Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Hearts of Swords ❯ Chapter III - Balance ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

* * * R E C A P * * *

Could it be that there was such a person who could exceed his old friend in the
art of the sword?

Frowning at this new development, he began to contemplate what it would take to
persuade this...manslayer to join their ranks. He dismissed the soldier and
continued to let his mind process this information. His best-friend was dead,
and all he could think about was of strategies to manipulate this warrior into
his service. Swearing violently, he slumped back into his seat and buried his
head into his hands.

"What's *wrong* with me?!" he shouted.

'Why can't I feel...feel sorrow? Why...?'

He tried, really. Tried to make himself feel, tried to make himself cry, tried
to grieve for the friend that had been by his side since children, together
through this war and together through death. It seemed that his friend had
beaten him to the grave and left him here, alone and alive. Cursing bitterly
about his fate, he sat alone in the empty room.

For one, fleeting moment, he felt a burning hatred of his name as a Fukushima.


* * END CHAPTER II * *


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H E A R T S O F S W O R D S

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"Caught up in sorrow, lost in my soul..."

Chapter III - Balance
[Sengoku Period, 1512]


The bustle of the village was not lost on her. It was a regular day, filled
with busybodies and merchants. It was yet another routine day for the people of
Kyoto.

However, it was a day unlike any other.

After a month of traveling, she had finally reached Kyoto. Seven months of
terror, violence and bloodshed resulted in her successful arrival at Kyoto. It
was here that she would forge a new code to live by.

Inhaling the atmosphere and the air of her new "home", she began to walk to her
next destination; an inn. From there, she would figure out her long-term path
and hopefully, eat a meal.

* * * * *

Whistling merrily, she grinned as she tossed a cloth pouch into the air and
caught it on its descent. Yet another day of fresh rice and miso soup would be
greeting them. Jade green eyes twinkled with mirth as she ducked into a
building.

"Do we eat or what?" asked a voice.

"I found just enough for everyone to get rice and miso soup," she replied with
a grin.

Murmurs of relief and assent followed as the group of five stepped out of the
small structure and follwed their "leader". She was tall with cropped, sandy
brown hair and jade eyes sharp as a katana and with wit and charm to match any
man. Of course, many people failed to realize that she *wasn't* a man. Out of
them, she was the only one wearing a man's garb. They stepped into the nearest
restaurant and sat down.

"How did you manage to get so much?"

"Trade secret, you know," she replied easily.

Among them, a tall brunette spoke up. "Oh come on Ruka. We're all family here.
It wouldn't hurt."

Ruka just smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure, Makoto."

Makoto grinned with malicious glee. "Haruka, come on! It won't hurt. Aren't we
all family?"

The others laughed and agreed with the charismatic brunette, whilst the blond
merely rolled her eyes and dismissed them with an airy wave of her hand. Just
then the waitress came and gave them their meals. Thanking the woman warmly,
the group began to eat their meal.

"Hey, did you hear about--"

"I *said*, WHERE IS HE?!" a surly man shouted.

The patrons all turned their attention to a man, large and furious. His figure
was large and domineering, and this was proven by the fact that he was towering
over a slim looking man who owned the bar. "I--I..."

"I'm right here," Haruka interrupted softly.

Startled, the big man looked over towards their group. Scowling angrily, he
tramped over and demanded, "Where's my money?!"

Undaunted, Haruka pointed to the table where their meals sat. "Right there."

"Why you little bastard!" he roared.

He drew back a fist, almost the size of a small boulder and threw it forward.
Haruka ducked to dodge the attack, but did not expect the counterattack of the
man's knee ramming into her gut. She clutched her stomach, wheezing and trying
to regain her breath, blood dripping from the corners of her mouth.

"Haruka!" a voice shouted.

As if a great gust of wind had blown, the impossibly large man was hurled back
and into the nearest wall. Struggling to breathe, she dared a glance up to find
a small person in front of her.

"Excuse me sir. If you are going to cause a commotion, please do it outside,
where there are less chances of innocents getting injured and property becoming
damaged," the person remarked calmly.

A hushed silence fell as the man climbed back onto his feet and growled at
Haruka's saviour. He charged forward with a battle-cry, a katana in his hand.
The figure did not budge from their position. Haruka tried to warn the person,
but just as the katana would have cleaved the person vertically, it was
*blocked*!

Customers and helping hands watched as the large man was quickly defeated into
submission by a stranger not even half of his size. Stumbling out of the
restaurant, he fled. The figure sheathed her katana and walked over to Haruka,
who was still in a tremendous amount of pain.

"Are you all right?" came the gentle, concerned query.

The three girls watched as Haruka was helped back into her seat. The stranger
looked at them, almost studying them, before saying, "Order what you want. I
will pay."

"Who are you?" asked Makoto suspiciously. "Are you one of the Shogunate?"

The swordsman laughed. "No. I am working to destroy the Shogunate."

Seemingly relieved by this answer, the others relaxed and resumed their meal. A
young boy came up to the table to offer them drinks. Only the stranger accepted
the sake, and sipped on it thoughtfully.

"What's your name, swordsman?" Haruka asked, after regaining her breath.

Smiling, the response was, "Tsukino Usagi."

Haruka gaped at the response. "You--you're a..."

Usagi nodded. "Yes."

Visibly shocked and amazed, Haruka began to introduce the others. "These are my
friends and...family. The brunette is Kino Makoto. The aqua haired maiden is my
girlfriend Kaioh Michiru. The one with the amethyst eyes is Hino Rei, and this
lady in black is my older sister Meiou Setsuna."

Nodding solemnly, she continued to sip on her sake. Rei watched with amazement
as the young blond man -- no, woman -- drank her sake and then poured herself
more. The hilt that protruded from the girl's obi was a warning itself. Just as
she was about to make a comment, her stomach growled loudly. Haruka snickered.

"Hungry?"

Rei scowled at the tall blond and muttered, "Shut up."

The other blond shrugged and waved her arm, asking for service. A young woman
hurried over. "Yes sir?"

"Bring us some tori-sashi and onigiri," Usagi said quietly. "And some more sake
for me."

"Yes sir," she stammered.

The girl rushed off with the order while the other girls chatted amongst
themselves. Setsuna noticed the look of detachment and cold indifference, but
boldly ignored it. "What brings you to Kyoto, Tsukino-san?"

Usagi smiled faintly and responded, "A promise I made seven years ago."

Wisely detecting the sensitive nature of the issue, Setsuna pressed on with
infinite care as she posed her next question. "What kind of promise?"

The young girl's face dropped into a neutral, yet grim expression as she
replied, "To destroy the Shogunate. I swore upon my mother's grave that I would
bring an end to this bloody era, and I intend to keep it."

Michiru stared at her in surprise, but before she could comment, a plate of
onigiri and tori-sashi appeared before them. Smiling brightly, she offered her
thanks to the waitress and began to eat. The others took that as a cue to drop
the issue. However, Rei continued to watch Usagi.

Sensing that she was still under observation, she chanced a look to meet an
intense pair of amethyst staring back into her own haunted indigo blue. A thin
smile graced her lips as she murmured, "Eat up. You're hungry."

"I don't need your charity," Rei spat.

A laugh escaped her as she put down her chopsticks and smiled softly. "It is
not charity. I am merely offering this meal as an apology for ruining your meal
earlier with that fight."

"Ruining our meal?" Makoto echoed.

"I believe that such violence should never been seen by innocents that are the
driving force of the sword that I follow," Usagi replied.

Considering the comment, Michiru countered, "How are we innocent? We live on
the streets and see death every day. How can you call that innocence?"

Blue eyes were filled with guilt and anguish, and for a fleeting moment, Rei
felt a strong temptation to reach across the table and caress the girl's face.
Her face was a mask of horror and grim acceptance as she mentally relieved each
and every battle she had been a participant in in her short life.

"Have you ever held a katana in your hand? Have you ever had to be the one and
only justice for men who may have been fathers, brothers, uncles, nephews or
sons? Did you have to spill their blood into fray, knowing that it will be the
cement that will pave the path to peace? I may seem old, but for the seventeen
years I have been alive, I have spent seven of it spilling the blood of
countless men for this cause. *You* are innocents, because you never had to
spill blood. You never had to send them to their deaths, knowing that their
dying gaze would haunt you in your dreams and their blood staining you for
eternity."

With that said, she stood up, leaving her meal behind. Tossing a small pouch
onto the table, Usagi quietly walked out of the restaurant, leaving behind a
group of surprised women and a room full of patrons who had heard her speech,
knowing that the youth spoke the truth.

Rei watched her depature, and felt a peculiar emptiness as the blue eyed girl
walked away from the restaurant...

...and her life.

* * * * *

Well into the June evening, the cicadas chirped and peace settled over Kyoto,
even if it was just a simple spell of silence. It was during these unbroken
moments of calm that she loved. Hair as bright as the noonday sun dripped with
water as her naked form was silhouetted against the dark drapery of the starry
sky. Steam rose about her and she slid into the hot spring gratefully, sighing
in contentment and relief.

Her aching muscles soaked in the hot water and she leaned against the warm
rocks in comfort and support. A gentle smile graced her lips as she closed her
eyes and pondered over the events of the day.

Amethyst eyes bored into her mind and she frowned. Those purple awls had been
invading her thoughts, rendering her preoccupied. It was dangerous. She could
not afford to be distracted by the enchanting woman. Were she to enter combat
during these times, she would most likely end up impaled upon the tip of her
enemy's katana. Vainly she tried to push away all thoughts about the girl, but
found that she could not.

Such beauty concealed a passionate heart, that much she could see. The fire
that had danced in her eyes and the intense gaze of the one known as Hino Rei
enticed her, beckoned her like a seductress. Her gaze fell to the scabbard of
her katana, which lay just a mere heartbeat away from her position. The length
of the scabbard was a shade darker than her eyes, carved on it was her name
written in Kanji. A detailed carving of a mythical water dragon was entwined
around the characters, all framed by cherry blossoms and a cresent moon which
hung on the right end.

The cherry blossmos reminded her of Rei. They were beautiful and untouchable;
plentiful, fragile and rare in its beauty.

'I think I've had enough of this poetic musing for tonight,' Usagi thought with
a depressing sigh. 'After all...it's not as I'm going to see her again.'

Water softly splashed and rippled around her as she stood up.

She was unaware of the pair of amethyst eyes that spied her.

* * * * *

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the water droplets cascading off
of pale, supple skin. The moon and the sky were a perfect scenery to compliment
the goddess that stood in the water, oblivious to the voyeur that hid in the
bushes.

The moon gave an ethereal glow to the alabaster skin, and then she noticed the
large scar upon the girl's back. It did nothing to mar the beauty, but rather
enhanced it. She found herself watching those enticing, sinewy bands of muscle
that rippled with each graceful movement. Vaguely, she wondered how her pale
alabaster, almost marble like skin would feel against hers. She shivered with
the thoughts and tried to calm the erratic beat of her heart.

A warm summer breeze picked up, and the golden waterfall of hair was swept
along in the direction of the breeze, impossibly long strands caressing the
nude form. The sight was ever so erotic and Rei found herself envying the hair
which could touch that lithe body so intimately.

She watched as Usagi slipped into a white yukata robe, tying the sash closed at
her waist and picking up her katana, scabbard and all. The golden haired child
walked back into the inn, and Rei sighed as the shoji was smoothly shut behind
her.

Quickly retreating from her grove, she treked back to the home she shared with
her "family", only to find Michiru waiting expectantly inside. Sparing her a
stony gaze, she quickly retreated to the room she shared with Makoto. It was
already humiliating enough to have been caught about her escapade, and even now
she could imagine Michiru's scolding tone berating her.

Fervently praying that sleep would claim her early this night, she snuggled
into her thin blanket, her mind filled with images of the golden haired warrior
dancing in her mind. 'It's only the beginning of the month...I hope that I can
see her again.'

Just as the blissful darkness of sleep swept over her, Rei's last coherent
thought was of Usagi. She would have peaceful dreams tonight, the nightmares
would be quelled by the warmth of love.

* * * * *

A new day dawned upon the world and Usagi was roused from her sleep as the gold
rays of the sun played upon her face. A small groan escaped her lips as she
raised her head. She had slept sat up against the wall, the katana embraced in
her arms. The cool cloth of the yukata felt refreshing against her skin. Usagi
stood to stretch her cramped muscles and holding the katana in her left hand,
she made her way to the baths.

The rituals of a bath helped to soothe her thoughts and to relax her cramped
muscles. It was these rare moments to enjoy such amenities that made her ache
to be normal. However, she knew that there were only so many people that died
because people *failed* to protect the normalcy.

Shaking her head to rid herself of such depressing thoughts, she dumped the
bucket of cold water over her body before slipping into the warm water. A sigh
escaped her lips as she relaxed in the early morning.

Few minutes later, she was fully dressed in her usual dress and with her katana
safely tucked into her belt, she made her way to the restaurant she was eating
at the previous day. Upon entering, she was met with warm looks from the other
waitresses and cooks. She offered a ghost of a smile as she sat down at a table
furthest away from the door.

Turning her head towards the door, she looked up to see the same shade of
amethyst staring back at her. The girl quickly made her way over and sat down
facing her. Usagi smiled and greeted her, who returned the greeting. They sat
until Usagi's order came.

"I didn't know whether you were going to be gone by now," Rei murmured.

Usagi raised an eyebrow. "I have no intention of leaving Kyoto anytime soon. I
came here because this is where it began, and where it will end."

Rei frowned at the cryptic response and wisely chose to ignore it. "I--I was
wondering..."

"If you would like to stay with us," another voice interrupted.

Usagi looked to find the tall figure of Haruka standing there, a smirk tracing
her lips. Rei flushed scarlet and began to sputter obscenities at the tall
blond, who smiled in amusement and ignored it. "How about it, Usagi-san?"

Contemplating this offer, she weighed the pros and cons. She would not have to
pay for a room, and it would mean that she would be able to...

'No. No *attachments* EVER.'

'But...this Haruka-dono seems to hold some skill...'

'NO. Nobody else will become involved in this business! I cannot stain others
with my guilt and sin.'

'Rei...'

"Yes. I would like that," Usagi replied.

Jade and amethyst eyes lit up in pleasure as Usagi stood up and followed them
to their living quarters; which was a small building that had three rooms and
an adequate sized bath. They lived frugally, and noticed that their source of
income came from stealing. As she let her gaze sweep through the building, she
also noted that they were, basically, poor.

"Is there any tofu?"

"Wha?" Haruka responded, nonplussed.

"I said, is there any tofu. I can cook something for us," Usagi replied to her
confused companion.

Nodding, Haruka showed her to the kitchen, where it was sparsely furnished and
Usagi sighed inwardly. It would prove to be a difficult battle of a different
kind, but she was created to survive. After all, luck was not the reason as to
why she was still alive after seven years of bloodshed.

"Makoto is going to share a room with Setsuna and Rei will share a room with
you. Is that okay?" Michiru queried, stepping into the kitchen.

Again, she nodded. "Whatever you think is best," Usagi responded absently.

Night came fast and when the group decided to retire for the night, they all
bid each other good night and retreated to their respective rooms. Makoto could
only smile knowingly at Rei as she passed by, and Rei blushed. She led Usagi to
their room and closed the shoji shut. Quietly trying to calm her pounding heart
that was beating a bit *too* loudly for Rei, she whipped around, and stopped.

Usagi had already stripped out of her gi, and was currently undoing the obi in
which was the only thing that had kept the katana safely attached to her. Rei
watched as the girl's hakama fell down to pool at her feet. Usagi pulled out a
yukata from her small satchel and draped it around her body. Just as she was
about to tie the sash closed, she realized that she was being observed. Turning
to face the other occupant, she raised an elegent eyebrow and said, "Is there
something wrong?"

Startled, Rei blushed and quickly replied a negative. Then she too began to
remove her day clothing to slip into her own yukata.

She watched with much more subtlety than Rei as the dark haired girl removed
her kimono, untying the obi quickly. Rei's milky skin was not as blemished as
her own, but could see hints of abuse. Her long, shapely legs moved with grace
and finesse as she strode across the room to blow out the candle. The room was
suddenly immersed in darkness. Despite the fact that she was now unable to see
as clearly, she could still see the creamy skin glow as pale as her own in the
moonlight. Rei settled into her bed and fell asleep, mumbling a quiet "good
night".

Quietly she moved towards her katana and assumed her usual position of sleep,
sitting up against the wall with her katana in her arms to ensure that her
intruder would meet a quick death upon the end of her sword. She knew that Rei
was already asleep. It had been almost an hour since the girl had fallen into
her bed and into a dreamless sleep.

Casting one last glance, she branded the look of contentment in Rei's face to
her memory before she too, closed her eyes and fell prey to the darkness of
sleep, knowing that it would be filled with the old haunts and sins that she
knew she would atone for with her life.

* * * * *

A month passed and here she was, in the fray of battle once more. After living
for three weeks in complete peace whilst sneaking out in the middle of the
night to train, she was running through the vast plains near Kyoto, slicing
through bone and flesh.

Metal and men shrieked, wailed and screamed around her. As her anger and
bitterness enveloped her, she felt as if there was something wrapped around her
that disconnected her from the rest of the battle. All she could see, hear and
feel was the weight of her katana in her hands, and the enemy. She could see
his eyes boring into her own, and then it would turn red with blood. Ducking
and weaving, swinging, slashing, stabbing, lunging and kicking her way through
the enemy.

However, she just couldn't seem to find that right...balance. She had been
centered before she had arrived here. Now she was off-balance, teetering on the
verge of an unknown precipice that would fall into the abyss. This was
dangerous. She *had* to get back in control.

It was timeless as she moved with grace through the battlegrounds. Her movement
was sure and fluid, each calculated stroke and technique flowing smoothly like
a waterfall. It was these kinds of swordsman that made the art of kenjutsu look
like a real art. It required precise movements and confidence.

Hours, perhaps even days passed as she continued her journey through blood and
gore. Her katana ran red with thick crimson and with each man that died by her
sword, a small piece of her shattered heart seemed to break away and be lost
to her own guilt and pain.

'A month. It took only one *month* of having someone nearby...to throw me off
balance. I *MUST* not have attachments. My balance...my balance is gone. I must
restore my balance.'

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Author's Notes:

Well...erm...uh...*cough*

This is turning out to be interesting. Not only is everyone highly OOC, it has
a healthy dose of *MY* thought process and guilt patterns in here. Honestly,
you have no clue as to *HOW* many times I had to re-write parts because I had
unconsciously switched from an omniscient POV to a first-person POV.

I realize that the ending was rushed, because this is when Rei and Usagi are
thrown into chaos. The end sort of hints at what happens, but not really. It is
merely a pretense. :) That should be an obvious clue itself, so...

For those of you who are seeking lemon flavor...

It's coming.

I swear.

I just have to find the right time, place and motive for them to get 'freaky'
that's all. ^_^ Okay, note to self: do not *EVER* use that term to refer to
sexual activities ever again. Sounds like as if it's just a common thing that
happens on the streets or something. -_-'

As always and forever, comments and criticisms are always welcomed.

[E-mail: sherazard_@hotmail.com]
[Website: http://ashura.br0ken.org (HIATUS)]
[Weblog: http://ashura.blogspot.com]

1st draft: Completed. (06.29.2002)

TRANSLATION:

yukata - A robe worn to bed, like a nightgown.
shoji - A screen door made with a wood frame and rice-paper.
miso soup - A breakfast soup.
onigiri - Rice ball wrapped in dried seaweed.
tori-sashi - Raw chicken served like sashimi.
Shogunate - The government in power.
obi - A belt.
sake - A Japanese beverage, similar to alcohol, only uses rice instead of
barley to be fermented.
-dono - An outdated term of polite reference to people. Same implication
as '-san' but is slightly more polite, but not like '-sama'.

Resources:

http://home.austin.rr.com/scajapan/HI STORY.HTM
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/duchamp/410/shogun.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/glossary.htm
http://www.bento.com