A/N: This will be a repository for Rurouni Kenshin fics I write that stand alone. Which, hopefully, there will be more of.
This drabble was a post to the community RK_challenge, posted originally on Nov. 12. More on that at the bottom.

Title: I Will Not Bow
Author: Violetcarson
Word Count: 448
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: Kaoru is driven to prove something to herself, and to him.


Sweat coated her body like a second skin. It dripped off her fingertips, slid down her back, and beaded on her face. Her body was a raging inferno, heat boiling through her, burning away the desperate emotions that were trying to consume her. She spun her sword in an arc around her, coveting the piercing song the blade sang as it cut through the air. She twisted, and the sword slashed forward at a different angle. Another twist, and the sword was chopping straight down overhead, before slicing away again. She parried the strike from an opponent only she could see, stepping back as she swung, before advancing with a burst of speed. Her stances were perfect. Her weight was solidly divided between each foot, and the movements of her feet never upset her balance. It didn't feel like she was taking steps, it felt as if she was dancing, her entire body moving effortlessly and gracefully through the positions. She extended her sword again, reaching for the invisible opponent, and drew back, balancing on one foot, her sword poised above her for the next strike, and held.

"Release," the man's voice was firm, solid, and as full of sturdy strength as a boulder. Kaoru sank down out of the stance, and sheathed her weapon. She bent her knees, and tried to fall gracefully to the wood floor. Her muscles were shaking from the exertion, and she hungrily sucked in deep lungfuls of air. Her father moved to stand before her from his position at the side of the dojo. He waited until she had regained her breath, and then said, "That was good, much better than before. But you are not making the movements powerful enough. Your form is nearly perfect. Now feel the weight of the actions, feel their power. Repeat the same kata, but with more ferocity." His voice was firm.

She nodded to him. "Yes sir!" She leaped to her feet again, assuming the first stance, hand hovering over her sword's hilt.

He regarded her for a moment, directly in front. Two sets of eyes, the exact same shade of blue, regarded each other before he returned to the wall to observe.

"Begin!"

As Kaoru began the first blocking movements of the form, she forced herself to focus on her body to the extreme. She was power incarnate as she slipped through the moves. Determination fueled her. After all, she now had something to live up to. I will prove myself, she thought. The memory of brilliant violet eyes, a mane of red hair, and a tender look drove her. I will be worthy of you, she promised the man that haunted her memories.


A/N: I wrote this with a question in mind. Wouldn't Kaoru, a swordswoman herself, feel obliged to better herself and become stronger in order to stand beside Kenshin, as impossible as that may be?Personally I think that the best way to improve in anything is to have someone to compete with. XD

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