized, Kenshin recognized it from his time in the Bakkamatsu and wondered just how she had been hurt by the action of one who may or may not have existed.

 

“Uranus only learned of his betrayal when centuries later the people of Earth were raised to fury by an Evil named Beryl the self styled Queen of the Negaverse given power by Metallia. The four guardian generals were in the forefront of the slaughter that took place on that awful day. Their swords cleaving the bodies of the Scouts and Knights impossibly fast for no one remembered the style except three and those three were forbidden to leave their posts. They could only watch in horror as their beloved home which they had fought for, for so long was destroyed.” After having said this Haruka paused and seemed to have a hard time continuing.

 

After a few moments had passed her voice continued in that same flat tone, tension poured off of her in waves that would have overwhelmed anyone weaker then Kenshin. “They were forced to watch as Beryl killed Prince Endymion, the King of Earth's successor, and Princess Serenity's forbidden love. As they continued their helpless vigil, watched as in sorrow, Princess Serenity ended her own life. Fueled by anger and grief the Queen was able to seal the Evil away and send the souls of those of her court to the future.”

 

Here Haruka paused again and seemed to be collecting herself to be able to continue. “Those that had been able only to watch were now free of that which bound them to their posts, they gathered in sorrow around the fallen form of their beloved Queen, amidst the ruins of their once beautiful home. They had with them three talismans which began to resonate, and they could only stand and watch, once more, in amazed horror as the talismans unlocked the forbidden one, Sailor Saturn soldier of death and rebirth. Slowly she dropped her scythe and all on the moon was turned to dust.”

 

Kenshin couldn't stand not interrupting anymore, “What has this to do with how you know the Hiten style? I am having a hard time believing your tale of its' origins.” He looked at Haruka impatiently. I came here to hear the truth not some fanciful made up story!

 

“I told you it was a hard tale to swallow,” Haruka said irony rich in her voice. “But to continue, many millennia passed and finally the Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were reborn,” Hmmm I don't think that I'll tell him about us being from the future that may be just a little to much for him to swallow. “They had no memory of their past until they were awakened to once again fight Evil. Eventually they met others from the court and have been fighting by their side. Now we come to how I can prove to you that all I have said is true.”

 

And with that last statement she stood and walked into the center of the clearing. Kenshin watched in amazement as Haruka seemed to pluck an object from the air.

 

“URANUS CRYSTAL POWER MAKE-UP” she shouted and before Kenshin could puzzle out what exactly she had said an amazing transformation took place before his eyes.(1)

 

Haruka looked at him and said quietly, “Hitokiri Batousai Himura Kenshin now called Rurouni allow me to introduce Sailor Uranus Leader of the Outer Senshi, Soldier of the Heavens and creator of The Heavens sword now called Hiten Mitsuruugi Ryu and the one responsible for the downfall of Silver Millennium.”

 

Author's Notes:

 

You can just imagine the transformation okay `cause I don't want to spend my time writing it.

 

Hahahaha what evilness what a beautiful place to end this chapter! Seriously this scene has been in my head ever since I started writing this fic and now I finally have it down on paper!

 

Actually I wrote this right after the breakfast scene with Mamorou cooking because it wouldn't stay out of my head and wait its turn to be written. For those of you who never read the Sailor Moon manga yes that's were I took the Scene of Silver Millennium's destruction from.

 

And yes although Michiru and Haruka are partners and lovers it also states in the manga that Haruka is both male and female, so that means that if I want her to have a male lover then she'll have a male lover. Alrighty back to writing the fic!