Aloha readerz!. I do not and will not * tear * own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. Blah blah, basic disclaimers apply; don't sue me you won't get anything… Any way, enjoy! Sorry in advance for any Japanese issues. I'm about to start my third year so I'm still rather pathetic. Please review if you feel so inclined.
Seijuro Hiko, the 13th successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, made a curious figure as he walked down the street to the Kamiya Dojo. Tall, he carried himself with the air of one who has no reason to be wary. He was cloaked in an enormous mantle. No light could be seen from within the Dojo. It was midday. Looking up at the gates to the Dojo, he sighed and went to find a restaurant that would serve sake.
A waitress at the restaurant showed him to a table. He settled himself comfortably, and began to sip his from his cup in quiet contentment. A flash of red caught his eye. He turned his head slightly, eyes closed, and murmured, "Baka deshi. You should be practicing, or you'll never be worthy of the techniques entrusted to you."
Himura Kenshin turned around, slightly surprised by the sight of his old master. Those around him (Kaoru, Megumi, Sanosuke, and Yahiko) craned to see the speaker.
Hiko nodded to them, and motioned to the table for them all to sit. They did, talking amongst themselves.
It was later that Kenshin sat up straight, hearing a scuffle. The restaurant's quiet atmosphere was shattered as a man was thrown through the wall and onto a neighboring table. Both master and pupil reached for swords, outlawed in this new era and worn only by those who didn't care.
A woman followed through the hole, brilliant gray eyes boring into the man on the floor. Long dark hair was pulled out of her face, though it didn't prevent rebellious bangs from tickling the area from her nose to her chin; she was dressed as one who helped to entertain important clients. Her over kimono was a pale gray, accented by the silver tracery of vines and wisteria blossoms. The one underneath was a light blue. Her obi was dark gray. A long silver chain was wrapped around her waist several times, tipped at either end with a large white diamond-shaped crystal the size of a palm. If the face of this woman had not been occupied, she would have perhaps considered her guests. As it was, she glided toward the man on the floor.
The man glared at the woman, and cursed her. Even from a distance, it was obvious he had been drinking, from the reek of alcohol as well as the bloodshot eyes. The woman grabbed the man by his haori and lifted him above her head; a surprising feet for a female of her slender build.
"Ki-sama. How dare you touch an unwilling woman?" she hissed, not caring that eyes watched her every move.
Kaoru looked through the hole and saw a maid trembling and sobbing, large bruises and cuts on her face and arms. Kaoru motioned to Megumi, and they both went to the girl, whispering softly to her.
"How dare you touch an unwilling woman?" she repeated, her voice cold. When the man didn't answer, she brought his eyes down to her level and whispered, "Answer me."
The man quivered, and looked down. The woman dropped him in disgust, and turned back to the maid. A glint of steel caught Yahiko's eye.
"Look out!"
Even as the words were leaving his mouth, the girl ducked. Hiko glanced at the girl's hips. As she went into a crouch, she moved them subtly, sending the chain around it lashing out and around the man's leg, bringing him to the ground.
She unwound the chain from him in disgust, and noticed he had passed out. She rolled him on his side to keep him from swallowing his vomit, and returned to the maid.
It was after dark when Kazeno Tsukiyo returned to her home. It was ten miles from town; an ancient estate left to decay in the woods. Under her hand, she had helped it to become a refuge. She looked at the moon; it was late, and the children would be asleep. She shifted her basket to a more comfortable position on her back, and moved silently through the long grasses towards the house.
She slid through the door and shut it silently. She looked in their rooms; they were all asleep, all safe. She sighed in relief as she did every night, and went into her own room.
A grass cushion was her bed. She sat on the floor and took out her two kimonos. Her brow furrowed at the sight a tear at the hem. She took out her thinnest needle and clearest thread, and carefully sewed it back together. She heard small feet come down the stairs and stop just outside of her door. She carefully folded the repaired kimono and placed it in her basket.
"Yes?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle. A tousled head appeared in the doorway. It was a girl, her dark brown hair braided down her back. Hazel eyes were still dulled with sleep. Even at nine years old, Akiko was beautiful.
"Nee-chan. I couldn't sleep," she said.
Tsukiyo sighed, and patted the ground in front of her. Akiko sat down as Tsukiyo unbraided her hair and began to comb it slowly.
"What's the matter, Aki-chan?" Tsukiyo asked. Aki's eyes were already drooping from the comforting feeling of fingers delicately running through her hair, bringing back memories of a mother that was some hazy figure, replaced by Tsukiyo.
"I had a bad dream. Kaeko was restless, and Toshio still has his nightmares. I couldn't sleep tonight."
Tsukiyo murmured comfortingly, her voice smooth and whispery. Aki began to doze, listening to the constant hum of the woman's voice. After a time, she dropped off. Tsukiyo carried the girl back to her room, covering her with a worn and many times repaired blanket. She stopped by Kaeko, the young six year old who was Aki's little sister. She rubbed the girl's back as she tossed and turned, eventually getting her to sleep quietly. Toshio was across the hall. She picked him up from his bed and rocked him softly, for all that he was eight and always firm about his role as the only male in their peculiar family. In his sleep, his tears slowed, and then stopped all together. She sang to him lightly, and then put him back in bed.
She went downstairs to get a few hours sleep. She knew she would wake an hour before dawn, both to make food for the children and to leave early enough to get to work on time. She stretched out on the floor, and closed her eyes, her breathing light and body tense even in sleep.
Tsukiyo arrived at work on time. She was tying her obi when someone tapped her shoulder. It was Eriko, the maid from yesterday.
"Eriko-chan. Daijoubu?" she asked, concern on her face. The maid nodded. Her cuts were mending nicely. It was very likely that she wouldn't even have a scar to show for it.
"Oh, I'm fine, Tsukiyo-san. But the boss wants a word with you…"
"Let him wait. Who cleaned your cuts?"
"One of the women in the group of the Kamiya Dojo Assistant Master. Takani Megumi. She's a student of a local doctor."
"Good." Tsukiyo turned to go towards the boss's room.
"Tsukiyo-san?" Eriko yelped. The woman paused. "Th-thank you very much for yesterday."
"Don't mention it." Tsukiyo murmured. She glided to where her boss sat, waiting.
"Tsukiyo-san, I realize that your actions yesterday were provoked, but still…how shall we pay for the damages? I have taken a look at your schedule, and if you work an extra hour every day, you should be able to pay off the debt of the new screen in a few months…"
"Make him pay," Tsukiyo said calmly, eyes not reflecting him but rather seeing something else far away.
Her boss choked on his sake. "Pardon?"
"That maid was serving the Police Chief. Interrupting with her service directly affected the service given to the Police Chief. He can pay for the door. And then he will think twice of beating a woman on your land. Besides, the screen will cost less than the fines for assault."
Her boss rubbed his bald crown, thinking. He nodded slightly. "I like the precedent. It will keep people from interfering with my workers, knowing that you will pay the price in both coin and blood," he murmured. Tsukiyo nodded. She stood and left.
Tsukiyo was washing her hands when a flash of hazel caught her eye. A small shape collided with her. She placed slender fingers on the girl's shoulders; they were trembling from exertion. She could feel the girl's heart hammering against her rib cage.
"Aki, what in the world-"
"Onee-sama, it's Toshio! Toshio! I ran as fast as I could! Onee-sama…!"
"Aki, why aren't you at home?" she murmured, drawing her away from the kitchen and the gossips. Aki opened her mouth, but Tsukiyo covered it. She guided the child to a changing room. She closed the door, and paused; no one had followed them. Inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her father had instilled in her the value of caution.
As she caught her breath, Aki cocked her head, watching the older woman. Tsukiyo was like a cat – she valued her privacy. She often would check to make sure no one was following her. Aki wondered what had happened in her caretaker's life to make her so secretive.
Tsukiyo nodded. Aki breathed deeply. "Toshio was sick this morning. He had a fever. I tried all of the medicines, but nothing is working. Please, you must come home! He was having trouble breathing, and Kaeko can't handle him if he has a seizure!" Aki sank to her knees. Tsukiyo passed her a damp cloth – where had that come from, Aki wondered – and opened a closet. It occurred to Aki that this was Tsukiyo's changing room. She averted her eyes as the woman put on her typical clothes, binding her chest tightly. Aki folded the kimono and put it into the small basket. She was surprised when Tsukiyo bent down.
"Get on my back. I will have to move quickly. You won't be able to keep up," she murmured. Aki nodded and clambered onto the woman's back. Her eyes widened as she felt the muscles shift under her as the woman stood.
Tsukiyo left the room to see Eriko close by, her eyes toward the ground.
"Tell the boss I have pressing matters at home. I don't expect to be paid today. I won't be here tomorrow," she said, smiling slightly. Eriko nodded, and scampered off. Tsukiyo opened a back door and left through the gardens, her stride carrying her effortlessly back home.
"Nee-chan, has onee-sama slept at all?" Kaeko asked Aki from her nest of blankets. Aki sat up, looking at her younger sister. Moonlight drifted in through an open window, trying to air the house. In the darkness, Kaeko's gold-flecked eyes glowed. Aki shook her head. Kaeko looked down, her brow furrowed.
"Nee-chan, should we go in? She might need help…"
"No. You know how Onee-sama is. She doesn't want us to get sick. Besides…I'm sure she can handle it. It is only a fever."
Fever kept the woman locked in Toshio's room for two days. She only left to get water and herbs. She tried every cure she knew, fervently wishing she had listened to her grandmother when the hag was alive. If she had, she might remember something about how to treat fevers as well as wounds.
On the third day, the fever let up. Toshio was able to sleep without interruption. When Aki peeked in, she thought her adopted brother looked better than the woman who took care of them. Tsukiyo's dark hair was tied into a knot to keep it out of her face. Her eyes were glassy, her body fatigued from three days with only water. She had gone with out sleep as well as food, every night staying awake, trying to recall remedies and keeping Toshio from falling too deep into illness. Tsukiyo glanced up, and all signs of weariness fell from her.
"Out, Akik-chan. I don't want you catching this too!" She barked. Aki nodded. She closed the door.
"Onee-sama, I just wanted to tell you that we have a bath ready for you," she said, knowing the woman would hear. She heard a noise from Tsukiyo; she took that as confirmation. She left to go add more wood to the fire.
Tsukiyo stretched out on her bed, breathing evenly. Light told her it was morning. Her body was well on its way to repair. She had eaten a small meal last night, not wanting to make herself sick. An hour of sleep had refreshed her. It was enough. The bath had helped as well. She was always in a better mood when clean. Her hair slithered over her bare shoulders. She was still in her binding. She smiled, and was just putting her hair into a plait when Kaeko burst into the room. Tears were in the toddler's eyes.
"Onee-sama! Toshio-kun…he's sick! He won't wake up. Onee-sama, help!" Tsukiyo swept up the child and haori, and stumbled up the stairs. Aki was standing by his door, watching him in fear. Tsukiyo pressed Kaeko into her sister's arms.
His pulse was weak. The fever was back, this time its hold stronger on the weakened boy. Her mind raced through her inventory; she had done everything she knew, and even that had only bought her time. Her stocks were low. She had tried to sweat it out, used every herb she knew, and still it wasn't enough. She needed a doctor. But doctors cost money. She hadn't worked in several days. Not since the incident with the drunk and Eriko…Eriko! Eriko had said a woman had healed her! The student of a local doctor! She grimaced; she only had the woman's name. She didn't have time to go tramping over Tokyo searching every cranny for a woman she only knew by name! But those at the Kamiya Dojo…Eriko said she was a friend of the Assistant Master? Kamiya Dojo…she remembered the name vaguely…
She dipped down the pick up Toshio. She adjusted a sash, thrusting a curved dagger through it and twining her chain around her waist three times. Her purse she shoved into her haori. She glanced at her shoes, and chucked them. They would only slow her.
"Tie him to my back," she growled. Aki and Kaeko rushed to comply. She stood up, adjusting the unconscious boy on her back. She whirled on the two girls.
"I will be back soon. Get out those staffs I made for you; don't let any one in the house. You will have to cook for yourselves. Stay safe, stay sharp," she whispered, and, in an oddly affectionate gesture for her, kissed them on the head. They nodded, standing a little straighter. She ruffled their hair, and then darted down the stairs and out the door.
Kaoru glared at the arrogant hermit-like master. Another freeloader! Hiko ignored her and reached for the tea she had set out. Yahiko watched him closely, imitating his posture. Kenshin refused to teach him, and Kaoru was ok for a girl, but still… Hiko opened one eye.
"What are you doing, punk?"
"Nothing," he said. Hiko closed his eyes as he took another sip.
"Can't blame you. After all, you do need a role model, and those around you are severely lacking in admirable qualities," he conceded.
Yahiko glared at him and grabbed his shinai. Kenshin smiled weakly.
"Yahiko, this is not the time to be getting angry, de gozaru yo…"
"Kenshin! I can't believe you would say that! He is insulting the honor of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu!" Kaoru yelped, glaring murderously at Kenshin.
"Honestly, you act like such a child, Kaoru. Perhaps Ken-san will soon tire of your company…I certainly know how to treat a man…"
"You stay out of this, kitsune-onna!"
Kaoru and Megumi began to trade insults. At one point, a flying bowl hit Kenshin in the face.
"ORROOOOOOO!!!"
Tsukiyo felt a cramp start in her side. She had run for nine miles; now Tokyo was almost upon her. Her body objected as she kept up her ragged jog. She glanced at the sun; she was loosing time! On her back she could almost feel Toshio loosing his grip, loosing his fight against the fever. Cursing fluently, she picked up her pace until she was galloping through the streets of Tokyo, looking for the Kamiya Dojo.
Fate must have taken pity on the lost figure. A local pointed her in the correct direction. She sprinted down the final streets, her heart hammering in her throat.
Yahiko had left the room, choosing the silence over Kaoru and Megumi's bickering. He was surprised when a woman sprinted through the gates, breathing hard. Dark hair was dripping sweat. It was tied back in a tight braid. She shook her bangs out, sending droplets everywhere. He glanced at her feet; they were bare, and redness began to trickle between the bricks. She dressed as Kaoru did for training. Her eyes were a pale gray. They gave him a shock; she was the woman from several days ago! How the cold, deadly woman had been reduced to a runner was beyond him.
"Boy, where is Takani Megumi?" she barked. Yahiko jerked back into reality.
"What do you want with Megumi?" he asked. The woman's eyes narrowed. Yahiko felt a shiver run down his spine. He understood now how that man had been unable to reply.
"I have a sick child. He needs help," she growled. Yahiko tried to get a better look. She shook him away.
"Wait, I'll…"
"I will speak to the owner of this Dojo right now. Out of my way," she snapped. Yahiko glared at her, and stepped in front of her.
"Boy, I don't have much time. Out of my way," she hissed, voice dripping poison. Yahiko gripped his Shinai tighter. The woman darted past him, speed unimaginable for anyone whose feet were bloody from running.
Kaoru and Megumi were glaring daggers at each other when a woman materialized in the midst of them. Both Kaoru and Sanosuke flinched; they hadn't heard anyone close by. Kenshin was still recovering from his latest war wound via one of Kaoru's rice cakes. Hiko was sipping his tea, and eyed the woman with boredom.
The woman's eyes narrowed on Megumi; she shivered under their intensity.
"Are you Megumi Takani?" She croaked, throat dry. She felt her body succumbing to exhaustion. Not yet, she willed. Megumi nodded. She dropped to her knees and bowed low, head touching the mats. Kaoru looked in horror at her feet; they were callused and bloody. Stones had gouged her skin, and some still were embedded in her soles.
"Please…this child, Toshio-kun…he took fever three days ago. After two days, it broke. This morning, it regained its hold, and much tighter. He was unconscious when I got to him." She slashed at the bonds tying the child to her back, and eased him off gently. Megumi helped her stretch him out while Kenshin and Sano removed the tables and went for towels. Megumi was tying her hair back and rolling up her sleeves. Kaoru did the same.
"What were the symptoms?" Megumi asked, forgetting her quarrel with Kaoru.
"Heavy breathing. Shallow pulse. Sweating. Seizures. Inability to sleep. High fever. A dry cough. In extreme cases, unconsciousness. I would normally think fever, but none other in my house has been infected, and none of the remedies I tried worked," she replied. Megumi nodded as the woman helped her strip off the boy's shirt.
"My herbs are limited to forest paraphernalia and what I can buy. True, most of the more valuable ones are in the woods, but even those didn't work."
"I don't know what could have caused such a violent fever. Certainly I haven't seen anything like this," Megumi murmured. The woman's eyes shifted to Megumi's face, glassy. Megumi's concern shifted from the boy to the woman.
"Have you slept at all lately?"
"An hour last night. I don't need much."
"What have you eaten?"
"A bowl of rice last night. Tea for the past few days. He needed constant supervision. I wouldn't allow the others in with him."
"Why not?"
"I can survive illness; they are younger than me," she said vaguely. Megumi nodded, and then looked at the woman's feet. She winced, shaking her head slightly.
"If you would allow me to use a cloth and hot water, I could tend to my feet while you work," she said calmly. Megumi nodded as Kaoru left to get what was required. She then turned to the child.
Hiko put down his tea to find the woman giving him an intense look. She was taking in his every feature. He knew that memorizing stare. Kenshin did as well. He had seen it on the faces of spies during the revolution. Her level brows snapped together with an audible click. She nodded to him and to Hiko, and then dipped her foot in a steaming bowl Kaoru provided. She crushed a few leaves in her palm and set them in the water. A fresh scent floated in the air. She attacked her feet with the cloth, scrubbing them mercilessly. By the end of her process, there was more blood in the bowl than water.
She wrapped her feet in bandages and left the room for a moment. Yahiko was waiting in the hall, glaring at her. She smiled slightly, feeling her knees turn to water.
"Don't scowl, apprentice. Your face might stick that way," she murmured, leaning against the wall. She stumbled outside to get some fresh air. She was in the garden. She saw vegetables growing in a corner. Faces were coming closer to her, getting blurry. She recognized them as the men. She bowed to them formally, and felt her knees give. She only remembered feeling strong arms catching her before she passed out.
Kaoru was sitting next to her when she woke up with a start. Her hand went for her dagger, the other for her chain, out of instinct. She was only in her binding.
"Where is Toshio?" she asked, voice slightly less hoarse than before.
"He's in the room next to us. You passed out," Kaoru supplied, passing her a cup of tea. She was surprised to see the woman didn't sip it, rather, drank it down straight. She then stood up, not even wincing as she put weight on her feet. Kaoru passed her the pale white haori that went with her gray pants.
"How long?" she asked, pulling it on, eyes looking for her weapons.
"An hour or so," Kaoru said, steadying her.
"Has there been any change? Is he all right?" she asked as Kaoru led her out of the room.
"He's fine. Megumi's gotten the fever down, but she needs to stay with him. Don't worry. Come out into the garden. Get some air…"
Kaoru led her out onto the grass. The woman sank to her knees and rested against a tree, looking up at the sunlight.
"My name is Kazeno Tsukiyo," she murmured, closing her eyes. Warm sunlight made the throbbing in her feet easier to bear. As long as she didn't think about it, they were fine.
"Tsukiyo-san, why were your feet bloody?" Kaoru asked. Tsukiyo smiled softly.
"I had to run…maybe ten miles. I couldn't wear shoes for that kind of run. I would have had splinters."
Kaoru shuddered. Tsukiyo stood up, smiling.
"It wasn't that bad. I make that jog almost every day," she said, balancing herself against the bark. Her eyes flickered to the house. Kaoru could see Megumi's shadow moving. Tsukiyo walked over and sat just outside the sliding door, waiting and listening. Kaoru watched her for a while, and was startled when Hiko went up to her. She pulled him back.
"Don't disturb her! She's concentrating!" she hissed. Hiko picked up the sitting woman; her head lolled slightly.
"She has control of her muscles. She's been asleep for the last fifteen minutes," he said calmly. He opened a door with his foot and took her inside.
Kenshin was waiting. He watched as his old master placed the girl on her futon, pulling a blanket over her.
"What do you think? She's too strong to be some random peasant," Kenshin said. Hiko shrugged. As he and his pupil turned to leave the room, Tsukiyo sat up, eyebrow raised. They didn't even hear as she opened the door and went in the adjacent room to see Megumi.
The woman looked up, surprised to see the gray-eyed visitor on her feet. Megumi motioned to a cloth. Tsukiyo nodded, and helped to bathe Toshio while Megumi prepared a tea for him.
Tsukiyo tapped Megumi's shoulder; it was well past nightfall. She smiled.
"Takani-sama, you must rest. We cannot risk you getting sick," she said. Megumi protested, and stood up. She was a scant inch taller than the slender Tsukiyo. Tsukiyo shook her head, and, lightning fast, lashed out at the other woman's temple. Megumi fell to the ground, intercepted by the arms of the strange woman. Tsukiyo put her in bed and got out some green tea. She sipped it quietly, focusing her thought on Toshio and his recovery.
Several hours later, she heard two sounds; one was Megumi starting to wake up. The other was Toshio. He coughed; she lifted his head and let a trickle of water pass his lips. His eyelids fluttered weakly. Tsukiyo smiled, for his liquid black eyes reflected her, not some unknown nightmare.
"Onee-sama?" he coughed again, voice raspy. Tsukiyo pinched his lips shut and got more water. While he was awake, she had to give him as much medicine as she could with out killing him. His brow furrowed at the taste of one of the drinks. After a few minutes, she rested his head in her lap.
"Onee-sama, where are we? This place…it doesn't smell like home…I can't hear the birds or the river or the grasses…"
Tsukiyo noted the growing panic in his eyes. She also saw Megumi go for the others in the corner of her eye. She ran her fingers through his sticky hair.
"We are among friends. They are good people, Toshio-kun. Some are strong, some are wise, and some have good hearts. One of them is a lady who is treating you right now," she said, feeling many pairs of eyes boring into her.
Toshio's eyes began to get cloudy. She gave him more tea. That brought them back into focus.
"Where is nee-chan and imoto-chan? Where are they, Onee-sama?"
"They are safe," she said softly. Toshio recognized that tone; others were listening. He coughed again, this time continuing until he was hacking up blood. Tsukiyo supported his back and helped him breath. She wiped his mouth with her sleeve. When he stopped, he shivered.
"Onee-sama…I feel like I am dying. I don't want to die, nee-chan," he whispered. Tsukiyo hugged him gently, and then rocked him back and forth, singing under her breath. His eyes, still clear, closed. He was asleep, a calm, natural sleep.
Tsukiyo turned slightly to see the other occupants.
"I am sorry I hit you, Megumi-sama. You needed to rest. He is sleeping now. I think the fever is finally leaving him," she said, standing up. She washed her hands and opened the door. It took them a moment to realize she was leaving.
Kaoru grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"
"I must return to my home. I must check on the others. Toshio needs a night of uninterrupted sleep, and perhaps another day of bed rest. I trust Megumi-sama fully. I will be back to pick him up…" her eyes closed, as if in pain, "please make sure he knows I haven't left him. I will be back," she said, and twisted her wrist, breaking Kaoru's hold.
"You're in no condition to travel," Sano said from his position against the wall. Tsukiyo's mouth twitched, though whether from annoyance or amusement no one could tell. Perhaps it was both.
"You know very little if you assume that I cannot return home and back before dawn. I have eaten, I have slept. My feet are clean and wrapped. I am in very good condition," she said, eyes challenging him.
"You shouldn't go! Your feet could get cut up even worse…" Yahiko yelped. Tsukiyo raised an eyebrow, and lifted her long lashes that veiled her eyes. Yahiko shivered.
"I will go when and where I please. I doubt you could stop me, apprentice," she said, not unkindly.
Long arms wrapped around her shoulders; Sano. "He couldn't, but I could." Tsukiyo shot a glance at Kenshin; he was looking at Sano, slightly disturbed. She tried to break his hold, struggling, and then ducked under and out, skidding out of his grasp.
"Toshio needs you here!" Kaoru said. She received a full glance from Tsukiyo, and felt as if her heart were being torn from her. So much pain was in the glance…
"I have others I must care for. If I leave now, I can be back before he wakes up," she said, positioning herself so no one could grab her.
Yahiko darted in with his Shinai. Her hand reached for her dagger, belatedly remembering it was under Toshio's pillow as a precaution. Her fingers brushed her long chain; it unraveled around her. She sent one end snaking out around his feet, and pulled. He fell to the ground with a cry. She twitched her left wrist delicately; the chain returned to her hands. Yahiko got up, and charged. She spun the chain, keeping him at bay. She noticed his slashes were wilder now; he was tiring. She sent the chain out around his neck, and pulled him in just in time to catch the crystal at the end.
"I am stronger than you, apprentice. Do not make me get strict," she said. She backed up, and flicked the chain. It flew back to her hand and wound lovingly around her hips.
She dusted the white crystal, and was about to leave when she saw Hiko leaning against the gate. Her eyes narrowed, not from annoyance but concentration.
He was in prime condition. She would need to be at her best to fight him, which she was not. Even then, it probably wouldn't be enough. His stance was balanced; perfectly so, even at rest. That was warning enough. She met his eyes, a battle of wills taking place.
Hiko knew her thought process. He saw the decision, knowing she knew he knew.
He started to walk back, the woman falling into step next to him.
Sorry about the length. I couldn't find a place to cut in other wise. Well, hope you enjoyed it. Any opinions I should know about? Till next time, then.