Ch 10
A True Test of Strength
After about ten minutes Kaoru and Megumi entered the dojo. When I looked up and saw Kaoru I began to chuckle 'only Megumi would have dressed her in my pants.' I thought. Kaoru was smiling, a fierce look in her blue eyes. Meeting my gaze she strode toward me. Free from her skirts I could see that she moved with the balanced feline grace of an experienced warrior. Even the oversized clothing could not hide the practiced ease with which she moved. Then she spoke,
"Now, Kenshin where can I get a hold of a bokken?"
"Just over there" I replied gesturing toward the rack behind me. Nodding she walked toward the rack and selected a bokken. Coming back to the center of the room she inspected the bokken giving it a few experimental swings.
"Kenshin can you give me five minutes to stretch and warm up?" she asked
"Of course," I replied, and then I motioned to the others and leaned back against the far wall to give her space. Closing her eyes she began to go through a complex series of moves gradually increasing in speed. She flowed seamlessly from one move to another in a ceaseless dance. From what I could see the Kamiya Kasshin style seemed to be based on defense. After Kaoru had gone through her warm up she stopped and looked at me expectantly standing I moved to join her at the center of the room.
"We should begin" she said
"If you wish" then I motioned toward Aoshi saying "Aoshi will mediate." Moving to stand across from her I bowed and she returned the gesture, "We will spar for one round. The first to subdue their opponent wins." She nodded a predatory smile on her face. Aoshi stepped back and raised one arm. We both tensed minutely, dropping his arm he said,
"Begin!" rushing forward I began the match; Kaoru met my charge head on. I refrained from using my full strength or any of my advanced techniques. I wanted to test her abilities not crush her in one powerful attack. For a few minutes we traded blows, blocking, dodging, and even taking a few; which in itself was surprising I had honestly not expected her to actually land any hits. As I studied her movements I realized what it was her true strength lay in her innate speed. It was nothing near god speed, but she still managed to slip past my defenses a few times. I was also impressed by her strength even with her small frame her blows had weight behind them. Soon we were both breathing hard. I had to admire her technique it was a very effective defense, constantly adapting to the opponents movements. The others had begun to comment. I heard Yahiko whisper,
"Huh, I didn't think Kaoru would hold out this long, but she's good." At that moment Kaoru smiled thinly and began to execute a complex series of moves. I had to move quickly to meet each of her attacks. Truly for her size her stamina was staggering we had been sparing for over ten minutes and none of her blows had lessened in strength. Then I began a rain of blows, testing her defenses from every angle. She was good quite good. She had somehow managed to meet me hit for hit, but it was time to end this. Directly from the rain of blows I began a powerful stroke directed at the handle of her bokken. When they collided her bokken flew from her hands, and then before she could react I stepped closer my arm snaking around her waist pulling her against my chest, my bokken resting at her throat. I felt her tense,
"Do you yield?" I asked. Breathlessly she replied,
"Willingly". Releasing her I stepped back and bowed respectfully. Good-naturedly she returned the courtesy. Then I heard a round of applause from the audience I had temporarily forgotten. Turning I heard Misao say,
"That was awesome! Kaoru, you held out for a long time!" Kaoru grinned at her saying "Yeah, but I still lost."
"Who cares? It's sparring and anyway everyone loses to Kenshin. He's a beast." Misao added with a cheeky grin directed at me. After everyone had finished their congratulations I spoke,
"You are very talented Kaoru-dono." She smiled,
"No, but thank you for allowing me to spar with someone of your skill" I nodded acknowledging her statement,
"Not at all, you underestimate your own skill. Now I assume you will want to go get changed and then there is something we all must discuss." Nodding she and Megumi headed for the door Megumi said,
"We'll meet you in the meeting room in a bit." Then as the door closed behind them I heard Megumi shout,
"Oh, by the way Himura, she's keeping your pants!" I couldn't help but laugh. Gesturing toward the others I headed to my quarters while they went to the meeting room.
As Megumi and I headed to my rooms she chattered happily, but I was thinking. That had been an eye opening experience. Throughout the entire fight Kenshin had held back a lot. And even so his strength easily outmatched anything I had ever seen. Each blow I had blocked had made my arms tingle with the shock from attempting to absorb the energy. And he had been holding back, even as he disarmed me his movements had been calculated and careful only increasing the speed and strength of his attack slightly. His movements were also very methodical. It seemed as though he were trying to slow down, but when I had pressed his defenses he had quickly accelerated blocking me with ease. I had no doubts that had Kenshin wished he could have obliterated me. I also had learned a few things about his technique. He was capable of executing god speed techniques and his Hiten Mitsurugi was designed to fight and take down multiple opponents at once. One on one it was even more devastating; even holding back he was one of the best swordsmen I had ever seen. I simply couldn't wrap my mind how strong he would be if he chose to use any of his more advanced techniques or true strength.
By now we were in my rooms. Quickly Megumi released the stitches on my pants so I could get out of them before leaving the room saying,
"You get changed and I'll find a washcloth for your face" I nodded and grabbed the yellow kimono pulling it on I was tying the red obi when Megumi came in with a damp cloth. Handing it to me she walked over and scooped up the discarded pants and gi. Settling onto the edge of the bed she began to stitch the waist so that the pants would fit me permanently. After cleaning my face I felt much better and turning to her I said,
"Oh, Megumi you didn't have to fix those I could have gotten it."
"Really it's no problem. Oh, and keep the shirt. You'll probably use it more than I do anyway." She replied. Then Curious I asked,
"Hey, Megumi, Kenshin was testing me wasn't he?" Glancing up from her hem she said,
"That's just Himura. He feels that everyone has a purpose and use, and usually he finds it. Look at Yahiko. He tried to steal from Himura but Himura just took him in and is training him to be a swordsman."
"Oh, so who is Yahiko's kendo master?" I asked interested. Megumi returned her attention to her stitching and answered,
"Well, since Himura refused to teach him he's just helped Yahiko learn a few basic stances so we're still looking for a permanent master for him."
"I see" I replied thinking, 'I can understand why Kenshin would be reluctant to pass on the Hiten Mitsurugi'. After sparing with him I could see that the Hiten Mitsurugi was a very destructive technique 'not something I would teach to others' Just then Megumi finished fixing the pants and hopping up off the bed she said,
"Now let's go see what Kenshin wants to tell us."
"Hey, Megumi"
"Yes" she replied
"Thanks for the shirt" I said with a smile.
"No problem" she said as we walked down the hall to the meeting room. Just as we came to the door I saw Kenshin entering. Seeing us he stood back and held the door motioning for us to smiled and nodded her thanks. I quietly said,
"Thank you Kenshin." As I walked past I heard him murmur
"You are most welcome Kaoru-dono."
After the meeting I had spent the afternoon with Megumi. We had been labeling and packing various medicines and herbs into large wicker packs. Now I was lying in bed thinking back over what had been said at the meeting. The army was moving out in one week. Kenshin and the others were going ahead of the army to attack Remala and Kapta. They would leave in five days. What was to become of me? Was I expected to join the advance force? I am no killer. I wield the sword that protects life. Or did they expect me to stay behind with Megumi and the main army… turning over I tried to find a comfortable position, but sleep eluded me. My brain kept returning to the tangled nest of problems my life had become. Sighing I got up. My bedroom was much too dark and stuffy. If I couldn't sleep I might as well get some air. So retying my yukata more securely I walked into the sitting room. Quietly I dragged one of the stools over to the window. Sitting down I looked up and contemplated the night sky. The clouds from earlier had cleared out leaving a clear view of the stars. Tonight the moon was a pale sliver on the horizon; the sky a midnight blue and there were so many stars that their light seemed to give a dusky lavender luminescence to the surrounding landscape. So turning over the many questions on my mind I stared up into the endless expanse of starlit sky.
The night was cool and clear. Some how I couldn't bring myself to remain indoors on a night like this. So setting aside the paperwork I was attempting to look over in my study I walked out of the fortress and began to wander aimlessly about the courtyard. Normally I would have left the fortress altogether and walked under the comforting gloom of the trees far from others, but with the army camping outside this was impossible. So I patrolled the grounds, slowly working my way around the entire fortress. As I padded softly forward I carefully considered the problem Kaoru presented. Although she had been absorbed into my closely knit inner circle she had no true place yet. She had the skills of a warrior but a peaceful nature. Even the style she practiced was one based on defense. And somehow I knew she wouldn't take well to being left behind with Megumi. Kaoru was a doer but she had yet to find a niche for herself amongst the fighters… at last I came to a decision of sorts. I would ask her to teach Yahiko the Kamiya Kasshin style. I hoped that she would feel more comfortable once she had something to do with her time. As for the rest I would wait and see what path she chose for herself. I was nearing the completion of my meandering circuit when I saw her. The starlight seemed to guild her milky skin, her eyes gazing into the heavens. Silently watching her I realized that her eyes appeared to absorb the light of the stars they seemed to be luminescent pockets of night. She was leaning on her window sill gazing upward. Looking for all the world like an ethereal creature of night. Her motionless face seemed to contemplate the questions of the universe. Softly I moved closer. Stopping about ten feet from her window I spoke in a soft voice not wishing to startle her,
"Good evening Kaoru-dono." slowly she pulled her gaze from the heavens and met my amber gaze. Startled she tensed minutely before relaxing and smiling softly at me
"Good evening, Kenshin. Sleep could not find me tonight so I came out here to see the stars." She replied
"They are beautiful aren't they?" I said
"Yes," she said softly, "they are. Did you have trouble sleeping as well?" laughing softly I said,
"You could say that." A small smile still gracing her lips she turned her gaze from me and returned to studying the stars.
"I have always found that all worries seem much less pressing when one in contemplates them in a calm and quiet place. Wouldn't you agree?" as I studied her profile I replied,
"Yes the night always imparts a sense of tranquility." She was quite lovely in this lighting. Perhaps a human would have been straining to see through the shadows but for me the lavender light of the stars is by far more revealing than the scorching light of day.
"Kaoru-dono" I said quietly,
"Hmm," she turned to look at me, "yes, Kenshin?"
"Would you be willing to teach Yahiko the Kamiya Kasshin style?" silently she gazed at me her midnight blue eyes seemed to search the depths of my soul. Finally she spoke,
"Yahiko wishes to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi style, doesn't he." She stated not doubting the truth for a moment. I simply nodded, "and you do not wish to pass on such a powerful and destructive technique." Again I nodded. Her gaze was piercing. Finally satisfied she turned gaze to the heavens one again, "He deserves a chance to learn the sword, but Kenshin you should know, I teach the sword that protects life." She fell silent awaiting my judgment her gaze fixed on the stars. Quietly I spoke,
"Though I believe that the way of the sword is a way of violence I feel that your defensive style and philosophy will serve him well." She nodded,
"If that is how you feel, then I would be honored to pass on the Kamiya Kasshin style to Yahiko." Finally she turned her blue eyes back to me and whispered,
"Thank you, Kenshin" I smiled softly and silently padded closer to lean against the wall beside the window and said,
"Everyone deserves to have a place." We both fell quiet. And I realized something; Kaoru understood from the beginning what I was trying to do. She intuitively understood so much… A companionable silence seemed to grow around as we studied the stars late into the night.
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