A/N- Hello everyone:ducks down, mess getting hit in the face with a tomato: I know, I know it looks like it took me forever to get this chapter up, but I was trying hard not to mess up the fighting scenes so I locked myself on the Internet and any and all TV programs and anime music videos that showed Kenshin fighting so I got a good idea of how the Hiten Style works. As well as studying Kaoru's style of fighting as well.
See your author cares about you guys so much that she did all that unnecessary studying just to appease and entertain you. And plus I had to re-type this chapter. Now before we begin I will tell you this... Kaoru will have moves created by ME to help her stand a chance and to look cool.
Now a lot of you, I'm sure, were questioning the Shura thing and well that will all be explained in the chapter as well as who the freak she is for people who have no clue. And also just to let you know Kenshin won't fall for Kaoru so easily as some authors tend to make him.
Swords and Roses
Chapter 4: Battles and Memories
"Sano!" Kenshin called as he saw his friend hit the wall. "Stay here..." Kenshin said sternly as he looked to Kaoru.
Kaoru saw that again Kenshin's eyes were like the way they were when she saw them in the training room. She nodded, but knitted her eyebrows together angrily as Kenshin ran up to help Sano.
'If he thinks for one minute I'm staying out of this, he got another thing coming.' She thought.
As Kenshin ran up to them, Sano picked himself up weakly.
"You'll pay for that you bastard." Sano growled. "Yes, he will." Kenshin said gravely as he made it by Sano's side.
"Hey buddy. Where ya been? I was getting the idea you wanted me to kick Gohie's goon's asses all by myself." Sano said jokingly. "Now why would I leave all the fun to you?" Kenshin asked giving a small smile as he got into a fighting stance.
The person who threw Sano growled lowly as he toke on his own fighting stance. He wore an all black ninja suit and mouth mask.
"You'll not get away with your words!" The enemy vowed.
"And you'll not get away with what you did to Yahiko and Megumi" Sano said grimly getting into his fighting stance.
Kenshin eyed Sano out the corner of his eyes for a moment.
Sano never in his life would call Megumi by her first name. He always called her 'doc' or 'fox', but never just Megumi. He only called her by her first name unless he was really pissed off beyond noble reason by her or someone else. And this bastard must have just done that.
The young man growled as he stupidly pulled out his sword and made a move to hit an unmoving Kenshin in the shoulder blade. Though he only met air as he brought down the weapon.
"You'll have to do better than that to get rid of me." Kenshin said from behind the man.
And dumbly the man turned his head to see the owner of the voice and two fists made bulls eye contact with his face sending him backwards.
Blood somewhat splashed and got on Kenshin and Sano's fists. Yet Sano and Kenshin were so focused on the enemy in front of them they didn't notice the dark figure that snuck up on the attempted fleeing Megumi.
But Kaoru saw and immediately responded to the situation while Sano and Kenshin continued their fight with the dumb ass bastard who got back up.
"Heheheh. You thought you could get away didn't you little fox." The dark voice called from behind Megumi.
Just as she was about to scream he covered her mouth and muffled her sounds.
"You should know better. Those two won't always be there to protect you." He laughed in her ear. "Let her GO!" Kaoru yelled from behind as the tip of her well-hidden bokken made contact with the man's face.
Instantly the man let go of Megumi and grabbed his aching head. As she hit the ground Yahiko fell out of her arms.
"You bitch! Who the hell are you?" The man yelled angrily.
Kaoru stood over Yahiko and Megumi, sword pointed in front of her.
"Oh come on you know you liked that. And my name is not important." She purred as a humorous gesture and winked at him for good measures.
The man growled angrily and pulled out his real sword.
"I'll cut your wooden sword to bits. Then I'll make you pay for hitting me in the face." The man threatened as he narrowed his eyes.
"Oh how I'd love to see you try. The only way you can cut my weapon is one if you can actually fight with that scrap of medal or two if I LET you." Kaoru stated clearly getting on his nerves, but being serious.
"You'll NOT make a mockery of me!" He shouted as he charged towards Kaoru. Kaoru gripped her bokken tighter as she awaited his attack.
As Sano and Kenshin finished with their adversary they turned around to see Kaoru getting into a defensive stance. Before her the tall man and Yahiko and Megumi behind her.
"Kaoru!" Sano yelled as the man started to charge right at her.
Out the corner of her eyes she could see Megumi once again gather Yahiko in her arms, but fail to move. Once she saw the tall male charge at them she froze on the spot. Kaoru growled as she prepared to do something that was virtually impossible to do in a kimono.
Just as the mysterious person towered over her, sword held high, Kaoru quickly turned around so her back was to him and jump up further away from the attack. While doing so she just as quickly, if not faster, pushed Megumi and Yahiko away with a swift slash that sent them skidding into the side wall. They weren't really hurt, hurt just sore from the sudden assault.
The moment she used to slash them out of the way while she jumped to dodge the guy's attack. The man's sword came down and just missed her, but got her obi.
Kaoru felt the fabric cut in half before it fell at her side and in a blink of an eye she turned on her one heel and with the other foot kick the man forcefully on the side of his head knocking him to the ground. As the man fell so did Kaoru's obi in two pieces.
"Damn it" She muttered as she grabbed her kimono at the fold to keep it from opening.
"Kaoru! Are you okay?" Sano asked as he and Kenshin ran up to her.
Kenshin looked over at the person that dared to attack Kaoru, then back up at her.
"I told you to stay put." Kenshin said angrily as he stopped her from answering Sano. "I sure as hell couldn't just stand there and watch him take off with her and the kid." Kaoru replied just as angrily.
'He can't really be serious!' She thought.
"But you're wearing a kimono!" Sano stated defending Kenshin. He didn't really understand Kenshin's anger, but knew better than to go against him.
"We could have handled it basically is what we're saying." Kenshin said as calmly as he could.
Thoughts of 'what ifs' ran through his head as watched in fascination and horror as she took on the huge guy.
"I know that, but they needed help the instant that tub of lard snuck up behind her, not after the fact. Besides I knew what I was doing." Kaoru said as she knitted her eyebrows together in frustration.
"We're not saying you didn't, but what we are saying is even though you do know what you're doing, we know better." Sano said as walked over to Megumi and Yahiko hoping that would stop the argument.
Kaoru growled, but didn't say anything. The last thing she wanted to do was start another fight. Just as Kaoru and Kenshin were about to follow Sano's lead, the man's arm twitched.
Kaoru stopped walking.
"What's the matter?" Kenshin asked as he too stopped walking a couple steps after her. "I thought I saw his arm move." She answered starring at the still body. Kenshin followed her gaze. Though the arm or any other part of his body for that matter didn't move.
"Maybe you imagined it. He's completely stone cold out." Sano said as he over heard Kaoru's words.
Kenshin nodded his head in agreement with Sano, but notice as Kaoru shook her head 'no'.
"I know what I saw." Was all she said and all that was needed to be said as the man shockingly shot straight up from his laying position on the ground just moments ago.
Instinctively Kenshin jumped in front of Kaoru in his fighting stance ready to protect her and all of his friends.
Snarling, the dude ripped off his mask and wiped the blood that trickled down his mouth thanks to that last kick Kaoru gave him.
"You tramp! I was going to take it easy on you, but now...now I'm really angry. Step from behind him and face me like a good little whore." "Gohie! Your fight is no longer with her, but with me!" Kenshin challenged.
"No, she was brave enough to start this fight with me, then she will be brave enough to finish it." He said, his ugly hazel eyes glinting with anger.
"But she's not even fit to fight you." Kenshin protested.
Just then Kenshin felt a soft, warm hand touch the hand that was above the handle of his sword. He looked up and notice it was Kaoru. She starred him deep in his eyes. Looking into his entire being, his soul. With unspoken words she sought out his fighter's sprit and with finding that she showed him her own.
Looking into her fighter's sprit he saw the flame of desire to fight and with that he nodded his head to her and backed down. Sano, Megumi, and the now awaken Yahiko watched them in confusion as to why Kenshin backed down when all she did was look at him.
Gohie was at a lost for words as to what happen, but was just happy as the young maiden turned around determination shining off of those beautiful eyes of hers.
"So you plan on facing me with just a wooden sword and an obi less kimono on?" He asked chuckling a bit. "Oh I get it. You hope I'd get distracted by what I see then?" He joked. Kaoru stared at the perverted man.
He was tall, that goes without saying. He was ugly beyond belief, a face only a mother could love and a village could hate. He had greasy, brown hair and an equally greasy mustache. He had huge muscles. But from what he shown her so far he didn't know how to use them. He was a left- handed swordsman and he smelled very bad.
"Well?" Gohie asked impatiently as he wanted a response of retaliation from her.
She smirked as she notice another thing about him. He was easy to read. An open book if you will. He was the type of fighter who demanded your attention whether it was in the form of fighting or running that obnoxious mouth of his.
"No, I don't intend to fight dressed like this." She finally answered still smirking. "Then how do you wish to fight me then?" Kaoru didn't say a word to answer him, but instead she took off the kimono completely. Gohie's mouth nearly dropped.
At first, given Gohie's expression, Kenshin and the other thought she flashed him, but then they noticed she had her fighting clothes on under her kimono. But Sano and Kenshin were shock because the kimono she wore that day fit just like the one she wore the night she came. There was absolutely no way to tell she had anything on under it because it looked like nothing was under it.
And Kenshin knew for a fact that night when she arrived that there was nothing under her kimono because when he was giving her, her towels for the bath, as he walked out he looked out the corner of his eyes as she started to take off her clothing. His eyes met her bare back that was flawless.
'Mistress of Deception...not bad Kaoru.' Kenshin thought with a smirk. He had to give her, her credit. This was the second time she had managed to shock him speechless. And very few women and men for that matter ever did that.
Gohie had sworn she had the most gorgeous body with clothes on he had ever seen.
'Two layers! And still the same results... if not better!' He thought over and over again. He stood there for a moment. Mouth agape and wide eyed. The woman had skill, grace and beauty. The three must untrustworthy traits a woman could ever possess.
And it was apparent to him that this young temptress knew exactly how to use those factors too.
There were far worse things a woman could ever do to a man in battle than the other way around. Most women who possessed Kaoru's 'blessed' traits didn't even know to what extent they could use it and manipulate it. But Gohie from just looking at her, he sensed exactly in some weird way he was making a grave mistake. A mistake he will find latter on down the road to lead to his down fall.
"SO what are you going to do? Stand there all day and catch flies in your mouth OR attempt to even punish me like you said?" Kaoru taunted gaining his attention. What she hated more than anything was an unfocused adversary.
Gohie shook his head and entered his own stance as he noticed she was already in her's.
"Have patience beautiful. Your punishment will come with time. I promise" Gohie stated grinning like a jackal. Kaoru only narrowed her eyes. "Attack me." She stated monotone.
The command was so low and yet so dark Gohie at first thought he didn't hear her and then he thought for only a brief second that he feared her.
Hesitant Gohie readied himself for an attack. "This time I WON'T miss!" Gohie yelled as he once again charged towards her.
"Hey watch out! He's really powerful!" Yahiko yelled out to her. Kaoru disregarded his words. One person's opinion didn't matter right now. If she wanted to know how strong he was then this match would decide just that.
"You should be moving little girl. This attack usually keeps my opponents from moving ever again." Gohie stated as he was now once again, sword held high above his head. Just as he was about to bring it down Kaoru quickly side-stepped the attack and once his sword was brought down she brought down her own sword hitting his hand twice to loosen his grip on his sword.
"Urgh!" He growled. He nearly dropped the sword, but Kaoru was one step ahead already. Since she had hit his hand twice trying to knock the sword out of his hands he leaned in a bit. She chose that moment of weakness to swiftly twirl behind him and land a slash to his back making him fall on the ground headfirst.
All the witness mouths dropped. Never before had anyone, anyone ever managed to knock Gohie down just a matter of seconds into a round. No one...
Yahiko starred at the mysterious young girl with wide eyes.
All his life, as far back as he could remember he had to work for Gohie.
His parent's death, he soon came to realize, was not in fact of diseases like he was told so many times before, but because of some assassin that work with Gohie killed them off to get their hands on him. Since then he was forced to become a pickpocket and spy for them. And when he didn't do his job properly or not at all, which was a lot, he had to answer to Gohie.
Every time the punishment more severe than the last. He was powerful and each punch he took and each kicked that was lashed out at him made him feel like he was going to snap in half.
He hated him...and every last one of those goons who had worked for him in making his life a living hell. He had sworn to himself that when he would get older he would get even with Gohie and everyone else.
But to see this...A mere girl he didn't know the name of slap him around like so made him realize just exactly how weak he was. At least he hoped he was as weak as she made him appear just moments ago as he watch Gohie pick himself back up from the muddy Earth.
"You're really starting to piss me off." Gohie said through clenched teeth as he stood up grabbing his sword.
"What a couple hits to the face and hands plus a slap on the back drives you insane?" She mocked while wearing a serious face. "If you can't contain a so called 'little girl' then why challenge me or anyone else? It's obvious you're not worth the time. Your kind makes me sick. You pick on the people weaker than you to make yourself look stronger." Kaoru stated angrily.
The fire that shone from her eyes brought chills down Gohie's spine.
'There's something about her that's familiar.' He thought as he continued to look at her. Every second that passed with her starring at him with those burning eyes he slowly grew fearful.
"Fine then if you're not gonna attack then I will!" she shouted as she began to charge right for him.
Gohie gripped his sword tighter as she ran straight for him.
"I got you now! "He shouted with pride as he realized the attacking stance she took. As Kaoru advanced on him she suddenly blinked out of sight right up on him. Gohie then threw he sword up to the left of him and a loud smack of the two swords sounded off the walls of the alley.
"Heheh. Not bad for the daughter of a Sensei Kamiya!" Gohie stated with a grin as he and Kaoru started their sword to sword power struggling, trying to push back the other with heir own strength.
"So I see you use to be a student then?" Kaoru stated returning the grin and even stifling a chuckle. "Yep." Gohie replied.
"Then you mustn't have been a very good one then." "What?" Gohie shouted as he put more pressure onto the sword. Kaoru slide back a little.
"You heard me." Kaoru said as if she was struggling to stay evenly matched with him. "Because if you were a really good student then you would have remembered something my father first taught you when it came to being on the defensive/offensive side of a match." Kaoru said as she demonstrated by adding a little more of her strength to the struggle earning more of Gohie's.
"I was top of my class! Your father grew jealous of my successes and kicked me out." After hearing him speak of her father like so she backed off and she used his strength to push him forward towards her and hit him on the head with her sword, she stepped back then quickly stepped back up to point the sword in his gut forcing him back.
Gohie went sailing into the wall across from them hitting garbage cans there in the process. Kaoru sighed and put away her weapon by sliding it halfway down the side of her pants. Using the waist tie to hold it steady.
"Let's go before he wakes back up waiting more." Kaoru stated as she turned her attention back to everyone else.
They all looked at her wide eyed as if she were crazy, but nodded their heads all the same to leave.
"Owwww!" Yahiko yelled as Megumi put some herbs on his wounded arm.
They stun really bad and he could bearly contain the urge to cry out every once and a while.
"Oh quit being such a baby Yahiko-chan." Megumi scolded. "Quite calling me little." He responded coldly once the pain subsided. Megumi rolled her eyes as she finished tying the bandage to his arm. With a sigh she looked over to her last patient of the day ...Sano.
"You're next Rooster." She stated flatly.
He was sitting in a dark corner of his apartment he just got back; his eye's fixed on her.
"Oi, so now I exist in your little world? I'm one of the people that you actually consider to worry about now." Sano stated icily.
Megumi shook at the tone of his voice. It was so drench in anger she could feel it. Her betrayal she figured would lead him to never trust her again.
"Just come on and let me check your wounds before they get a chance to get worse." Megumi said in a small voice.
With a forced sigh he got up and walked over to her. He sat down in front of her and took off his jacket so she could examine him. Megumi took a delicate hand and placed it near a fresh cut he had gotten from the previous battle with Gohie and his mind slaves.
Sanosuke's muscles tensed at her touch and she almost broke into tears then. But she was a strong woman and she wouldn't allow herself to cry in front of him. Though she knew she had to say something. Megumi exhaled heavily before she spoke.
"Nothing serious this time. Just a big scratch. All I have to do is clean it then wrap it-" Megumi was cut off. "With all do respect Megumi I would like to take of my injuries myself." He replied.
Picking up his jacket Sano got up from his spot in front of Megumi and headed for another small room where Kenshin and Kaoru were. Yahiko had already left to go somewhere, but Sano and Megumi didn't worry about anyone coming after him though.
"Sano wait!" Megumi rushed. She covered her mouth not wanting to sound as desperate as she did. Sano stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. Megumi turned her head away too ashamed to look him in the eye.
"What?" He asked as if he was annoyed.
"I...just wanted to say I-I was sorry and that-" "Sorry? Your telling me you're sorry? Doc sorry isn't going to undo what you did! You got Yahiko nearly killed and yourself not to mention. And worse you got Kaoru involved into this street war that she has no business being in!" He said his full rage was released.
"I didn't mean to do it! I had no choice!" Megumi argued. Her voice was filled with truth and sadness.
Sano nearly felt sorry for her. Nearly being the keyword. It would be too soon for him to start trusting her again. There were a lot of things he was angry at right now and he knew if he didn't leave her now then someone would end up getting hurt.
So Sano turned his back to her and continued his way back toward the other room. But before he completely left Megumi alone he spoke to her.
"You know it's strange how you call Yahiko little when he at least can say 'no' unlike some supposedly mature, older people." The words he spoke he said without turning around.
In Megumi's mind she didn't understand what he meant. But before she could question him he was gone. And when she was sure of that she broke down into tears.
After running a ways away from Gohie everyone agreed that since Sano' s home was closer they would head there first before returning to the dojo. After helping out as much as she could Kaoru headed into the spare room.
She needed a small break from everyone.
She looked around the small room and picked to sit against the wall that faced the door. She sat down crossed legged and closed her eyes to reflect on the days events.
First off she scheduled a fight between one of her uncle's students, then she learned her way around town and then she got into that fight with Gohie.
'What a perfect way to start off your new life in Kyoto Kaoru.' Kaoru thought sourly. She sighed deeply as she tried to remember something else that sparked her interest. Who was Gohie?
Sure she figured out that he was once at one time a student at the Kamiya Dojo, but the dojo was only as old as Kenshin and very, very few students that did flock there passed as the next assessor. And she was one of the few.
She had mastered the technique before her father died and her father was the original master/founder of the style and the only other one that would prove as an assessor would be Shohaku Iske. One of her students that was ready to move on and gain the title of master.
Kaoru was thrown from her train of thought when Kenshin's voice ranged through the room.
"Kaoru?" She looked up to see him enter the small room she resided in and closed the door behind him. He sat down against the wall across from her. His eyes were their normal calm violet color and they bore a hole in her. Kaoru could read from the look in his eyes and by the feel of the air around him that he was still upset about earlier and that an argument was pretty much on the way.
Years of living with her father had taught her well.
"You were lucky today Kaoru. Gohie never fights anybody without them getting injured in some weird way." Kenshin started.
"I told you I can fend for myself Kenshin. I'm not a little child." Kaoru retorted stubbornly. "Kaoru! This isn't Tokyo you're in. This is Kyoto. Tokyo and Kyoto may sound very much the same, but they're two totally different places." Kenshin said with a scowl on his face.
"I know that Kenshin. Which is why I challenged that boy so I can figure where I stand here! You truly think I'm clueless don't you?" Kaoru asked as she stood up from her spot on the floor.
Kenshin looked at her for a second before he answered her.
"Kaoru it's not that I think you're clueless, but that you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Here people have to wonder when they walk out the comfort of there home will they come back. People who fight. There are many gangs that are connected to each other serving one boss. And if you go around knocking out group leaders like that then you'll be titled instantly a enemy and they come after you." Kenshin said standing up too to prove his point.
Kaoru shifted her eyes from Kenshin's stern face to the wooden floorboards letting Kenshin's words sink into her head.
'Maybe leaving here won't be entirely like I thought it would be.' She thought. Kaoru looked back up to Kenshin. Seriousness etched all over her.
"If innocent people are going to get hurt than I'm willing to risk my life protecting them like you did for Sano and when you stood up for me." Kaoru so low and dark, like when she told Gohie to attack sent a shiver down Kenshin's spine.
"You're not Super Woman."He retorted."And you're not Super Man." Kaoru rcountered.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. Kaoru sighed as she turned around then back again.
"Kenshin we can argue all day long about this, but my answer will always be the same. No matter what you say, how dangerous, even life threatening I can't turn my back on people in need of my help. I refuse to stand by and watch people get hurt or taken away if I know I could make the slightest difference, no matter how small." Kaoru explained almost in a passionate way.
Kenshin was about to say something else, but Sano entered the room stopping them from continuing.
Sano notice the eerie silence and the fact that, though Kaoru wasn't noticing, Kenshin was glaring amber daggers at her. He cleared his throat while making himself comfortable by leaning against the door.
"So how's the kid and the young woman?" Kaoru asked concern. Sano snorted.
"They're just fine." Sano stated sourly. Kaoru bit her lip.
"Did I ask something wrong?" She asked worridly. "No...Just that..." Sano stopped talking to sigh. "The kid got a lot of cuts and a few bruises." Sano explained.
"And the young woman?" Kaoru probed."She just have a big bruise where you hit her." Sano stated. Kaoru nodded her head.
"What about you? You know if you have any problems Megumi can check it out for you. She's learning how to be a doctor. Right now she's just at nurse status." Sano said looking up at her. He noted that her face lightened up a lot and a small smirk tugged at her lips.
"No...no I'm fine. As long as they are okay I don't really matter." Kaoru answered him.
"F'you say so." Sano said with a shrug. "But I'm interested as t how you were able to hide that second pair of clothes? I mean it didn't look like you had anything under the kimono you were wearing," Sano said, eyes fixed on her. Kenshin too focused his eyes on her curious as well.
Kaoru simply smirked and began walking towards the exit Sano guarded.
"The Kamiya Kasshin Dojo holds many secrets. Though most are never really that hard to figure out."
Sano looked over at Kenshin confused and Kenshin starred at her.
"Kenshin we must go. Uncle wanted us back with groceries a long time ago. I don't want to keep him waiting. Besides I still don't know my way around the city completely yet.
Days went by since the whole Gohie thing and word got round of what happen fast because of Yahiko. And when Sano had walked out on Megumi she ran to her best friends, Tomoe and Shuura, for comfort and to also tell them what happened in the alley.
Now when Kaoru stepped outside the gates into the town people would actually have a somewhat decent reason to actually stare at her. And truth be told she was starting to get sick of it. Sure she would put on a mask and pretend not to notice, but when she was back at her new home again she would head for the little training room and practice until her arms were numb.
She couldn't take. Then there were always the boys that Hiko taught that were also getting on her nerves too. They kept on teasing that one kid about if he don't practice then she would use the moves that she used on Gohie. Witch was a complete lie.
Hiko had called on her one day and told her all about the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. He said if she was strong enough to defeat Gohie then the student she was facing could have stood up longer than him. And with that knowledge she excepted to use more complex moves then just basic training maneuvers.
Though the only good thing to happen to her was that she finally made time to write to her friends and students back in Tokyo. And to just send them some kind of sign of how she was doing was good enough for her.
Well the day of the match between Kaoru and Surigia finally came. The long awaited day and the talk of the week had finally graced the eager young people with bright blue skies and a warm humidity.
Kaoru awaken with the longing thought of her students. It would have been a good lesson to show them the strengths and weaknesses of the Kamiya Style against others.
She looked up to the sky and thought of her father. What would he say about her scheduled match? Would he give her words of encouragement or words of advice?
With a shrug she pushed the thoughts away to mess with later. What mattered right now was the present.
Her match with Surigia.
Though Surigia didn't' wake up with that same calmness or determination. All he was worried about is what if he made a fool of himself? He would not only bring shame to himself and his school. There was his family and friends and his pride too.
As he looked out into the sky the brightness and cheeriness of it all of the whole morning made him sick to his stomach. It was like the Kami was taunting him. Teasing him and that didn't boost his courage non-at all.
Everyone sat in the training hall awaiting Kaoru's arrival. It wasn't that she was late though the mere excitement of finally seeing her fight made waiting on her dry their patience.
"Ready Bro? Word go round says she's got mad skill." Rikusho said as he saw his friend wipe the sweat of his hands for the umpteenth time that morning.
Surigia gave Rikusho a dirty look.
"No Rikusho I'm just fine. Just frinkin' fine." Surigia said sarcastically. Rikusho merely smirked. He could actually tell that his friend was scared shitless. And it wasn't so much of what would happen to him is she were to fight him. No, it wasn't that at all. It was more so what would happen to him if he came back a failure to his Dojo.
Minutes went by and Kenshin sat down next to Sano on the dojo floor. He had taken notice to all the outsiders that had managed to gain access to see the fight of the year.
Many people that he was curious as to why they were there and people he knew their reasons.
Shuura, a green-haired, purple-eyed pirate, who had came to Kyoto 9 years ago. She came from one of the many small islands of Japan that were still to be mapped out. Her father was the leader of an entire island of pirate men that purged ships of the wealthy to help feed, educate, and even get medicine to their people.
There was no need for greed with her father for the only greed he sought was the riches to buy what his village needed that he could not provide with his own working two hands. Though he had passed away 2 years before she relocated to Kyoto and from then on she was the new leader of the pirate crew.
Though there was a split in the crew about who deserved to be the leader and not too long after Shuura took over the traitors reared their ugly heads and attempted to kill her. Though her fateful and loyal pirate crew helped her survive and not wanting to return to her home with the shame of having to destroy the loyal band of pirates her father gathered she came to Kyoto to start all over.
And since she been inKyoto she gained title of being the toughest girl in the town.
Then, also present in the room, the other her in his life... Tomoe...
He knew her brother very well, Enishi ,and it was threw him he met his younger sister Tomoe. She was beautiful to say the least.
Long raven hair, dark/soft eyes, fair skin, and a devil of a charm. The same exact charm that ruined their once unbreakable relationship.
'Why would she be here?' Kenshin thought as he looked to her.
Moments later Tomoe turned her head to Kenshin after getting the feeling that someone was watching her. He turned his head back towards the dojo's door. Using his bangs as a veil Kenshin looked out the corner of his eyes back at Tomoe and saw her smirking at him.
She knew what he was doing and just couldn't help but smirk at his childish antics.
Just the instant Kenshin was starting to feel his blood boil at the fact Tomoe was basically laughing at him the doors finally slid open and revealed the long expected Kaoru.
Though there was a wave of shock going around the room of young people and with the exception of Hiko, who only smirked with pride, face feel dumbstruck.
Kaoru wore her training outfit, but was different. WAY, way different.
She wore a pure white top over a yellow one that was over the cream one she wears and she wore royal blue pants. Basically she wore the colors of an Assistant Master and Master in one.
The yellow was always a sign of an Assistant Master, but a white, yellow, and cream colored tops worn together over each other like so only meant that they had surpassed their teacher's schooling and are ready to pass on what they know to other willing souls.
Surigia gulped.
Not only was he going up against a girl with skill and experience, but also she just had to be the Master and Assistant Master of the damn style too. Just perfect. Things were really looking up for him.
Kaoru ignored the sounds of gasps and smart comments from people she guessed didn't have any business really to be in there. She walked up to her uncle and bowed slightly to him. Hiko too bowed back to her out of respect then motioned for Surigia to step up so the match would begin.
Everyone filed off the middle of the floor that would be occupied as fighting space.
"This is an official match between the Hiten Mutsurugi Dojo and the Kamaya Dojo. This is strictly a one on one match. Any interference on any side will disqualify you." Hiko informed as he paused to make sure they understood. Once each nodded he continued.
"This will be a two round match up. Should one knock the other's weapon on the ground or stay on the ground from a knockdown longer than 10 seconds or be caught in a situation that if in real life would cost them their life then the round and/or match is over. Your chosen weapon is the sword and you are limited to two. No other fighting weapon will be permitted unless you're using article of clothing to block off an on coming attack. You are not allowed to ask anyone in the peanut gallery for any help is that understood?" Hiko asked.
Again they nodded.
"Is that clear peanut gallery? You are not allowed to help them." Hiko asked looking behind him. A wave of nodding heads was his only response.
"Alright then fighters bow off to your opponent and if you have any comments or questions to ask them do so now." Hiko stated.
Kaoru and Surigia did as they were told.
"Well I only have two things to say to you. Don't get nerves fighting me, relax. And don't hold back what you know. You could easily pull a fast one over me." Kaoru stated as she bowed. "Hai. I'll try to remember that." Surigia muttered as he too bowed.
"Now...Present the swords you will use in the match." Hiko barked.
Surigia showed the sheathe to his sword while Rikusho tossed him his sword Hiko provided. Hiko nodded to him. Kaoru reached behind her back and pulled a wooden sword that was painted white. It resembled a real sword perfectly. And then reached behind her back again and brought out the same wooden sword that she defeated Gohie with.
Hiko was more then curious how she was able to walk so clearly with two wooden swords down her back, but keep the question to himself.
'So that's where she hid it last time.' Kenshin thought.
Kaoru placed the sword replica off to the side and fell into her fighting stance, as did Surigia. They both starred into one another's eyes as they awaited Hiko's command to begin.
Through the calm mask Surigia put on, she could still sense his uneasiness. It was all around the air that surrounded him. Kaoru mouthed a 'relax' to him before Hiko called out the beginning of the match.
"Ri one. BEGIN!"
Surigia darted forth for an attack with such speed Kaoru bearly dodged the attack from the side. The sound of a 'clank' sounded off as the two swords made contact and both fighters quickly jumped away from each giving a little room between them.
Though in a matter of five seconds they broke the space heading towards each other having their weapons collide with the so-called enemy repeatedly. Everyone in the audience watched on with their mouths touching the floor.
At first they doubted Kaoru's ability to be able to handle a fight with Surigia since she was using wooden swords. But needless to say when the saw the first clank or their weapons and even now to this point that her sword was ver much still in tack; that maybe there was more then what meet the eye about her.
The first match of the battle continued on getting hotter and hotter with each swipe of the two opponent's swords. Surigia had managed a cut on Kaoru's arm and Kaoru managed to dodge almost all of his attacks and hit him hard twice.
And as the fight progressed Surigia found that as he was fighting Kaoru that he was starting to in fact relax.
He was slowly starting to forget about all the people that were in the room watching him. He was forgetting that if he messed up there were other people outside the school walls to see his humiliating defeat. The hurt his pride, family and school was face if he didn't win. The trouble he would be in if he hurt Kaoru to badly.
All his problems and doubts were ebbing away.
Where his mind was it was onlyhim and Kaoruin a space fighting one on one with nothing on the line to lose. Pleasure fighting. And when Kaoru realized he was finally relaxing that the match was sure to be even better than it was now.
She was toying with him. Testing his strength and speed witch she found to get faster and stronger each second he was relaxing.
'Perfect.' Kaoru thought.
Exactly what she and her uncle wanted. 'Now to get him to actually show me some real moves.' Kaoru thought.
From her corner Shuura smiled.
'She's definitely one in a million, that's for sure.' As she examined the battle from the sidelines she noted how Surigia went from tense to calm and how everything about his fighting started to really pick up.
She had fought him once before and he was so nervous back then. But now...someone had actually manage to get him to fight calmly and make him a worthy adversary unlike the pathetic sword welder he was.
But Shuura wasn't the only one to notice Sano and Kenshin took notice too.
Kenshin, being in the same class as him, had to sometimes help Surigia with moves that he made hard on himself. And half of those moves he was perfectly doing right in this battle.
And he used one of those moves to cut her one arm with. Only thing was he didn't hurt her too bad. The cut went through all three layers of her outfit and left a red line on her skin.
"She's really good Kenshin." Sano whispered. Kenshin nodded.
"She's numbing his self-conscious so that he can unleash an attack without thinking he will mess up that makes he do something wrong in the first place." Kenshin whispered back.
Sano looked at Kenshin with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Kenshin whispered confused. "Do you mind translating that for the slow people in here." Sano whispered back with narrowed eyes. Kenshin rolled his eyes.
"She teaching him how to do a move without him thinking he will mess up." Kenshin further explained. "See that's all you had to say. Not none of that damn advanced swordsman crap." Sano stated quietly as he leaned back against the wall hands behind his head while Kenshin shook his head.
Kaoru skidded around as Surigia turned to face her. Now with his mind solely focused at the task at hand Kaoru prepared to set her plan into action.
"You know Surigia you're starting to relax like I asked. And I thank you for that." Kaoru stated. "You're welcome." Surigia replied.
"But you're still holding back from me and I from you. So what do you say we kick this fight up a notch because at this rate we'll never get out of here." Kaoru proposed.
Surigia straightened.
'Holding back!' He thought.
"Well?" Kaoru asked again. After a moment of shock written on his face a weird feeling began to warm his chest. It was like a fire. And a weird sense of excitement and determination began to fill him. Absentmindedly he began to smirk at the idea.
"Hai. I believe it wouldn't be far to just keep holding back any longer." Surigia stated as he re- sheathed his sword and crouched into a different fighting stance. Kaoru too smirked and she nodded her head as she too got into a new stance.
STOP HERE!
A/N- Now I will forewarn you now...I won't update for a while because I some real life issues to take care of for about a month in a half or so. I won't forget about you and what little time I can get, take or make to work on this story I WILL work on this. I tried to make this chapter a bit longer take care of you during this time of drought. So I except NO "update soon" in anyone's review or I'll get pissed because I won't be able to fulfill your wish. (As if I ever do that wish anyway.) MOVING ON!
Shout Out! List
I would like to thank...
Alex- (Hope this chapter answers ur question!),
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Allin656 – (I sure will try! Glad you likey!),
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Preview
In the next exciting chapter of SWORDS AND ROSES...
The match between Kaoru and Surigia continues to heat up. WHO...WILL...WIN? Tomoe will properly be introduced Can Kaoru save Yahiko for a second time? And why are all these groups and individuals so interested in Kaoru?
Find out on the next exciting chapter of Swords and Roses!
Peace