It's been a long time since I've written RK fics. Started this one...at last. Thanks for your patience!



Armour-piercing Shuriken


- One -
The Shuriken
It was short.
It was metal.
No ordinary metal.
But one which had been folded over and over.
Just like the katana.
Ten-thousand-fold.
Just for that small star.
A tip of the deadliest throwing star.
If flung right, pierced right through anything.
Anything short of a solid steel block.
Needless to say, it was a weapon.
A weapon of killing.
Sching.
It hit the mark with not an inch to spare.
Right in the centre.
Of a circle barely an inch wide.
Its deadly tip was embedded firmly in the straw.
Chink.
Exerting some force, a bony hand removed the shuriken.
Slowly, deliberately, the man turned around.
Walked slowly.
In front was a young girl.
Barely thirteen.
A young girl who was dressed only in black.
Had been dressed only in black.
Ever since she was born.
"Try again."
To be perfect, a perfect throw had to be repeated.
Again and again.
"Hai, sensei."
The shuriken cleaved to her hand.
Its shape seemed to fit her palm perfectly.
She weighed it in her hand, finding her optimum position.
Then spun around and let if fly.
Sching.
It flew quickly, almost effortlessly, into the target.
Deepening the hole.
"Good. Tomorrow, left hand."
The girl bowed deeply.
A sign of thanks, of respect.
For the man who was her teacher.
She heard his retreating footsteps.
Felt the weight of the shuriken in her right hand.
Positioned herself.
And released the weapon.
All in a matter of seconds.
Sharply, he spun around.
Caught the speeding weapon with this left hand.
His steady breathing never wavered.
He threw the shuriken back.
It landed with a thud at the girl's feet.
She smiled.
And so did he.
The corners of his mouth were tilted upward.
"Try again next time."
She bowed, deeper this time.
Still smiling.
The shoji slid open with an unmistakable brush of wood on wood.
The man went into the house.
The girl remained where she had been.
And with her right hand, pulled off the cloth around her head.
Around her eyes, rather.
Let the silky black cloth hang loose in her hand.
And with her other hand, flicked the sweat off her forehead.
She walked toward the practice target.
After retrieving her shuriken from its place in the earth at her feet.
Her fingers prodded the deep hole that her weapons had drilled.
And pulled out the other shuriken.
Returned them to their moorings in the folds of a rough cloth.
Let them join their eight other comrades.
And the tips of ten shuriken flashed in the sunlight.









------end of chapter one------


Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me.



Author's Notes:
Another set of new characters for another new fic! ^__^ I love creating characters! *grin* But certain members of Rurouni Kenshin (unconfirmed attendance at this point) will be making their appearances soon enough.

Thanks for reading this first chapter! Reviews are always appreciated!




~rurouni