AN: Chapter 14 is here. Thanks as always to my readers and to everyone who has reviewed. Well in this chapter Ron completes his training and maybe he and Kim can come to a better understanding of each other feelings, or they can just get more confused. Enjoy.
Sword of the Revolution
Chapter 14: Parting Advice
Kim and the Stoppable's followed Sensei up the curvy mountain path. There was still light covering the world around them. There was snow around them that reflected the dying light's pink and orange hue. As the path began to plateau they arrived at two small buildings one appeared to be a house and the other appeared to just be a shack. Behind the house a plum of smoke rose. Sensei led them behind the two buildings to the flames that were creating the smoke. Beside the fire sat a large muscular man wearing a long red and white cape and Ron dressed in a dark navy-blue gi top and matching pants wrapped tightly around his then frame. The two men had sensed their arrival and Ron spoke.
"Mom, dad, Sensei, …KP. What are you doing here?"
When Kim had pictured this confrontation in her mind it had played out somewhat like this. In that Ron would be surprised to see her, but that was the only thing her fantasy and reality had in common at this point. Ron's tone while surprised didn't have any of the happiness or joy that Kim thought he'd show. She shook off her nervousness and smiled at him along with his parents. Ruth and Don ran to give their son a hug and while Ron returned it he did so half heartily.
Ron frowned at all of them as they pulled away and asked in an agitated tone, "Why are you here?"
His master laughed in a barking tone and spoke, "Fool, it's obvious they're here because they're worried about you."
Ron looked down at that and after a moment he spoke, "Mom, dad, KP this is my master Seijuro Hiko the sixteenth successor of Hiten Mitsurugiryu. Master these are my parents and…"
As Ron trailed off trying to find the right word to describe her Seijuro interrupted him and spoke, "I know who she is and what she is to you. Go get some more bowls, plates, and the like. Then go down to the stream and get some more water."
Ron bowed to his master and turned to the house walked in and came out holding a stake of dishes. After he placed them around the fire he grabbed two buckets and began a walk down the path to the stream. As he walked away Sensei spoke in a soft tone toward Seijuro.
"How is he coming along?"
Seijuro answered, "Tomorrow is the last day of training."
Sensei questioned in the same tone, "Will he succeed?"
Seijuro nodded, "He will."
Sensei's tone became strangled, "Is there no other way?"
"No."
"You're sure that he will succeed?"
"He is a fool but God, fate, or whatever it is that watches over the lives of people always watch over men like him. He will be fine."
"What about you?"
"I will have finally made a difference for the greater good, and I will be able to live up to my legacy."
Sensei looked at Seijuro with a sad face and finally nodded. There was silence for a few minuets until Don spoke, "Why did you decide to teach our son this… to kill."
Seijuro gave Don an appraising look and then spoke, "I taught him because he proved to me that he was worthy enough to be granted the powers of Hiten Mitsurugiryu that is all."
Don yelled, "No matter how you put it you taught him how to kill!"
"No, I taught him the style and while yes learning it is learning how to kill it was his decision to use it in that manner. He will tell you that he is responsible for every life he took so blame me if you wish. However it will be misplaced and truthfully it is foolish to blame someone fighting a war for killing those he is fighting against. You wish to help your son by shifting responsibility away from him, but it will not help him. The only way to help him is helping him live with the guilt he feels, and someday he will be able to forgive himself and move on."
Don looked down, "You treat him like a servant."
Seijuro laughed, "He is a servant... a good one."
Don glared at the man for a few moments longer before sitting down. Ruth sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around her husband. Kim thought about what the swordmaster had said. Seijuro speaking to her interrupted her thoughts.
"There is a something that Ron blames himself more than the deaths he caused in the war, but only you can help him with that. However you may not want to. When he is done with his mission you should ask him about this flower."
As he said that he threw Kim two small cups each with small white flowers painted on them. Kim caught them and examined the delicately painted designs. She looked at Seijuro with a confused expression. He began to speak again.
"Serve him some sake in these cups and ask about the flower on it. Also don't mention Yori-chan at all, until this is over. If you ask about those flowers and tell him I made the cups he'll know you know about her and he'll tell you everything."
Kim frowned and asked, "Why do I need to wait?"
Seijuro looked into her eyes and spoke in a matter of fact tone, "Because you're not ready to here what happened anymore than he is ready to tell you."
Seeing that Kim wasn't convinced he sighed and spoke, "Look at it this way, you came to Japan to help the boy and make sure he got home safe, not ask him questions that will distract and cause him pain and guilt. Do what you came here to do then you'll be free to do what you want."
Kim looked back into the man's eyes for a few moments before she had to look away. She kept her gaze away from the man while everyone else sat in silence. Kim thought about what the man had said and was struggling to come to a decision. On one hand she had never been good with taking orders, which is what the master had given her, and she wasn't to keen on Ron hiding even more from her than he had been. However she had promised herself that she wouldn't push him and that she would give him all the time he needed. She was just so damn curious about Yori and what kind of relationship Ron had had with her, but was it really any of her business? She wasn't sure of anything at the moment. Several more minuets passed before Ron returned with water. As he set the buckets down he began to fix the plates and serve the others. They sat there eating quietly for half an hour before Ron spoke.
"How much longer before you leave?"
His parents and Kim exchanged a look, and Kim spoke "We've seen the prince and he's going to let us go to Kyoto with you. So we leave when you leave."
Ron's eyes flashed, "You can't be in the middle of this!"
Kim yelled back, "We aren't leaving without you and you better check my name, because I'm Kim Possible and I can do anything, got it!"
Ron returned in a hurt tone, "I know you can, but you shouldn't, if you come with me you might be forced to do something you'll regret or you'll see me…"
As he trailed off Kim made to grab him in a hug, but she was stopped in her tracks by Seijuro's voice.
"You all need to leave my apprentice needs to go to bed. Tomorrow will be very hard on him and he needs all the sleep he can get. Say goodbye and go… now!"
All present realizing that the tone brokered no argument rose and prepared to go. Don and Ruth hugged Ron and said goodbye. Kim pulled him in with a tight hug and said,
"I'll see you in Kyoto and never forget that no matter what I'll be there for you."
As she pulled away Ron maid to speak but he decided against it. All were surprised when Sensei pulled Seijuro into a small hug, including Seijuro. When Sensei pulled away he turned to Ron and bowed saying.
"Ron-muko I will be in Kyoto to advise you, I'll see you soon of that I have no doubt."
As Sensei led Kim and his parents away Ron turned and spoke to his master. "Does he know about the test?"
Seijuro nodded, "Yes, he knows every thing about it, but your woman and parents don't. Go to bed."
Ron bowed and walked inside leaving Seijuro to whisper at the retreating figure, "Otousan."
When they had climbed down the mountain Kim, the Stoppables, and Sensei had returned to Tokyo and slept at the prince's house and when they woke in the morning they went to the airport and caught a quick flight to Kyoto. While they were flying overhead Kim, Don, and Ruth were shocked at what they saw when their plane descended. Most of the city appeared to be deserted and in ruins.
Kim spoke in a rasping voice, "Ron fought here?"
Sensei nodded, "Yes Ron-san commanded the attack on the city. His original plan had been to force the civilians away and draw the opposing army in. However that was quickly foiled when the leaders of the city didn't allow the citizens to escape and sent the army in anyway. Ron-san blames himself and nothing anyone says can convince him that he isn't solely responsible for what happened. Even the Shinsengumi didn't blame him for the massive casualties, because they didn't order his death they killed the leaders of the city for not evacuating. Still he blames himself."
They were quite as they landed and drove from the airport. They headed away from the center of the city toward the outskirts of the city. They arrived at a large old-fashioned hotel called the Aoi-ya. As they began to walk in the entrance a voice filled with cold humor stopped them.
"Well, well Himura's woman and parents arrived before he did. That sorta pisses me off, that I have to deal with a child and civilans in place of a warrior."
Kim's group turned to face the voice and found Saito Hajime, and who she saw beside him cause her to explode.
"Shego! What the hell are you doing here?"
Shego smirked, "Relax Kimmie I'm just here to torment Saito just stay outta my way and I'll leave you alone… for the most part."
Before Kim could respond an old man walked out of the hotel. He was about fifty and had white hair done back in a ponytail and a matching curly beard. He wore a pink kimono and black pants. He spoke in a warm welcoming voice and spoke to them all.
"All of you who are here I, Okina, welcome you to the headquarters of the Oniwabanshu."
Ron was looking his master dead in the eyes. He carried the Lotus Blade and Seijuro carried his. The two squared off against each other. Ron was sweating because he hadn't been able to come up with the counter to the Kuzuryusen and his time was out. Seijuro drew his sword but Ron couldn't bring himself to do the same. Seijuro smirked and spoke.
"So that is your answer? Very well then 'Kuzuryusen'."
As the blue light that surrounded Seijuro's sword split into nine beams Ron summoned all of his skill and thought as fast and as hard as he could to try and come up with the counter.
'I can could only block four at most since he has the 'godlike speed' of the style. This is it I'm going to die.'
As he became certain that death was approaching a thousand images passed through his mind. Middleton, Felix, Monique, Jim, Tim, Naga, Anne, James, Takamatsu, Rufus, Sensei, his mother, his father, Yori, and Kim. He saw all that he had done and though he had done so much he still felt hollow.
'There was so much I had to make up for. I wasn't able to say goodbye to everyone. I wont be able to help stop Shishio. I'm going to leave my parents. I've failed in living up in my promise to Yori. I didn't tell KP how I felt about her. I was going to tell her about Yori and… everything. I wanted to see if she could forgive and maybe someday we could have had a family of our own. I would have settled for just a kiss.'
Suddenly his mind was filled with an image from the past. It was when he first met Seijuro and he had to scratch the master.
0o0o0o0o0o
Ron was breathing heavily and was drenched in sweat close to unconsciousness. The muscular Seijuro looked down at Ron with a small scratch on his cheek. He laughed.
'So fool you actually scratched me, but it almost cost you everything to do it. You could have died.'
Ron looked back up and answered, 'I have to learn to fight like you or I wont live through the war and then I can't… be with KP.'
As he said that his eyes closed and he hovered on the edge of consciousness. Seijuro spoke.
'You aren't exactly the fool I thought you were. Remember your first lesson when it matters the most. No matter what never give up to death! Fight! Strike before it can take you! Never let it take away your hopes and dreams!'
0o0o0o0o0o
As he remembered the lesson Ron's eyes snapped opened and he drew his sword from the battoujutsu stance.
AN: Man! That one was hard to wright. I hope you don't mind the mystery or the cliffhangers to much. Any please read review and enjoy.
Hiten Mitsurugiryu
Kuzuryusen- Nine headed dragon flash