Hi everyone, it's edreinionian! I was looking for a retelling of Swan Lake on fanfiction the other day but I couldn't find any for my favourite anime! D: Although that might have been my noob skills at using the search engine... But then I thought, why not write one? So here we are. I hope I'll be able to stick with this, given all the work handling and studying I really should be doing (It's exam period)... But I'll try my best! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ruroken.
Odette's Lake Chapter 1
There was nothing more exhilarating than the adrenaline rush of hunting prey. An involuntary tingle ran up Kenshin's spine as he briefly recalled a similar but intensely more disturbing emotion from his Battousai days. Shrugging off the memories, he urged his horse forward, feeling its muscles tense and relax between his knees. He was no longer the infamous cold-blooded assassin, strongest in Japan. Not for years. His horse picked up its pace into a canter, the muffled beat of hooves on forest foliage accompanying the cheerful chirp of birds overhead. Tendrils of sunlight crept between the leaves of the towering oak and beech trees, lighting their way.
"Kenshin?"
Kenshin had almost forgotten his best friend, Sagara Sanosuke, who was trudging behind him, also on horseback, albeit less peacefully. Low-hanging branches threatened to knock unsuspecting riders off their saddles, and Kenshin had been tasked with watching out for them, being the shorter one, hence at less risk. For the past few hours, he had not been doing a very good job of it though, being distracted with the trail of their target instead. Amusement brightened Kenshin's face as Sano ducked just in time to avoid getting another bruise on his forehead, although it took a lot more than nature's vengeance on Sano for constantly destroying trees during martial arts practice to injure him substantially.
"Hey, stop spacing off! You're supposed to be warning me about these things." Sano gritted his teeth and glared at another offending branch on his right. They slowed their horses to a walk as Kenshin noted the slippery undergrowth that now crept into their path. Soon, they would have to move solely on foot, and Kenshin was certain that Sano would be better mollified with this. They were accustomed to relying on their own two feet for travel, and the horses were simply decorations to placate Kenshin's master, Seijuro Hiko.
"Shh, Sano. You'll scare it." Kenshin smiled apologetically, tugging on the reins lightly to come to a halt. Kenshin slid off his horse, patting its neck in praise as Sano followed suit. Despite the importance of the hunt, the both of them had travelled light, preferring to keep any necessary provisions close to their bodies. Two water skins, a spare hunting knife, some rope and a little food fitted well into a single satchel, which Sano carried. The only clothes they had were the ones that they wore, woollen cloaks clasped around their necks. Kenshin automatically laid his right hand on his sword that hung around his waist. A reverse-blade sakabatou that had never tasted blood, it was the only possession he had that he could truly call his own.
Sano watched Kenshin expectedly, relieved that he would not be fighting evil trees for personal space for the time being. He tied both his stallion and Kenshin's to separate trees with plenty of space to roam then proceeded to stretch his sore legs. The swordsman had a look of immense concentration on his scarred face with his eyes closed, and Sano knew better than to interrupt the process with insignificant questions. Ignoring the human aura beside him, Kenshin surveyed his surroundings by tentatively sending out his ki. He was aware that his fighting ki was formidable, and it was vital that they located their quarry's position before it sensed their presence. He disregarded the wriggling earthworms burrowing their way out from beneath the damp soil, the scuttling of insects infested throughout the entire forest, and searched for one sole heartbeat. He could almost connect the strong beat of powerful wings to that of his own limbs, folding inwards as the creature glided to land gracefully, the soft splash of water that filtered off its feathers without wetting its skin.
"It's at a lake." Kenshin said as he opened his violet eyes. It was several miles hard-trekking northeast from their current location. Although Kenshin could feel the almost physical pull of their prey ahead of them, he took out a compass from within his sleeve for Sano's benefit. Sano clenched his fists and grinned in anticipation. "Let's go then!"
Kenshin decided not to damper Sano's mood by telling him to be quiet again. He trusted his best friend to act as the moment dictated. Besides, Sano's enthusiasm was infectious in a good way, rekindling Kenshin's fire to finally snare their prey. If all went well, they would be back within Hiko's domain by sunset. Double-checking that they were indeed heading in the right direction and it was not just Kenshin's wishful delusions from being out of practice, they descended into the underbrush.
An hour later, they came to a little freshwater stream that flowed steadily downhill. The sun was high in the clear blue sky and the air was cool and humid. As they approached the stream for a short rest and to refill their water skins, small fish swam quickly out of sight. Kenshin took it as a good sign, because it meant that the lake would be brimming with edible, larger fish at this time of the year. He knelt by the stream's edge and drank the clear water, fresh iciness running through his veins. Sano splashed his face contentedly, renewing his vigour. Eager to continue their hunt, the two companions set off determinedly again.
The forest's sudden silence did not escape both hunters' attention. Uneasiness made Kenshin's hairs at the back of his neck stand up and he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, still unleashed from its scabbard. Beside him, Sano tensed, squinting around them to see as far as possible as the human eye allowed. Even this part of the forest seemed darker, with the looming trees closer together, blocking the sunshine. Kenshin motioned for Sano to note where he stepped, for the slightest sound made could prove to be their disadvantage. Avoiding twigs and crunchy-looking leaves, Kenshin made his way forward cautiously. He could feel the ki of their prey just a little farther ahead, and it was not long before unnatural splashing sounds filled their ears.
Kenshin's heart drummed in his ears, and he stiffened, certain that the uncoordinated thumping of his heart with the eerie stillness of the forest would reveal them. He took short, light breaths, and they crawled slowly on their knees closer to the lake in the clearing. Despite the openness, the air was somewhat thicker here as compared to their earlier stopping place. Mist shifted among wraith-like objects on the opposite bank, and Kenshin breathed an internal sigh of relief from identifying them as strangely-shaped rocks. Even the sky was a different colour, a gray shade that foretold a storm, and dark, endless clouds.
There was a strategic spot between thick shrubs where they could ambush their quarry. Although it was extremely uncomfortable with sharp branches and itchy leaves poking through their clothing, neither of them showed any discomfort as they watched the lone creature in the middle of the lake.
A swan.
The lake's mirror surface was mostly undisturbed, except for the small ripples that appeared in the water as the swan paddled gently. Its head was bowed as though in reverence or mourning. They were close enough to note the pale blue tinge in the tips of its snow-white feathers, but it was completely oblivious to their presence. Kenshin knew that this was no ordinary swan for it dared venture where no other animal would. Judging from the swan's size and the gold hue of its beak, Kenshin determined that it was a female, possible the queen of its breed. Yet, it was odd that this queen should stray so far from her herd.
"Sano, the blowpipe." Kenshin whispered, and Sano wordlessly removed a small flute-like object from the front pocket of his satchel. Kenshin took his time fitting the drugged barb into the catchment of the pipe, careful not to alert the swan into suspicion.
Kenshin could not rely on his swordsmanship to bring down their prey with precision. Their week's efforts and success rested on his aim. Positioning the flute in an inconspicuous gap amidst the bushes, Kenshin ensured that his hand was steady before placing his lips over the blow-hole. They had one chance.
The swan started in sudden wariness as the barb connected with its neck, and Sano stood abruptly, throwing off his cloak. It spread its wings in a single motion but its plumed head dipped drowsily as the drug took immediate effect. Kenshin admired the swan's stubbornness as it frantically beat its wings in futility. Megumi's drug was not only able to anaesthetize anything not larger than a human being, but also paralyze. Sano splashed noisily towards the swan, reaching it in time to lift its neck so that it would not drown, as Kenshin approached the water's edge.
"We got it!" Sano exclaimed triumphantly. Kenshin took off his cloak to wrap it firmly around the swan, held together by Hiko's bestowed clasp, so that it would not be able to escape if it woke. Kenshin tied the swan's beak together with the piece of rope that they had brought with them so that it may not attack them unexpectedly.
"Aren't we going to eat it?" Sano asked in surprise as Kenshin heaved it into his arms, holding its neck tenderly away from his face just in case it decided to stab him when the drug wore off. Kenshin waited patiently as Sano squeezed some water out of his clothes and covered himself with his own dry cloak.
"I think it's better if we got out of here first." Kenshin shook his head. "We are not welcome here." At Kenshin's words, Sano looked around him in alarm, and then shot a sardonic stare at Kenshin to conceal his nervousness. Sano grabbed his bag at his feet and walked swiftly back the way they had come, Kenshin close behind. At the base of the forest, Kenshin shot one last glance toward the lake. It had resumed its calm, unmoving state. He turned away, echoing Sano's footsteps.
If Kenshin had waited a bit longer, he would have seen a mild disturbance in the middle of the lake's surface by an invisible force.
Their hunt had taken longer than Kenshin had anticipated. They were back at their initial resting place and they had set up camp for the night. Dinner consisted of draining their water skins dry and refilling, then draining it again, in an attempt to stave their hunger. Kenshin was accustomed to going without food for long periods of time, but Sano frequently ate like there was no tomorrow. Kenshin knew that they would definitely be back in Hiko's fortress the next day and welcomed with a hearty meal, but at the moment, persisting onwards in the darkness was a foolish thing to consider. Before coming into the employment of his old master, Kenshin had experience as a vagabond that things that looked perfectly harmless in the day time were different once night had fallen.
Sano was casually resting against a flat rock near the small fire they had set up, his arms folded behind his head as he watched the sky darken into the same shade as Kenshin's hair, marking the sunset. Distant stars blinked dully in the not-quite darkness, but they would make an illuminating appearance later on in the night. Kenshin kept his eyes on the swan, his mind settling into some form of peace.
"Hey, Kenshin." Sano said from across the fire. "Why'd we come all this way to get a swan when we're not going to pluck it and eat it?" At the mention of eating, Sano's stomach rumbled loudly and Kenshin chuckled.
"Hiko told me to bring it back alive. It's another of his eccentric whims, I presume." Kenshin said, stoking the fire. The flames lapped up the dry twigs hungrily and burned brighter, spreading warmth over the two companions and captive swan.
"Man, he'd better reward us big time for our efforts." Sano grumbled. He paused before saying, "I thought we were going after something big, like a dragon."
"Dragons don't exist, Sano." Kenshin laughed. "In this peaceful era, the only thing close enough to battles is hunting trips like these. No killing. That's how it should be."
"That's no fun." Sano remarked, half-heartedly. Although there was still some unrest in certain provinces of Japan, most lived in the newly acquired peace now. There was almost no point to Kenshin's aimless journeys, but home did not exist for him. Kenshin had not dared to allow himself any wishes or aspirations, only atonement for his past sins. Not while some still recognized him as Battousai, from the cross-shaped scar on his face that would never fade away.
Kenshin thought that Sano was pondering over his own memories from the past, from the shadows that left their own invisible but permanent mark on the eighteen-year-old youth's face.
A wriggle from the bundle Kenshin was absent-mindedly keeping watch over snapped his thoughts back to the present. Kenshin averted his gaze as he had heard wild animals became nervous under human stare, but from the corner of his eye, he saw the swan struggle within its form of imprisonment.
Sano sat up in interest, resting his chin on his right hand while eyeing the swan steadily. Apparently, Sano had no qualms about intimidating wild animals into aggression whatsoever. The swan was becoming more agitated by the minute and was pecking furiously at the cloak's clasp. Without thinking, Kenshin reached toward the bundle of angry feathers and bird, and earned a hard peck that left his hand oozing blood.
"That's one nasty bird." Sano let out a bark of laughter but stopped mid-laugh when he noticed that the swan's feathers had fallen out in mass amounts, blanketing the ground in a layer of white. The moon now hanging in the black sky shone its silver light onto the swan, highlighting the unusual sight before their eyes.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Kenshin muttered to no one in particular, now outright staring at the swan in shock. He did not really expect an answer from Sano, who was also stunned into numbness. It seemed impossible that the swan had so many feathers to shed, and that it had done so within a few seconds. The moonlight around the swan glowed increasingly brighter, forcing Kenshin to squint to see what was happening. His sensitive ears detected a shrill ringing and the shift in air currents, and a bugle, the only sound he had ever heard the swan make so far.
When the surrounding light had dimmed Kenshin's cloak no longer enveloped the elegant creature they had caught earlier, but a dishevelled and rather distressed young woman. She was one of the shortest women Kenshin had ever seen, a good head shorter than he was, and amongst men, Kenshin knew that his height would have been the epitome of jokes along the lines of lack of manliness were it not for his fearsome reputation. Her eyes were closed from the exhausting transformation, her shuddering breaths wracking spasms through her body within the cloak. The rope hung loose around her neck, giving her a collared appearance. Despite the unsettling sight of a helpless woman trapped in his cloak, Kenshin found that his body did not obey his mind to move and help for once. Glancing at Sano, whose jaw was slack, Kenshin wondered if he had fallen asleep and was now having this ridiculous dream without realizing.
"Kenshin, punch me here." Sano cocked his head to the side, tapping his face. Since Sano would never ask him to do so without good reason, Kenshin happily obliged. The blow barely staggered Sano, but his mind cleared. Without warning, Sano returned the punch twice-fold, and Kenshin was knocked to the ground.
"Oro?" Kenshin blurted out his trademark surprised statement. Sano grinned at him and held out a hand, pulling him up to his feet again. Kenshin started to smile in confusion, and then winced as the action pulled at his bruised cheekbone.
"I hope this doesn't leave me with a black eye tomorrow, Sano. Hiko will laugh his head off." Kenshin sighed.
"Putting Hiko aside, now that we're sure this isn't a dream..." Sano rubbed the back of his neck and inhaled a deep breath. "What the hell just happened?"
Kenshin shrugged, advancing slowly and then kneeling down in front of the woman, who was now lying on her side, not daring to move a muscle. Her eyes never left Kenshin as he came closer, terror draining the blood from her already-pale face. In the moonlight, her eyes were like blue crystals that hung precariously in ice caverns, flecks of azure sharpening her gaze. Long, midnight-black hair cradled her face, streaming around her. Her head and part of her slender neck were the only things that poked out from within the folds of Kenshin's cloak, and he could not ascertain if she really was human.
"Miss?" Kenshin paused, uncertain of what to do or ask first. She flinched visibly at the sound of his voice and tried to scramble backwards to no avail. Her mouth was clamped tightly shut, and there was a look of feral wildness glazing her eyes.
"Um, are you... are you decent under there?" Kenshin asked awkwardly, ignoring the muffled chuckle that exploded behind him. "What I mean is, are you wearing anything? I'd like to free you from that cloak but that's going to be a little problematic if you're... not, de-gozaru." A flicker of confusion flitted across her eyes, but her lips were set in a grim, straight line. "We're not going to hurt you." Kenshin added for good measure.
"Maybe she's dumb. Or mute. Or dumb and mute." Sano suggested unhelpfully. He sensed that the woman would panic if too many people approached her at the same time. Besides, Kenshin was the clever one with words. At the insult, the woman flushed in indignation, which immediately cast all Kenshin's doubts about her intelligence out the window, despite the fact that she had somehow morphed from a full-fledged swan.
"Okay, forget that. Then, are you human?" Kenshin asked. It was a simple, uncomplicated question but the woman refused to answer. She continued to stare at him, wide-eyed. Her scrutiny made him uncomfortable, for he had not had much experience with handling women. Fortunately, it was not a cold night and Kenshin reasoned that she could remain in the cloak for a little while longer. Releasing her was out of the question, as this was the swan that Hiko had been setting his sights on for months since he heard about the legend of Odette's Lake. After all their careful planning and preparations, this was one quarry Kenshin was determined not to let go.
To Be Continued in Chapter 2
Please Review! Suggestions for the plot (I haven't thought that far ahead yet...), advice, flames (they keep me grounded :) ) welcome!