Getting Noticed
A Rurouni Kenshin One Hour Fic
by Krista Perry
~*~
The training field is full of men of all shapes and sizes,
wielding all sorts of weapons, and all these men have the same
thing in common. They are much bigger than I am. And older.
More experienced? Maybe. Maybe some of these men have
already killed someone...
I'll think about that later.
Right now, I have to prove myself. Already, as I walk
through the muddy field towards the training post that has just
been erected to replace the old battered one, I can hear the men
starting to laugh as they see me.
This is nothing new. Master Hiko laughed at me all the
time, calling me weak and stupid as he knocked me to the ground
time and again with his superior skill. I'm such a "scrawny
runt," as he told me unkindly, that no one would ever take me
seriously as a swordsman. He mocked me so often, that I
eventually became somewhat immune to his taunts, focusing instead
on the techniques of the sword rather than his words.
And now, as I listen impassively to the laughs and whispers
all around me, I suddenly wonder with surprise if that was part
of Master's training as well.
I really don't care what these men think. But Kogoro
Katsura, the leader of the Choshu branch of the Ishin Shishi,
stands upon the hill that overlooks this field. He is watching,
searching, seeing which men will best serve him as part of the
army that will fight to bring in a new era, where people can live
free of oppression.
I wait until he notices me...
Ah. Now. He has noticed the stir amongst his men caused by
my presence. I can feel his eyes on me, watching with mild
amusement and curiosity.
"Aw, look," says a voice behind me. "He brought his own
sword and everything."
"Go on, kid, give it your best shot."
"Hey kid, if you can do it in two blows, I'll give you a
tael."
I glance at the last man who spoke. Yuma-san. The man in
charge, at the moment, who let me on to this field only to watch
me humiliate myself. He is grinning widely. The rest of the men
within earshot chuckle loudly.
I stand before the post and rest my hand lightly on the hilt
of my katana.
*Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Soo Ryu Sen.*
The power and speed that flow through my attack sends the
top half of the post flying to land at the feet of a startled man
standing a stone's throw away.
The men fall silent. There is no sound on the field except
for the light brush of wind that whispers through the grasses.
From the top of the hill, I can feel Kogoro-sama's
amazement, his sudden excitement permeating his ki, and I almost
smile.
"I believe," I say quietly, turning to Yuma-san, who's eyes
are bulging from his head, "that you owe me a tael."
~*~
End
A Rurouni Kenshin One Hour Fic
by Krista Perry
~*~
The training field is full of men of all shapes and sizes,
wielding all sorts of weapons, and all these men have the same
thing in common. They are much bigger than I am. And older.
More experienced? Maybe. Maybe some of these men have
already killed someone...
I'll think about that later.
Right now, I have to prove myself. Already, as I walk
through the muddy field towards the training post that has just
been erected to replace the old battered one, I can hear the men
starting to laugh as they see me.
This is nothing new. Master Hiko laughed at me all the
time, calling me weak and stupid as he knocked me to the ground
time and again with his superior skill. I'm such a "scrawny
runt," as he told me unkindly, that no one would ever take me
seriously as a swordsman. He mocked me so often, that I
eventually became somewhat immune to his taunts, focusing instead
on the techniques of the sword rather than his words.
And now, as I listen impassively to the laughs and whispers
all around me, I suddenly wonder with surprise if that was part
of Master's training as well.
I really don't care what these men think. But Kogoro
Katsura, the leader of the Choshu branch of the Ishin Shishi,
stands upon the hill that overlooks this field. He is watching,
searching, seeing which men will best serve him as part of the
army that will fight to bring in a new era, where people can live
free of oppression.
I wait until he notices me...
Ah. Now. He has noticed the stir amongst his men caused by
my presence. I can feel his eyes on me, watching with mild
amusement and curiosity.
"Aw, look," says a voice behind me. "He brought his own
sword and everything."
"Go on, kid, give it your best shot."
"Hey kid, if you can do it in two blows, I'll give you a
tael."
I glance at the last man who spoke. Yuma-san. The man in
charge, at the moment, who let me on to this field only to watch
me humiliate myself. He is grinning widely. The rest of the men
within earshot chuckle loudly.
I stand before the post and rest my hand lightly on the hilt
of my katana.
*Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Soo Ryu Sen.*
The power and speed that flow through my attack sends the
top half of the post flying to land at the feet of a startled man
standing a stone's throw away.
The men fall silent. There is no sound on the field except
for the light brush of wind that whispers through the grasses.
From the top of the hill, I can feel Kogoro-sama's
amazement, his sudden excitement permeating his ki, and I almost
smile.
"I believe," I say quietly, turning to Yuma-san, who's eyes
are bulging from his head, "that you owe me a tael."
~*~
End