A Reconciliation Fic
Written: 14 September 2006 and again on 18 September
Posted: 18 September 2006, rev. 0
Category: Drama.
Summary: See Notes
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Notes: Welcome to the first of the Reconciliation fics, which examine Kenshin's relationship with Hiko when they meet after Kenshin's wandering years. This first little collection was inspired by LadyRhiyana's Shishou ficlet collection, tasty little bites of Hiko's view of his student. Do go read them. This particular chapter also references my story This Is Swordsmanship? (Adoption III).
Glossary: At end of document.
This chapter: Kenshin finally gets part of Hiko's teaching through his thick skull.
3. So It's Not SwordsmanshipI shake my head, and half-chuckle, half-sigh. Now you are far away, shishou, and still good company.
I've just spent the last half-hour stretched out on a little hill outside a little town in Shizuoka prefecture, watching cicadas, winecups, butterflies, lanterns, and ashinagayakko dance in the spring sky. As the kites whirled and dashed through the air, I tried to decide if they were more like music with their rhythm and swoop, or poetry with their power and dash.
And now I do laugh. Oh, shishou, you were right: maybe I can't take out an opponent with a love poem or a shakuhachi piece, but I can see even more beauty and gaiety in this wonderful skydance. Maybe it's not swordmanship, but maybe all those useless things are the best things you ever taught me.
Owari
Glossary
Ki—spirit,
essence, presence
Owari—The end
Shakuhachi—Traditional
Japanese flute
Shishou—master of an art or craft, who
teaches
