Hitokiri
By
TigerWolf
Part One
~ A Girl with No Past ~
An elderly man looked up from his shop to look at the clear day around him. The streets were busy and many people were walking around the streets looking at the open shops that lined the way. Today was a good day for business with the tournament being held. He looked over at his wife who just sold some herbs to a young girl, she smiled at him then pointed down the street were he was not looking. He turned around to look at the empty street since their shop was located at the end of the market most of the people where in the other direction. But one person walked down the street. A rather odd looking person walked his way into the city, and his smile grew.
"Hello Miss Himura." The elder man called out to the girl. The girl waved at him.
"It's nice to see you again Dr. Genzi, Genzi-Dono." She greeted very politely. "Why is the town so busy today, may I ask?"
"There is a tournament being held in the stadium today. The tournament is being held by the Zaibach government and it's said the Dragon Slayers shall be competing. It is also rumored that if one does well in the tournament they might get recruited into a part of the Army. So it has people from all over coming to either compete or watch." Dr. Genzi said with excitement.
"Dragon- what?" Miss. Himura replied. Dr. Genzi smacked her over the head.
"ORO!" She cried, rubbing her head. Most would be shocked by Dr. Genzi's actions but Himura-San did not look like a normal girl. Her long red hair was held in a high ponytail with a simple leather tie, the front shorter parts that could not be held back fell down framing her face. She wore white loose cloth pants (not a hakama), and a deep blue gi with white lining. At her side a sword was attached that had a black scabbard, a sword which was a traditional Japanese sword, which was unknown to this area. But there were more unusual things about this girl besides the clothing which was not a dress, or the sword at the side, which to most was unbelievable and a very good laugh. Or her very red hair that was worn up high, there was also her intense purple eyes, and a very visible scar on her left cheek. So to most Gaeaen's she seemed very odd, almost dangerous if one did not talk to her. But to us reading the story would think she looked like a female samurai of Japan.
"I always forget how little you know of Zaibach. Himura-san you can be such a baka at times, you should at least know of the Dragon Slayers. They are an elite group of soldiers well trained with swords and guymelefs, you know the big things that fight and can fly?" Dr. Genzi asked, Himura nodded her head. "Well they are the best Zaibach has to offer, and to top it off they are lead by Zaibach best warrier, Lord Dilandau Albatou. Tell you the truth he is a very scary guy, kills without remorse, the one guy in all Zaibach you don't want to cross. That's why he is known as the Manslayer in Zaibach." Himura's eyes changed for a second to a golden color at the word 'Manslayer' but no one noticed. "But that is what the Dragon Slayers are. Maybe now you feel a little more informed."
"Yes, thank you Dr. Genzi for telling me this." Himura replied.
"So dear did you come to town to get supplies?" Ms. Genzi asked
"No, I did not. I came to get some herbs from you actually for a lady in town that I found sick the other day." Himura replied, picking up the herbs needed. And paying with the little money she had.
"No, No, Dear. Keep your money, you are like family to us since we found you six months ago and nursed you back to health." Ms. Genzi said refusing the money. Dr. Genzi stood behind her nodding his head n agreement.
Himura sighed knowing she can't force the money on them. "Arigato. Well if you excuse me I have to go to give this to the lady I found before her condition worsens and I have to bring her to you Dr. Genzi. I promise to talk to you before I leave today, that I do." She said and walked off to the other side of the town.
/~~\
Himura had just left the place where she took the herbs, and was now walking the streets of this large Zaibach town. People all over were out enjoying the festivities. There were people playing instruments on the side of the streets, kids playing games, adults making bets on who would win in the fights happening in the stadium. Himura at that moment was walking on the outside of the tall stadium going back to the market. She was also in deep thought about what Dr. Genzi said before. The word 'Manslayer' triggered many memories of her past. Even though she was only 17 she knew what a true manslayer was. 'The Bakumatsu, I wonder if I will ever return to that. How is it going without me? Being here is softening me, what would the Ishinshisi think if they saw their hitokiri acting the way I am.' Himura thought, her eyes flashing gold twice during that.
Then a hand came out and grabbed her arm. "Hey, I think I found someone to replace that guy!" The man that had grabbed Himura said. Himura found herself being pulled into the back side of the stadium. A large room opened up to show many men chatting, stretching, and warming up with weapons. Himura found herself dragged to a desk before she could even say a word. The guy let go of her and faced her.
"Hey, I am Bunjiro, look see that guy over there?" He pointed to a guy that lay knocked out on the floor. "He is supposed to fight in, shit, a few minutes. But was stupid enough to get in a small fight with that big guy way over there." Not bothering to point anyone out, for they were all big. "And we need some guy to go out and fight. I saw you had a sword. I don't care if you can use it or not, for we don't expect you to win. Everyone else has matches to get ready for and Lord Dilandau will be pissed if someone is not out there, shit." Some trumpets could be heard alone with some battle drums, "Now." He dragged her along another hall and punched her out into the center of the stadium. "Sorry guy, but we need someone to fight, and unfortunately it's going to be you." The guy finished.
"Hey Benijiro, that kid stands no chance, what he's like five foot, he's going to be down in one hit from a Dragon Slayer." The guy that used to be behind the desk said.
"Hey we needed someone to fight, it's only the first rounds, and the original guy would have lost anyway. I don't want to put the kid's life in danger but it's him or us from Dilandau-sama. And he does have a sword if he can't use it then he should not wear it." He said then went with the others to observe.
/~~\
Himura looked around. She now found herself in the middle of a huge stadium with spectators all around. A mixture of cheers and boos could be heard from them. She looked in front of her and saw a man in blue and black armor with brown hair with a sword at his side. Also a man in semiformal wear stood in the middle of them.
Himura walked up to the men with a care free look. The one is blue and black glared at him, angry about something. He then spoke to the one in the middle. "Do I have to fight him; he'll be gone in one hit!" He complained.
"Rules state you fight whoever enters the arena. You must fight him to either a knockout, death, or to a point when you have the other in a way that he can not defend himself. Clear?" The guy nodded. Himura listened and then fully understood what was happening. Then the guy instructed the two to bow to a main box on the side of the arena. Obviously a place where important people sat. Then he had them bow to each other. Then he backed away before they finished the bow, for then the fight began.
When Himura came to a full stand again once she bowed. Her facial fetchers changed dramatically. A scowl now was on her lips, and her eyes shined a fierce amber color and were slightly narrowed. The other guys eyes widened a bit at this change then went back to there fighting posture.
Then he drew his sword and charged Himura. With god-like speed Himura avoided then appeared again behind him. Then he changed directions and charged her again. This time Himura charged at him with her incredible speed. She simply avoided his strike. When she passed him, the guy's eyes widened seeing his mistake. Himura drew her sword from her side with the scabbard still on the blade and with incredible force hit the guy across the back making him fly forward and hit the ground hard and knocked out. Himura landed in a crouched position her sword arm straight with the scabbed on it still, held behind her in the air. The crowed was silent. 'Probably in shock. Humph.' Himura thought. Then she stood tall and walked towards the spot where she entered.
She saw the Bunjiro guy that brought her into this, and walked up to him with her eyes still blazing an amber color. He stood there frozen in fear of her. She grabbed the taller guy by the hair and dragged him to where the box was that she had to bow to. And threw her in front of her.
"This man had me fight unwillingly in this competition, because my opponent's original opponent was knocked out before this battle, so this baka grabbed me off the street to take his place so a Lord Dilandau would not kill him. As you saw I did not give my opponent the honor of me drawing my sword on him, I did that to save his life otherwise he would be dead right now. I am a Hitokiri. When I draw my sword it is to kill nothing else, something this baka did not know. I would kill him myself but I have a place I am to be, so I leave him to you. Plus I am sure me being female would disqualify me from this tournament, something else this baka looked over." With that she began to walk away.
/~~\
Meanwhile inside the box.
"Dilandau was that not your first in command that just lost?" A General asked the red eyed solider.
"Yes." Dilandau growled. 'Incompetence from my slayers will not be tolerated. Miguel will pay for humiliating me.' Dilandau thought. Dilandau then watched in surprise as the redhead brought a man from the crowed over and threw him in front of him and the others in the box.
After her little speech Dilandau glared at the 'baka' that was left in front of him. So this humiliation was his fault--he would pay with his life for this. Then there was a slight beep in his ear.
"Dilandau, bring that girl to the Vione."
~~~~
References-
Sama - Can mean master, lord, or the speaker's Superior in terms of being a direct inferior/servant/rank in the military of the one being addressed.
San - Connotes a politeness, and mild formality, like Ms. or Mr., usually applied with acquaintances, new or otherwise.
Dono - Much more formal than "san". It's also Ms. or Mr., but this can connote that the one speaking is inferior to the one being addressed but not directly under his/her command.
Hitokiri - Assassin/Manslayer
oro = Himura's way of showing she's surprised, confused, hurt or just plain clueless
arigato = thank you
baka = jerk, idiot
hakama = a wide-legged pants worn by men
gi = man's tunic-like garment, worn with a hakama with the tails tucked in
Bakumatsu - Blood has been shed during the Bakumatsu (the Japanese Civil War) as the lords and samurai of Japan's most powerful clans fought to determine whether the Shogun or the Emperor would rule, whether Japan would peacefully open up to the west, how Japan would adapt as a newly opened society, and of course, which clans would lead the new Japan.
Credits-
Have you ever watched Rurouni Kenshin? If you have you can defiantly see that my character Miss. Himura is allot like Kenshin Himura. So I would like to put in a little disclaimer for Rurouni Kenshin. For I got my character design from that anime. But this story is no way meant to be a cross over or anything like that. I am just using parts of that anime in my story.
Also I do not own Escaflowne, so I am putting in a disclaimer for Escaflowne.
A/N-
Thanks for reading and please review.
Edited by- Tecera